Breastfeeding is such a sweet experience for mom and baby. The Lord created an amazing means for bonding between a mother and child through the nurturing act of breastfeeding. It offers the best form of nourishment for new babies, and is recommended even until the age of two or three (and sometimes beyond).

Mommy also benefits from breastfeeding her sweet babe. Studies suggest that mothers who breastfeed are at a lower risk for breast cancer and tend to recuperate faster from childbirth.  Breastfeeding is such a precious gift from the Lord, and yet so many mothers, new and seasoned, often struggle silently and are left with the guilt of giving up due to low milk supply. I am the mother of three precious little daughters and I am currently breastfeeding my 10-month-old.

Recently the need for me to pump extra arose when I learned of a local mother who was unable to nurse her son.  I agreed to be one of her regular donors and that meant I needed to increase my milk supply fast!  I had given her a few ounces that I had stashed away in our freezer and took Fenugreek to help increase my supply so that I could pump a few more ounces to add to that.  In the past, Fenugreek would aid in increasing my milk supply within 12 hours; though once I began regularly pumping I realized the Fenugreek wasn’t going to cut it.  So, I became a mom on a mission!

I grabbed my copy of Gentle Babies by Debra Raybern to see what essential oils she recommended for nursing mothers.  Young Living’s Fennel was the flavor of the day.  I quickly ordered my Fennel and, by God’s providence, it arrived a day earlier than expected!

I took 2 drops of the Fennel with 1 teaspoon of local honey, and then drank a full glass of water.  Two hours later I sat down to nurse my daughter and she only nursed on one side.  This is odd because she generally nurses on both sides.  I decided to pump the other side and got 4 oz!  I was amazed!  Four ounces!  I’ve never gotten 4 oz when pumping – not even when I was taking the Fenugreek religiously.

I thought surely this was just a fluke, but I continued to take the Fennel; and, to my utter amazement, the same thing happened again when I nursed my daughter. Four more ounces! This was just one day of starting the Fennel oil and I had pumped 8 oz in just four hours!

I am on Day 5 of using the Fennel essential oil and pumping no less than 8 oz. every day of extra milk! This in in addition to nursing my 10-month-old every 3 hours!  I am so thankful for my Fennel! Obviously, given the results of personally using the Fennel to aid in lactation, I am no longer a skeptic.

Interesting Facts about Fennel
Fennel has a very sweet anise-like aroma and tastes like licorice.

For many generations, fennel seeds have been used to aid in digestion and aid in balancing a woman’s menstrual cycles.

It has been used to help support circulatory and respiratory health, as well.

I am continually amazed at what the Lord has created for us.  He created plants and flowers with so many wonderful uses, and in the case of Fennel, to aid in lactation for nursing mothers.

I needed my milk supply to increase quickly so that I could help another mother give life-nourishing breast milk to her baby and therapeutic grade Fennel essential oil made that possible. I wish I would have known about this miraculous oil several years ago.

NOTE: I already had a good established milk supply. This was done in an effort to increase my milk supply for the purposes of helping another baby. If a mom is experiencing a low milk supply, or supply issues in general, while this may be helpful, I always encourage moms to see an IBCLC to troubleshoot latching problems or to check for Tongue Tie-related issues.

If you are struggling with low supply issues while breastfeeding, Fennel essential oil may help.  I have been using it for 5 consecutive days and I have seen a dramatic increase in my milk supply.  I will continue to use it because it is working for me.  I am still amazed how quickly my supply increased.  I am so thankful because it’s allowing me to help another mother give her baby the very best.

Regularly donating my breast milk to another baby has been such a blessing and a humbling experience.  Now, more than ever, it forces me to be very cautious of what I put into my body. This mother is quite particular about whose milk she will use (and rightfully so), and I am so thankful that the Lord convicted me several years ago about healthy living.

And, through Divine providence, the mother to whom I’m donating milk uses Young Living oils too!  God is so amazing that way – bringing the right person into our lives at the right time!

*CAUTION: Never use lower quality essential oils on children or internally. After much of my own research, the only essential oils that I trust enough in quality to take internally or use on my children are Young Living’s  oils. If your essential oil is from an edible plant such as fennel, lavender, lemon, orange, grapefruit, oregano, thyme, frankincense, etc., and it states that the essential oil is “Not for Internal Use,” find out why!