Many natural living sites tout the use of essential oils to increase milk supply—but the jury’s out on whether they’re effective or not. “There’s no research to back up the use of essential oils to increase milk supply,” says Jennifer de Franco, RN, IBCLC, lactation consultant with Premier Lactation Services in Northern Virginia. “No one in the field is really talking about them.”
Clark agrees, saying, “There are no essential oils that would increase milk supply. There are some that would make mom more relaxed, but you have to be incredibly careful using essential oils during pregnancy and lactation because some are unsafe for mother and baby.”