The Safety of Mother's Milk® Tea: Results of a Randomized Double-Blind, Controlled Study in Fully Breastfeeding Mothers and Their Infants.

BACKGROUND: Various natural products are reported to improve maternal milk supply yet are not necessarily safe for infants. Researchers have not systematically studied galactagogue teas for safety. RESEARCH AIM: This study evaluates the safety of a galactagogue tea in breastfeeding women and their infants, assessing short- and long-term adverse effects. METHODS: Healthy, exclusively/fully breastfeeding women ( N = 60) with no milk insufficiency were randomized into (1) an all-natural tea containing fruits of bitter fennel, anise, and coriander; fenugreek seed; and other herbs (Mother's Milk® herbal tea; test) group or (2) a lemon verbena leaf (placebo) group. Maternal diaries captured self-reported maternal and infant adverse effects, tea consumed, and perceived infant satisfaction. Maternal quality of life and psychological state were assessed at baseline and 2 and 4 weeks. Poststudy calls assessed adverse effects through the infants' age of 12 months. RESULTS: No adverse effects attributable to the interventions were reported at any time point. No differences were found between test and placebo groups in sociodemographic characteristics, maternal or infant adverse symptoms, quality of life, breastfeeding self-efficacy, maternal psychological measures, infant growth, and infant satisfaction (all p >.05). CONCLUSIONS: This double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an herbal galactagogue versus placebo among healthy, exclusively/fully breastfeeding mothers and infants found no adverse events associated with the test tea across the 30-day study or the first year of their infant's life. This composite tea appears to present no safety risk for mothers or their young babies.

Neonatal Extracorporeal Life Support: A Review of Nutrition Considerations.

Critically ill neonates who require extracorporeal life support have particular nutrition needs. These infants require prescription of aggressive, early nutrition support by knowledge providers. Understanding the unique metabolic demands and nutrition requirements of these fragile patients is paramount, particularly if additional therapies such as aggressive diuretic regimens or continuous renal replacement therapy are used concurrently. Although the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition has published guidelines for this population, a review of each nutrition component is warranted because few studies exist specific to this population. Long-term complications in survivors of neonatal extracorporeal life support, particularly in patients with select diagnoses such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia, can be significant and must be recognized and anticipated. This review focuses on recognizing the nutrition needs of neonatal patients requiring extracorporeal life support, appraising the available data to guide selection of an appropriate mode of nutrition delivery, and describing the anticipated long-term nutrition implications of extracorporeal life support provision during the neonatal period.