Breastfeeding: which supplements for mothers, and what to know about herbs

This guide does not replace advice from a health professional: a doctor, midwife or pharmacist.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF recommend starting breastfeeding within one hour of birth, breastfeeding exclusively (breast milk only) for the first 6 months, then continuing breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond, while nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods are introduced from 6 months.

For some nutrients, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) sets higher reference values for breastfeeding women than for adults in general: this is the case for iodine and DHA. This guide sets out these official reference points; it does not tell you how much to take. Your doctor, midwife or pharmacist will adapt intakes to your situation.

A supplement does not replace a varied diet: EU law requires the label of every food supplement to carry a statement to that effect (Directive 2002/46/EC, Article 6).

Iodine. EFSA set an adequate intake of 150 µg a day for adults and 200 µg a day in pregnancy; for breastfeeding women it keeps the same value as in pregnancy, 200 µg a day. Authorised EU claim: “Iodine contributes to the normal production of thyroid hormones and normal thyroid function”.

DHA (omega-3). For adults, EFSA sets an adequate intake of 250 mg a day of EPA plus DHA, two long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, it adds 100 to 200 mg of preformed DHA, to compensate for oxidative losses of the mother's dietary DHA and for DHA build-up in the body fat of the foetus and infant.

Regulation (EU) No 440/2011 authorises two claims: “Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) maternal intake contributes to the normal brain development of the foetus and breastfed infants” and “Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) maternal intake contributes to the normal development of the eye of the foetus and breastfed infants”. They may only be used for a food that provides a daily intake of at least 200 mg of DHA, and pregnant and breastfeeding women must be told that the beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 200 mg of DHA in addition to the 250 mg of DHA and EPA recommended for adults. This is a labelling rule, not a prescription: the right amount for you is decided with your doctor or midwife.

Vitamin D. EFSA set an adequate intake of 15 µg a day for adults and considers it the same for pregnant and breastfeeding women. The value is based on data collected when the skin makes little vitamin D; EFSA states that when the skin does make vitamin D (sun exposure), the dietary requirement is lower or may even be zero. Authorised EU claim: “Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones”. We do not promote any “high-dose” vitamin D: for dosage, see your doctor or pharmacist.

The values in the table below are total daily intakes (diet plus any supplements) defined for healthy people: they are not supplement doses. To compare products, see pregnancy & breastfeeding vitamins, omega-3 and vitamin D, and show the label to your doctor or pharmacist.

Vitamin D for a breastfed baby is a matter for the paediatrician or the doctor who follows your child: they decide whether it is useful, in what form and in what amount, according to the recommendations in force in Morocco. This guide gives no amount for an infant, and no supplement should be given to a baby without their doctor's advice.

Fenugreek (Bockshornklee in German), fennel, goat's rue… These herbs are found in teas and capsules sold “for breastfeeding”. In the EU no health claim is authorised for them, whether on lactation or any other effect: the list of permitted claims left out plant substances, known as “botanicals”, whose scientific evaluation had not been completed (Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, recital 10). We therefore attribute no effect to them.

Fenugreek (seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum). The European Medicines Agency monograph (EMA, HMPC committee, 2021 revision) describes it as a traditional herbal medicinal product used for temporary loss of appetite and, externally, for minor skin inflammation, exclusively on the basis of long-standing use. Breastfeeding is not one of these uses. The monograph does not recommend use during pregnancy and breastfeeding (no or limited data, reproductive toxicity in animal studies). It is contraindicated in people allergic to fenugreek, peanut, soya or other legumes (Fabaceae), and close monitoring of blood sugar is advised for people treated for diabetes, because of a possible blood-sugar-lowering effect.

The LactMed database of the US National Library of Medicine (NIH) considers the studies on lactation conflicting and the safety data limited for breastfeeding mothers and infants. It reports digestive upsets (diarrhoea, flatulence, nausea, vomiting), liver toxicity reported with fenugreek alone and in herbal mixtures, allergic reactions, possible cross-reaction with chickpeas, peanuts and other legumes, and advises caution with high doses in women with diabetes or taking warfarin (an anticoagulant).

Fennel. The two EMA monographs (bitter fennel and sweet fennel, January 2024 revisions) state that safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established, referring in particular to its estragole content, and, in the absence of sufficient data, do not recommend use during these periods. They contraindicate it in people allergic to plants of the Apiaceae family (aniseed, caraway, celery, coriander, dill), to anethole or to mugwort pollen. LactMed notes that the anethole in fennel passes into breast milk, and reports signs of toxicity consistent with anethole in two breastfed newborns after excessive maternal use of a herbal tea containing fennel, anise and other herbs.

Goat's rue (Galega officinalis). LactMed states that no scientifically valid clinical trials support its use during breastfeeding and that safety data are very limited. The plant contains galegine, which may lower blood sugar: caution in women taking antidiabetic medication. LactMed also reports two cases of liver changes (enlarged liver, slightly raised liver enzymes) in mothers taking goat's rue together with other herbs.

If you or your baby show any unusual symptom after a herb or herbal tea, stop it and ask a doctor for advice.

A breastfeeding tea sold as a food remains a food, not a medicine. In the EU, food information must not attribute to any food the property of preventing, treating or curing a human disease (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Article 7). LactMed, for its part, stresses that products marketed “for lactation” should never replace evaluation and counselling on the modifiable factors that affect milk production.

See a lactation consultant, a midwife or a doctor if breastfeeding hurts, if you are worried about not having enough milk or if your baby latches poorly. See a doctor before taking any herb or supplement if you are on medication (especially for diabetes, or an anticoagulant), if you have liver disease, or if you are allergic to peanut, soya, legumes or plants of the carrot and celery family (Apiaceae).

This guide does not replace a consultation: if in doubt, your doctor, midwife or pharmacist is the right person to ask.

1. WHO — Infant and young child feeding, fact sheet, 2026 (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infant-and-young-child-feeding).

2. EFSA — Dietary reference values for nutrients: Summary report, EFSA Supporting Publication 2017:e15121, 2017, summarising the NDA Panel opinions on fats (2010), iodine (2014) and vitamin D (2016) (https://www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2017_09_DRVs_summary_report.pdf).

3. European Commission — Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 establishing a list of permitted health claims, 2012: iodine and vitamin D claims, consolidated version of 17/05/2021 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02012R0432-20210517); recital 10 on botanical substances, original text (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32012R0432).

4. European Commission — Regulation (EU) No 440/2011, health claims referring to children's development and health (maternal DHA, conditions of use, recital 14), 2011 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32011R0440).

5. European Parliament and Council — Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, Article 7, 2011 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32011R1169).

6. European Parliament and Council — Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements, Article 6, 2002 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32002L0046).

7. EMA, HMPC committee — European Union herbal monograph on Trigonella foenum-graecum L., semen, revision 1 (EMA/HMPC/179591/2018), 2021 (https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/european-union-herbal-monograph-trigonella-foenum-graecum-l-semen-revision-1_en.pdf).

8. EMA, HMPC committee — European Union herbal monograph on Foeniculum vulgare Miller subsp. vulgare var. vulgare, fructus (bitter fennel), revision 1 (EMA/HMPC/372841/2016), 2024 (https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-foeniculum-vulgare-miller-subsp-vulgare-var-vulgare-fructus-revision-1_en.pdf).

9. EMA, HMPC committee — European Union herbal monograph on Foeniculum vulgare Miller subsp. vulgare var. dulce (Mill.) Batt. & Trab., fructus (sweet fennel), revision 1 (EMEA/HMPC/372839/2016), 2024 (https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-foeniculum-vulgare-miller-subsp-vulgare-var-dulce-mill-batt-trab-fructus-revision-1_en.pdf).

10. NIH, US National Library of Medicine — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), Fenugreek entry, version consulted in November 2026 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30000838/).

11. NIH, US National Library of Medicine — LactMed, Fennel entry, version consulted in November 2026 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30000852/).

12. NIH, US National Library of Medicine — LactMed, Goat's Rue entry, version consulted in November 2026 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30000876/).