This blog is written by Sarah, founder of Low Toxin Rabbit, a mum and former health advisor on a mission to share her journey of detoxifying everyday life. Sarah has lived experience of transforming from tired, heavily medicated and frequently sick to completely healthy and medication-free, successfully healing her Graves disease through a low-toxin lifestyle. Through Low Toxin Rabbit, she aims to inform and inspire others to understand what we put into our bodies and the steps we can take to support good health and prevent poor health.
This is not medical advice, and we always recommend discussing any concerns you have with your GP or healthcare team.
Breastfeeding hasn't come easily for me. With every single one of my kids, I've battled low supply. It's been one of the harder parts of motherhood, and one I've had to genuinely work at. Breastfeeding, for me, was not the natural, instinctive experience some women describe.
Sarah is a mother of four based in New Zealand researching a low tox lifestyle to create a safer home environment.
With my first baby, I remember doing a seven-day stint of virtually no sleep just to build my supply. Power-pumping with my pump, cluster feeding, drinking litres of water, and taking every supplement I could find. The breast pump I had at the time was a corded, plug-into-the-wall situation. I'd sit on the couch, tied to that chair, watching the clock and feeling the world go on without me. It was relentless. And in those early days when I just needed to rest, the fact that using a pump required me to be completely stationary made an already-hard situation feel impossible.
I cried a lot during that period. Not because I didn't love breastfeeding, but because the logistics of producing enough milk while also being a functioning human felt completely at odds.
Four babies later, I've finally landed on a combination of things that have let me exclusively breastfeed my last two without top-ups. And while no single tool is a magic fix, a few have genuinely changed the game.
What's worked for me
Through trial and error across four kids, here's what's actually worked for me while still taking a low-tox approach:
- Protein, protein, protein. I cannot overstate how much focusing on protein intake has helped my supply. With my earlier babies, I didn't realise just how much my body was using to produce milk. Now I prioritise it at every meal, supplement with bone broth protein powder in smoothies and soups, and notice an immediate difference if I let it slide.
- Bone broth. Nourishing, healing, and easy to add to almost anything. I sip it in the morning, add it to meals, and treat it as part of my postpartum care.
- Blessed thistle. A traditional galactagogue I've used with each baby. For me it has really worked in boosting my supply, and is not overly complicated to add when you're in the thick of the newborn stage.
- Premade nourishing meals. When you're running on three hours of sleep and have other kids to feed, having ready-made meals in the freezer or fridge means you actually eat. Skipping meals drops supply faster than anything else. I often forget to eat, so having something on hand to quickly heat and eat has truly been a game-changer.
- Hydration that isn't just water. Sipping warm drinks throughout the day that are nourishing — herbal teas, broth, lactation drinks. I am the biggest warm drink fan, even at the peak of summer.
And then there's the pump.
After being tied to that chair with my other three babies, I knew that if I was going to make it work this time, with multiple kids to manage, there was simply no time to sit down to pump. I needed a wearable breast pump that worked with my actual life, not against it.
This time around, I've been using the Breasties Utimate Double Wearable Breast Pump, and honestly, it's been a quiet revolution as a busy mum with no time to stop.
While my old corded breastfeeding pump kept me stuck on the couch, this wearable breast pump slips into my bra and I get on with my day. I've pumped while making food for the older kids, while homeschooling, and while doing all the chores that happen when baby sleeps.
For someone who needs to use a pump to support supply, a wearable breast pump has made it possible to keep going while still juggling the needs of three kids and a baby.
As someone who cares deeply about what comes into contact with my body, I also love that Breastfriend wearable breast pumps are free from BPA, PVC, latex, phthalates, and nitrosamines. They're the lower-tox breastfeeding pump option I've found on the New Zealand market, and that's why they've earned a permanent place in my postpartum toolkit and on my low-tox directory.
The Breasties with their nightlight feature on.
For the mum in the trenches right now
If you're struggling with supply, please know this: it's not because you're failing. Some bodies just need more support, and finding the right combination of tools takes time. Be patient with yourself. Focus on protein, rest where you can find it, and give yourself permission to use the tools that make this season more sustainable.
Breastfeeding is not all-or-nothing. Every drop matters. And the version of breastfeeding that works for you and your family is the right version.
If you'd like to try a Breastfriend wearable breast pump, you can use my code LTR for $25 off the Ultimate Wearable Double Pump.
You've got this, mama.
Sarah is a BreastFriend affiliate and may earn a commission from purchases made using her code. All views and experiences shared are her own.
