The Effectiveness Of Sweet Fennel Administration On Increasing Breast Milk Production In Breastfeeding Mothers

Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months is vital for infant growth and health. However, various studies indicate that a considerable number of mothers experience inadequate breast milk production. One non-pharmacological approach to address this issue is the use of fennel, which contains anethole with estrogenic and galactagogue properties that stimulate the hormones prolactin and oxytocin. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of fennel tea in increasing breast milk production among breastfeeding mothers. The research employed an experimental design using a paired sample T-test. Breast milk volume was measured before fennel administration (pre-test) and after four weeks of fennel consumption (post-test). Prolactin hormone levels in the blood were also analyzed before and after four weeks of fennel intervention. The study population consisted of five breastfeeding mothers aged 2–21 days postpartum, recruited through accidental sampling. The paired sample T-test results demonstrated a statistically significant increase in breast milk volume (t = -53.733, p < 0.001) and prolactin levels (t = -3.079, p < 0.037). These findings indicate that fennel tea significantly enhances both breast milk production and prolactin hormone levels in breastfeeding mothers.