How Acupuncture Helps with Breastfeeding and Milk Supply

How Acupuncture Helps with Breastfeeding and Milk Supply

by | Oct 20, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

and the Groundbreaking Finding — Breastfeeding Linked to Lasting Immune Protection Against Breast Cancer

(Updated October 21, 2025)

If you are reading this…

You may have already welcomed your dream baby, are currently pregnant and preparing, or perhaps you’re just starting your fertility journey. Whatever your stage, one truth remains — breastfeeding can bring unexpected challenges. Licensed acupuncturists can play an important role in helping you overcome them and make the experience more comfortable, successful, and even more protective for your long-term health.

My Breastfeeding Journey: From Struggles to Success

When I had my firstborn, I thought breastfeeding would be natural and easy. Instead, it was frustrating, painful, and demanding. After a C-section, I struggled with low milk supply and poor latch. Within weeks, I was facing cracked nipples and early mastitis.

What made the difference? Acupuncture and lactation support.

Through consistent acupuncture treatments and help from experienced lactation nurses, my milk supply increased, inflammation reduced, and I could continue breastfeeding. It took about ten weeks for things to normalize, but I succeeded — and my second breastfeeding journey was completely different: easy latch, no pain, and strong milk flow.

Every pregnancy and breastfeeding story is unique, but you don’t have to face these challenges alone.

Common Breastfeeding Challenges

Many new mothers experience one or more of these:

  • Low milk supply

  • Painful or cracked nipples

  • Blocked ducts (affecting up to two-thirds of nursing women)

  • Mastitis (infection if a duct remains blocked)

While these issues can feel discouraging, natural and effective solutions are available.

How Acupuncture Helps with Breastfeeding and Milk Supply

The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) View

In TCM, breast milk is seen as a transformation of Blood and Qi (vital energy). Low supply often reflects deficiency or stagnation — from exhaustion, emotional stress, or post-delivery imbalance.
Acupuncture strengthens the mother’s vitality, improves circulation, and unblocks meridians associated with the breast and chest region, helping the milk flow naturally.

The Biomedical Perspective

1. Hormonal Regulation

Acupuncture stimulates prolactin and oxytocin — the two main hormones responsible for milk production and let-down.

  • Prolactin promotes milk synthesis.

  • Oxytocin triggers the “let-down reflex.”

Research shows acupuncture helps regulate the hypothalamic–pituitary axis, improving hormonal balance for breastfeeding mothers.

2. Improved Circulation

By enhancing blood flow and micro-circulation in the breast tissue, acupuncture delivers more oxygen and nutrients to mammary glands, supporting milk quantity and quality.

3. Reducing Inflammation & Mastitis Risk

Acupuncture has measurable anti-inflammatory effects, decreasing cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α and improving lymphatic drainage. This can help prevent or relieve blocked ducts and mastitis.

4. Stress Relief & Emotional Support

Anxiety, fatigue, or emotional strain can suppress milk let-down. Acupuncture activates the parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) system, helping mothers relax — improving hormonal signaling and emotional connection during feeding.

5. Faster Postpartum Recovery

After birth or C-section, acupuncture supports healing by improving circulation, reducing swelling, and restoring energy levels, making breastfeeding more comfortable.

💡 Acupressure Tip:
Before breastfeeding, apply gentle pressure to GB21 (Jianjing) — the midpoint between your neck and shoulder — for about 3 minutes to promote milk flow and relaxation.

NEW RESEARCH (October 2025): Breastfeeding Protects Mothers from Breast Cancer

A groundbreaking study published in Nature (October 21 2025) by Professor Sherene Loi and her team at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia, has revealed how breastfeeding provides lasting immune protection against breast cancer.

The researchers discovered that women who breastfeed develop specialized CD8⁺ T cells that remain in breast tissue for decades after childbirth. These immune cells act like local guards, attacking abnormal cells that might turn into cancer — offering natural protection, particularly against triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms.

“We found that women who have breastfed have more specialized immune cells that ‘live’ in the breast tissue long after childbirth,” explains Prof. Loi.
“These cells help defend against tumour growth and may explain why women who breastfeed live longer after a breast cancer diagnosis.”

This study, “Parity and lactation induce T cell-mediated breast cancer protection”, provides the first biological explanation for why pregnancy and breastfeeding lower lifetime breast-cancer risk — showing that the process creates a long-term immune memory in breast tissue.

📖 Read the full paper on Nature.com

Why This Matters

Breastfeeding benefits both mother and baby:

  • For the baby — it provides ideal nutrition, antibodies, and immune protection.

  • For the mother — it supports hormone balance, helps the uterus return to normal, assists weight loss, reduces postpartum stress, and, as new research confirms, protects against breast cancer through long-term immune activation.

Supporting lactation naturally through acupuncture not only helps mothers overcome early breastfeeding difficulties but may also empower them to continue breastfeeding longer — amplifying these lifelong health benefits.

When to Seek Help

If you are experiencing:

  • Low milk supply

  • Pain or blocked ducts

  • Early mastitis symptoms

  • Stress, fatigue, or emotional strain

Don’t wait until it becomes overwhelming. Early acupuncture support can help you recover faster and breastfeed more comfortably.

Integrative Strategies to Enhance Breastfeeding Success

To optimize outcomes, acupuncture is best combined with a holistic postpartum care plan:

  • Nutritional support: Eat warm, nourishing foods rich in iron, protein, and healthy fats.

  • Hydration: Adequate water intake is essential for milk volume.

  • Herbal medicine: Certain TCM formulas can safely enhance lactation under professional supervision.

  • Lactation consultation: Work with a certified lactation consultant for personalized breastfeeding techniques.

  • Massage therapy: Gentle chest and upper back massage can improve circulation and relieve tension that restricts milk flow.

Final Thoughts

Breastfeeding can be both rewarding and challenging. Acupuncture offers a safe, natural, and research-supported way to help mothers increase milk supply, reduce inflammation, relieve stress, and recover from childbirth.

At Priscilla Kerr Wellness, we take a compassionate and evidence-informed approach to postpartum care — blending Traditional Chinese Medicine with modern health science to help you and your baby thrive.

Book Your Postpartum Consultation

At Priscilla Kerr Wellness, we combine Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, and integrative care to support your recovery and your baby’s best start.

📍 103 Scurfield Boulevard Unit A, Winnipeg MB R3Y 1M6
📞 204-788-5715 ✉️ frontdesk@kerrwellness.ca
🌐 www.kerrwellness.ca