BreastFeeding or Infant Formula:

Whole-foods, Plant-based alternatives when Breastfeeding isn’t an option

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the healthiest start for infants. It is recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) that infants be exclussively breastfed until around the age of 6 months - until solid foods begin to be introduced - and continue until 12 months of age and beyond, for as long as the mother and child desire.

Whilst many mothers can breastfeed, other mothers encounter relative difficulty with breastfeeding.
Illness, previous breast surgery, and conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), hypothyroidism, or underdeveloped breasts can make it difficult to produce enough milk. Some medications can also make it unsafe for babies and can contaminate breast milk.
Moreover, it is not always viable to breastfeed as some employers provide insufficient maternity leave to allow for a full six months of breastfeeding or more.

Mothers who encounter difficulty with breastfeeding do not have to feel defeated or feel like a failure as a mother.
Options to overcome some difficulty with breastfeeding can be obtained with support of one or more health professionals including a lactation consultant, a naturopath and even your General Practitioner.

If breastfeeding seems unachievable for you, searching for an alternative is your next best option.
If you want to raise your baby on a whole food, plant-based (WFPB) diet, there are several options — including plant-based baby formula —that can provide a nutritionally complete diet for your baby.

Work with your Naturopath

A Naturopath can be of major benefit in your journey through breastfeeding. The postpartum period can be an extremely challenging time for a new mother. Recovering from the birth, adjusting to the lack of sleep and learning how to breastfeed are all but many aspects of  motherhood. 

Breastfeeding provides optimal nutrition along with immune support and a host of lifelong health benefits for a child including decreased incidence of obesity and other chronic illnesses such as eczema, allergies and diabetes, whilst also providing health benefits to the mother.    Insufficient milk supply is the most frequently reported reason for early cessation or decreased exclusivity of breastfeeding in women who began breastfeeding from birth. The two most commonly cited reasons for this insufficient milk supply are inadequate feeding frequency and duration or poor latching and therefore inadequate milk transfer.    

While professional lactation support should be the cornerstone in support for new mothers in navigating the challenges of breastfeeding, the addition of herbal medicine and nutrition can also be of great benefit at this time to promote adequate milk supply.    

The ways in which your Naturopath can support you is through the use of nutrient and herb promoting galactagogues. Galactogogues are lactation inducing or a milk boosting substance that promotes lactation in humans and other animals and can be found in food and herbs.      Additionally, nervine and anxiolytic herbs that promote relaxation have also shown to have benefit when combined with galactagogues. These herbs have a long standing traditional use that is still being utilised in today's society

Work with your Lactation Consultant

It’s not unusual for new mothers to have trouble breastfeeding. Before looking into breast milk alternatives, find out if you can correct the problems you’re facing. Many common issues can be overcome with help and education from your doctor, your baby’s pediatrician, or a trained lactation consultant.

Since regular nursing gets your milk flowing, addressing these problems can also increase low milk supply. Eating a wide variety of healthy plant-based foods, including oatmeal, chickpeas, leafy greens, fennel, and almonds, will help to support lactation as you continue to breastfeed.

Try a plant-based baby formula


If breastfeeding problems persist or you have a condition that makes breastfeeding difficult, you can try a baby formula made with plant-based ingredients.

This gets a little tricky if you’re looking for something WFPB. Most infant formulas contain processed sweeteners, isolated nutrients, and extracted proteins. That’s because the TGA’s standards & FSANZ regulations for formulas are based on the specific combination of nutrients that babies need to thrive. Fortification is necessary for formulas to meet these standards.

Currently, mums in Australia have one mostly whole-food option: Sprout plant-based infant formula, which is suitable for babies between 0-12 months of age.

If this formula does not suit your infants needs or does not sit quite right with your bub, please seek extra support from your naturopath or lactation consultant to find another alternative that may be necessary.


The formula you choose should contain:

  • Vitamins A, D, E and K

  • B vitamins

  • Folate

  • Calcium

  • Zinc

  • Iron

  • Healthy fats

  • A carbohydrate source

Be aware that the vitamin D3 in many “plant-based” formulas is sourced from lanolin, a waxy substance that comes from sheep’s wool

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FAMILY & KIDS