Best Protein Shake While Breastfeeding

Are you looking for the best protein shakes while breastfeeding to help with your breastfeeding journey?

Then let us help you find a protein powder you love with our guide to the best protein powders safe for breastfeeding!

Breastfeeding is more than those adorable pictures of a mom holding her baby. It takes a lot of time and effort and drains your body. In addition, your body uses vitamins and nutrients to provide all the food your baby needs. That’s where drinking protein supplements for breastfeeding moms can be a real benefit.

Protein powder is a safe and helpful way to supply your body with the nutrients it needs. Staying healthy and well-nourished supports your breastfeeding journey and helps with weight loss. Eating the appropriate amount of protein each aids in weight loss if you are on that journey.

Plus, let’s be honest; moms are busy. It is easy to forget to eat breakfast or lunch, so protein shakes are a quick and easy way to take in a lot of nutrients at one time. Drink them as shakes or toss a scoop into your morning smoothie for an extra boost of nutrients right when you need them the most.

Protein is essential during breastfeeding and throughout your daily life. It’s a vital building block in your diet that builds muscles, repairs tissue, and makes enzymes and hormones. In addition, research suggests protein enhances your immune system, which may be decreased during pregnancy.

Getting enough protein in your diet from natural sources is difficult, especially in the early weeks after birth. Your brain is foggy, and sometimes, eating takes the backseat. The last thing you are thinking about is how much protein you consume.

The good news we have put together this list of the best protein powder for breastfeeding moms that are safe for you and your baby. So, mix up a shake and know you are giving your body all you need.

And if you love this guide on the best protein shake for breastfeeding moms, then make sure to check out these guides on the best snacks for breastfeeding moms, breastfeeding tips for new moms, best bra for breastfeeding moms, and best baby carriers for breastfeeding. Or even our guide on the best collagen for breastfeeding moms!

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List of the 9 Best Protein Shakes While Breastfeeding

Best Protein Powder For Breastfeeding

1. Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein Powder

Our list of the best protein shakes while breastfeeding starts with Garden of Life Raw Protein. This is a safe option for mothers with pea protein as the main ingredient. The nutritional profile is impressive, with essential amino acids and probiotics.

Garden of Life uses erythritol, a fruit sugar alcohol safe for breastfeeding mothers, to sweeten and stevia extract. Some other impressive ingredients include raw sprouted seeds, grains, legumes, and 3 billion CFUs of live probiotics.

This organic protein powder is excellent for your digestive system! Each serving includes:

• 22 grams of protein
• 110 calories
• 0 grams of sugar

Garden of Life helps your body rebuild muscles and reduce recovery time. This is perfect during the postpartum months. In addition, the blend contains vitamins like vitamins A, D, E, and K; these help your immune system and digestive health.

Pros

• Great price
• Plant-based protein
• Contains healthy ingredients
• Great for postpartum healing
• Plenty of probiotics

Cons

• Overpowering flavor

2. Naked Whey Vanilla Protein Powder

Pure ingredients are a big deal when picking protein shakes for breastfeeding moms. Naked Whey is 100% grass-fed whey protein without other additives. While this is their vanilla blend, it doesn’t have a lot of flavors. They suggest you blend as you want and add sweeteners as you prefer.

This powder only has three ingredients: whey protein, vanilla, and coconut sugar. That’s impressive, and you know it’s a safe choice. Naked sources their whey protein from small dairy farms across the United States. So, this whey protein is packed full of essential amino acids.

The stats of Naked Whey are fantastic. Each serving includes:

• 25 grams of protein
• 120 calories per serving
• 5.9 grams of BCAAs, an amino acid.

One reason Naked Whey stands out is that it’s cold-processed, so there isn’t any contamination from chemicals, additives, or heavy metals. In addition, you can grab their other flavors, which include vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and unflavored.

Pros

• Only three ingredients
• 100% grass-fed collagen
• Full of amino acids
• Cold-pressed
• It comes in several flavors.

Cons

• Expensive

3. Pink Stork Pregnancy + Nursing Protein

You might recognize the name Pink Stork because this brand creates all sorts of goodies for pregnant mothers. For example, their bath salts are amazing and help your body feel great after a warm bath. Pink Stork focuses on the health and wellness of pregnant moms.

Their protein supports muscle and joint recovery while supporting healthy hair, skin, and nail growth. It also provides inflammation relief and nausea relief! You get all the essential ingredients like collagen, whey protein, and calcium.

So, it’s no wonder their Pregnancy + Nursing Protein Powder makes our list! Besides the adorable label – we always eat with our eyes first! – their chocolate whey protein powder offers mothers what their body needs. Each serving contains:

• 20 grams of protein
• 90 calories per serving
• Collagen peptides

Pink Stork is an affordable option, so if you feel you can’t buy some of the more expensive options, you don’t have to! This protein shake is a great option. Reviews say that blending with milk and ice helps with the texture, which is a bit thicker than you may enjoy.

Pros

• Great texture
• Supports muscles and joints
• Contains great ingredients
• Affordable

Cons

• Strange aftertaste
• Thicker texture

4. Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth Protein Powder

Healthy joints and digestive system are essential during pregnancy, and Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth Protein Powder is a great way to ensure your joints and gut stay healthy.

Bone broth protein powder is highly nutritious and tastes delicious. It’s also easy on the stomach, so if you regularly get sick when drinking protein powders, this option is excellent. Ancient Nutrition formulas their powder with chicken bone broth, containing nutrients such as collagen type II, hyaluronic acid, and 18 other amino acids.

Ancient Nutrition Protein Powder comes in three flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and unflavored. The unflavored option is excellent if you want to mix the powder into food like smoothies, oatmeal, and sauces.

Each serving contains

• 20 grams of protein
• 100 calories
• 2 grams of carbohydrates

Ancient Nutrition uses clean and pure sources. They use non-GMO ingredients, and their chickens are sourced from cage-free, cruelty-free, sustainable farms throughout the United States. As a result, you can feel comfortable using their products.

Pros

• Great ingredients
• Keeps your joint and digestive system healthy
• It contains collagen and amino acids.
• Three flavors available
• Clean and pure sources

Cons

• Doesn’t dissolve easily in hot liquids.
• It doesn’t blend well.

5. Milk Dust Plant-Based Protein for Lactation

One of the newest lactation protein powders on the market is Milk Dust. It is a bit more costly than other brands, but it contains a unique lactation blend that helps give you a milk production boost.

Three moms teamed together to create and formulate Milk Dust for nursing mothers. Their goal is to help mothers keep a high milk supply while losing weight and consuming a balanced diet. This powder is formulated with breastfeeding mothers in mind.

Milk Dust focuses on giving breastfeeding moms all the nutritional elements they need. The blend helps mothers with their sugar cravings while also providing nursing moms with folate in a form all women absorb well.

Each serving of Milk Dust includes:

• 16 grams of plant-based protein
• Digestive enzymes
• Greens blend

The ingredients are great too! It contains a handful of galactagogues that increase lactation for many mothers, such as milk thistle, red raspberry leaf, brewer’s yeast, fennel seed, and fenugreek seeds. However, fennel has a licorice flavor that may influence your feelings about this protein powder.

Milk Dust includes cinnamon to complement the fennel. The blend of flavors works well, and some women love it!

Pros

• It contains lactation-boosting ingredients for your milk supply.
• Low in calories and fat
• Cinnamon balances the fennel flavor.

Cons

• Some don’t like the fennel flavor.
• Some dislike the taste of stevia.

You can buy the Milk Dust Plant-Based Protein for Lactation from Milk Dust.

6. Boobie Body Superfood Protein Shakes for Mom

Boobie Body is a plant-based protein shake for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. It contains all sorts of delicious ingredients that don’t taste like drinking chalk water. They added a chocolate flavor, which makes it taste as close to a chocolate frosty that a protein shake will get.

Boobie Body is an organic protein powder; its main ingredient is organic pea protein with monk fruit extract and stevia as sweeteners. The ingredient list includes maca root to increase your milk supply, chia seeds, and complete amino acids.

Drinking Boobie Body offers nursing moms plenty of nutrients, such as:

• 19 grams of protein
• 6 grams of fiber
• Prebiotics and probiotics support a healthy digestive system.
• Added vitamin D3 to support your immune and bone health.

These protein shakes are USDA-certified organic, dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, keto-friendly, and non-GMO. So, you can feel great about consuming this powder. Boobie Body sells its powder in four flavors: chocolate, coffee caramel, vanilla chai, and vanilla cookie. Yum!

Pros

• Plant-Based Protein
• Certified USDA Organic
• No added sugar
• Supports healthy digestion and bone health

Cons

• Some don’t like the flavor of the stevia.

7. Milk Drunk Dairy Free Protein Powder for Breastfeeding 

Milk Dust is explicitly designed for breastfeeding mothers and weight loss. It utilizes a blend of milk-boosting herbs like turmeric, cinnamon bark root, and chromium, a mineral used to balance blood sugar. The formula also contains vitamins like folate, which is essential for lactation.

Milk Drunk is one of the few powders that use a lactation blend of oats, flax, and brewer’s yeast. These are known galactagogues, foods that are known to promote better milk production. In addition, this powder uses pea protein as the main ingredient, with cane sugar and stevia as sweeteners.

Each serving from Milk Drunk includes:

• 17 grams of protein
• 162 calories
• 3 grams of fat
• 18 grams of carbohydrates

This protein powder includes vitamin B12 for energy and superfoods like blueberries and spinach. It’s a non-GMO, vegan, plant-based powder free of soy, gluten, dairy, and corn. The clean, nutrient-dense ingredients work great for postpartum healing, lactation, and weight loss.

Moms craving sugar will love this powder because it’s sweetened with a blend of Stevia, monk fruit, and organic cane juice. So, it’s sweet but not sickening sweet; it tastes like you are drinking a milkshake. It comes in several flavors, including strawberry, mocha, chocolate, and salted caramel.

Pros

• Includes lactation blend to increase milk production
• Clean ingredients
• Plant-based
• Several flavors offered

Cons

• Higher levels of carbohydrates and fats

8. Ora Organic Vegan Protein Powder

Ora Organics is a leading, excellent protein shakes for breastfeeding moms. It contains clean, nutrient-dense ingredients, including phytonutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins. The ingredients don’t include additives, chemicals, or artificial sweeteners.

The primary protein source from Ora Organics comes from organic pea protein and rice protein. This powder uses whole-food ingredients sourced from USDA organic certified farms.

One of the reasons why nursing moms should drink Ora Organics is that it’s not full of bulky calories and contains a complete amino acid profile. Not all plant-based protein powders contain complete amino acids, and it also has superfoods and greens. So, you get more than just protein; digestive enzymes work in the powder to keep your digestive system healthy and active.

Digestive enzymes are a great addition!

With all the stress breastfeeding moms experience, these enzymes help your body heal after birth. They also kick problems like IBS to the curb and decrease your side effects.

Each serving from Ora Organics includes:

• 21 grams of protein
• 5 grams of carbohydrates
• Only 1 gram of sugar
• Two servings of greens

Pros

• Plant-based protein
• Soy, gluten, and lactose-free
• Two servings of greens
• Contains digestive enzymes

Cons

• Some say it has a chalky taste.

9. Majka Organic Lactation Protein Powder for Nursing Moms

A newer protein powder on the market is the Majka Organic Protein Powder. The ingredient list is fantastic and includes a lactation blend of fennel and fenugreek that help to increase your milk supply naturally. This protein powder has all the milk-boosting ingredients you need, so skip those oats for breakfast and lactation cookies.

The protein powder contains probiotics, digestive enzymes, a fruit blend, and a greens blend. Not only does it give you protein, but you also get vitamins and minerals you may not consume in your diet regularly.

The ingredients are fantastic!

You’ll find organic pea protein, hemp seed protein, sunflower seed protein, pumpkin seed protein, and more. You get all of your greens and digestive enzymes, so it offers a broad spectrum of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals.

Majka is a safe powder free of heavily processed whey protein, synthetic ingredients, and artificial sweeteners. In addition, it’s non-GMO, dairy-free, and soy-free, so anyone can enjoy this powder.

Pros

• It contains milk-boosting ingredients.
• Plenty of vitamins and nutrients
• Daily greens dose
• It contains probiotics and digestive enzymes.

Cons

• Some don’t like the flavor
• The price is high.

How to Pick The Best Protein Shake for Breastfeeding Moms

The Ingredients

Ideally, the protein shakes you pick wouldn’t have weird fillers or ingredients. Protein shakes with a long list of artificial ingredients are a red flag.

Look for natural ingredients, organic ingredients, digestive enzymes, amino acids, and omega-3 fatty acids. Avoid heavy metals, unnecessary sugars, caffeine, and fat-burning mixes.

You also want to make sure the ingredients include vitamins and minerals. Some essential vitamins to look for in the ingredients include vitamins A, C, and B complex. That also includes folate, a vitamin breastfeeding moms need.

Look for minerals as well! Iron, calcium, and potassium are essential for your nursing journey.

Plant Protein vs. Whey Protein Powder

One thing you have to decide is which type of protein is best for you. Those who prefer vegan options, go for plant-based protein powders. These are excellent options for those who are lactose intolerant since whey, or collagen protein shakes may upset your stomach.

However, if those factors don’t matter, whey protein may be better for you.

Whey protein tends to cost less than plant-based protein, but it’s still possible to have clean ingredients. Collagen proteins are significant for your skin, hair, and nails, some problem areas women struggle with during the postpartum period.

Here are a few considerations.

• Those who are sensitive or allergic to dairy should pick a plant-based protein.
• Plant-based or bone broth protein is preferable if your stomach regularly gets upset with protein shakes.
• Whey protein is the best choice for your wallet if you are on a tight budget.

Consider Allergens

It’s always important to avoid allergens and consider sensitives you may have. If you tend to react to different blends, try picking a simpler formula with fewer ingredients. The ones loaded with sugar or high fructose corn syrup tend to be the ones that cause the most problems.

Texture and Taste

Let’s be honest; we all have tried terrible protein powders that taste like you are drinking the chalk your teacher used in 3rd grade.

Gross.

The texture is a real consideration when picking protein shakes for breastfeeding moms. While the company may tell you that theirs is excellent, they all say that. So, read the reviews! The reviews are where people tell you the truth about whether or not it’s chalky and nasty, so be sure to read.

FAQs about Protein Shakes When Breastfeeding

Final Thoughts On The Best Protein Shakes for Breastfeeding Moms

Getting enough protein in your diet while pumping and nursing is crucial.

We hope this guide has helped you to find a protein powder for breastfeeding you’ll love to give you the protein and vitamin boost you need.

And if you love this guide on the best protein shake while breastfeeding, then make sure to check out these guides on the best bassinets for breastfeeding, best lactation supplements, best breast pumps for low milk supply, and my Brest Friend vs Boppy nursing pillows review. Or even our guide on the best probiotics for breastfeeding moms!