Functional Nutrition for Pregnancy & Postpartum: Support Your Health and Your Baby’s Wellbeing

Published Oct 5, 2025

Author: Robin Kaplan, M.Ed, IBCLC, FNC

Pregnancy and postpartum are often painted as joyful seasons—but the truth is, they can also feel overwhelming, exhausting, and full of confusing symptoms. Maybe you’ve been told your bloating, constipation, or fatigue are “just part of postpartum.” Or that your baby’s fussiness is normal and they’ll eventually grow out of it. Perhaps you’ve even been advised to “just cut out dairy” without anyone looking deeper into what’s really going on.

ABOUT SDBFC

The San Diego Breastfeeding Center was established in 2009 by Robin Kaplan, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Functional Nutritionist, and parent.  Her vision was to create a judgment-free, inclusive support system for families navigating infant feeding challenges. 

SDBFC offers a wide range of one-on-one breastfeeding, infant feeding, and nutrition consultations - as well as classes, support groups, online articles, and social media - making it your one-stop-shop for all things infant feeding!

Why Functional Nutrition Matters for Lactating Parents

Our medical history and diet play a huge role in shaping our gut microbiome. Over time, things like thyroid conditions, insulin sensitivity, PCOS, antibiotics, or food intolerances can cause inflammation in the body. This inflammation impacts how we digest food, absorb nutrients, process hormones like insulin and estrogen, and how our body feels overall.

When you’re producing milk, this becomes an even bigger part of the story. If your gut isn’t breaking down proteins well, your baby may react to some of the foods you eat—not because the food itself is “bad,” but because of how your body is processing it. That’s why simply removing dairy or waiting for your baby to “grow out of it” is often just a band-aid. Functional nutrition looks deeper at your health history to heal your gut, which in turn helps your baby digest your milk more comfortably.

And if antibiotics were given during pregnancy, labor, or postpartum, rebuilding “good” bacteria for both parent and baby can help remedy mucus in stool, colic-like symptoms, constipation, and yeast.

What if you didn’t have to just wait it out? With the right support, you can address the root causes of your symptoms, restore balance, and help both you and your baby thrive.

What is Functional Nutrition?

Functional nutrition connects the dots between symptoms and their root causes. Instead of quick fixes, it looks at diet, lifestyle, illness, stress, environment, and genetics to create a personalized plan that supports long-term health for you and your baby.

Who Benefits from a Prenatal Functional Nutrition Appointment?

Pregnancy is the perfect time to lay a strong foundation for both your health and your baby’s development. Functional nutrition may be especially helpful if you are:

• Preparing for lactation after a history of low milk supply or breastfeeding/chestfeeding challenges

• Managing conditions like PCOS, thyroid imbalance, or gestational diabetes

• Looking for a holistic, evidence-based approach to support pregnancy and baby’s growth

Who Benefits from a Postpartum Functional Nutrition Appointment?

The postpartum period brings healing, shifting hormones, and new demands—especially if you’re lactating. Support may be most helpful for:

• Adults with chronic inflammation, autoimmune conditions, PCOS, insulin resistance, or gut challenges

• Lactating parents struggling with unexplained low supply, plugged ducts, or recurring breast infections

• Parents or babies experiencing constipation, diarrhea, bloating, or other digestive discomfort

• Babies with reflux, colic, suspected food intolerances, or yeast-related issues

Benefits of Meeting with a Functional Nutrition Counselor

One of the biggest benefits? Being heard. Instead of dismissing symptoms, functional nutrition helps uncover the why behind them—so you can heal and feel better long term. Outcomes may include:

• Improved digestion and gut health (for parent and baby!)

• Reduced inflammation and food/nutrient absorption

• Enhanced immune function

• Balanced hormones

• Robust milk supply

• Improved mood and mental health

• Lower risk of chronic conditions like thyroid imbalance, insulin resistance, and autoimmune disorders

Do All Functional Nutrition Counselors Recommend Elimination Diets?

Not at all. Functional nutrition is personalized, not one-size-fits-all. While elimination diets can help identify food sensitivities, they’re not always needed.

• Food journals may be used to spot patterns and triggers

• If an elimination diet is suggested, it’s usually temporary.  And we always provide replacement food recommendations and recipes!

• The goal is to heal underlying issues so foods can be reintroduced

• Recommendations may also include supplements and lifestyle changes for lasting results

Taking the Next Step

If you’re curious about whether functional nutrition could help during pregnancy or postpartum, the best place to start is with a conversation. 

Here’s how to get started:

• Book your appointment with our IBCLC + functional nutrition counselor, Robin Kaplan (SDBFC Founder and Owner!) 

• Fill out our comprehensive intake form so we can understand your full health picture, as well as your baby’s.

• Begin your personalized journey with a plan designed just for you and your baby

Whether you’re navigating pregnancy, the early postpartum weeks, or beyond, functional nutrition can be the key to feeling more energized, balanced, and healthy. We can’t wait to help you and your baby thrive.

Don’t let milk supply or digestion troubles cause stress for you or your baby!  At each functional nutrition appointment, our IBCLC/Functional Nutritionist completes a full medical history and lactation intake, discusses feeding patterns and symptoms, and offers strategies for supporting your milk supply and healing underlying conditions. Plus, if you are already working with a lactation consultant, we will work collaboratively to support their recommendations and weave in functional nutrition components!  Book a one-on-one functional nutrition consultation today

SDBFC is committed to providing high-quality lactation and functional nutrition consultations to parents in San Diego and beyond. Explore our postpartum, prenatal, and functional nutrition consultations, take a breastfeeding class or attend a workshop.

About the Author

Robin Kaplan has been an IBCLC since 2009, the same year that she opened up the San Diego Breastfeeding Center.  Robin was the founding host of the Boob Group podcast and published her first book, Latch: a Handbook for Breastfeeding with Confidence at Every Stage in 2018.  Melding her passions for supporting lactating parents and holistic health, Robin finished her Functional Nutrition Certification in 2023. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her two teenage boys, hiking, traveling, weaving, cooking, and searching for the best chai latte.

The Secret Link Between Liver Health and Milk Supply

Published: Jan 25, 2025

Author: Robin Kaplan, M.Ed, IBCLC, FNC

When we think about lactation, we often focus on the chest/breasts themselves, but did you know that the liver plays a central role in your body’s ability to produce milk? This powerhouse organ helps regulate hormones such as estrogen, androgens, and insulin—all of which play an important role in milk production. It also manages inflammation, ensuring that your body’s systems work in harmony. But disruptions in liver function—often linked to conditions like insulin resistance, PCOS, or leaky gut—can impact milk supply and make chest/breastfeeding more challenging.

Let’s explore the liver’s role in lactation, how insulin helps prepare your body during pregnancy and postpartum, and practical ways to support your liver and overall health for the most robust milk supply possible!

ABOUT SDBFC

The San Diego Breastfeeding Center was established in 2009 by Robin Kaplan, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Functional Nutritionist, and parent.  Her vision was to create a judgment-free, inclusive support system for families navigating infant feeding challenges.  SDBFC offers a wide range of one-on-one breastfeeding, infant feeding, and nutrition consultations - as well as classes, support groups, online articles, and social media - making it your one-stop-shop for all things infant feeding!

Why Insulin is Important During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Insulin does more than regulate blood sugar; it’s also a critical hormone for lactation. During pregnancy, insulin helps build mammary gland tissue, laying the foundation for milk production. This is especially important in late pregnancy when your body prepares for making milk.

After birth, insulin sensitivity helps regulate prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production. If your insulin sensitivity is low—a common issue with conditions like PCOS or gestational diabetes—it can delay lactogenesis (the onset of milk production) or result in a lower milk supply. Ensuring optimal insulin function during pregnancy and postpartum is essential for a robust milk supply and positive chest/breastfeeding outcomes.

How PCOS and Insulin Resistance Impact Lactation

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and insulin resistance are common conditions that can significantly impact insulin sensitivity, liver function, and ultimately lactation. In PCOS, hormonal imbalances often lead to higher levels of androgens, which can interfere with ovulation and milk production. Additionally, insulin resistance—a hallmark of PCOS—can impair the liver’s ability to use insulin efficiently. This creates a feedback loop of heightened inflammation, poor blood sugar regulation, and disrupted hormone balance.

For chest/breastfeeding parents, these issues can delay or reduce milk supply. The liver’s role in processing insulin and hormones becomes even more critical in mitigating these effects. Supporting liver health can help break this cycle, improve hormonal regulation, and promote an easier lactation experience.

How to Support Liver and Gut Health for Lactation

The good news is that there are evidence-based strategies you can implement to support your liver’s function and improve insulin sensitivity. By making small, manageable changes to your diet and lifestyle, you can create a healthier foundation for lactation and overall well-being. If you’re unsure how to make these accommodations, working with a functional nutrition counselor, like Robin, can be a helpful step.

1.  Prioritize a Low-Carb, High-Fiber Diet

Your liver and gut are closely connected through the gut-liver axis, meaning that improving one often supports the other. Here are practical ways to nurture both:

• Focus on low-starch vegetables to support liver health and reduce blood sugar spikes.  These tend to be the veggies that grow above ground, like leafy greens, zucchini, and asparagus.

• Incorporate fiber-rich foods such as berries, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and non-starchy vegetables to promote gut health and improve insulin sensitivity.

• Minimize refined sugars and highly processed carbs that can contribute to insulin resistance.

• Include healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, and fatty fish to reduce inflammation and support hormone production.

2. Engage in Regular Physical Activity

• Activities like walking, yoga, or strength training improve insulin sensitivity, reduce systemic inflammation, and support the liver’s ability to metabolize fat and hormones.

• Aim for 20-30 minutes of moderate exercise most days, adjusting intensity based on how far along you are in your pregnancy and postpartum recovery stage.

• Focus on physical activities that you enjoy and look forward to, so it doesn’t feel like a chore.

• Incorporate your baby into physical activity, such as stroller walks, babywearing yoga, parent-and-me fitness classes, or hanging out on a playmat while you do a quick YouTube workout, so you don’t have to find childcare.

3. Consider Liver- and Gut-Supportive Herbs and Supplements

If you're currently using an herbal blend to support your milk supply, you may already be consuming some of these ingredients, as many herbs recommended for boosting milk supply also support liver function. (WOW, right?)

*** Before starting any new supplements, it's important to consult with someone who is knowledgeable about herbs and supplements—someone who can guide you on how they might interact with anything you're already taking, and help determine which ones are most suitable for your body.

• Milk thistle: Known for enhancing liver detoxification and repair.

• Turmeric: Contains curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory and liver-protective effects.

• Artichoke extract: Promotes bile production and overall liver function.

• Collagen or bone broth: Helps repair the gut lining and supports gut health.

• L-glutamine: An amino acid that supports intestinal integrity and reduces gut inflammation.

4. Keep On Lactating

• Producing milk for at least six months significantly improves blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of insulin resistance long term. 

• Chest/breastfeeding not only benefits your baby but also promotes lasting metabolic health and supports your body’s hormonal balance during the postpartum period. 

• Additionally, lactating for longer than six months may help you build a more robust milk supply with each consecutive baby, setting the stage for smoother chest/breastfeeding experiences in the future.

Supporting Your Liver, Gut, and Hormones for a Robust Milk Supply

Taking care of your liver and gut health can be a gentle way to support your body in balancing hormones and managing inflammation—both of which play important roles in lactation. Small adjustments to your diet, movement, and supplements can have a meaningful impact on your milk supply and chest/breastfeeding experience.

If you're facing challenges with low milk production, please know that you're not alone. Every chest/breastfeeding journey is unique, and it’s okay to feel uncertain or frustrated at times. If you suspect underlying health concerns like PCOS, insulin resistance, or gut issues, making a functional nutrition appointment can be a helpful step toward understanding what’s going on and finding the support you need. Your body is doing its best, and with the right care and guidance, you can make progress toward the breastfeeding experience you hope for.

Ready to Support Your Milk Supply?

Whether you're pregnant and looking to become more insulin sensitive or postpartum and facing challenges with milk production, Robin Kaplan, Functional Nutrition Counselor, is here to help. Robin can guide you through personalized nutrition plans and gentle lifestyle adjustments to support your liver, gut, and hormones, optimizing your body's ability to produce milk and manage inflammation.

Reach out today to schedule your one-on-one appointment with Robin (consider a virtual appointment, if you don’t live in San Diego!) and take the next step toward a more nourishing and confident chest/breastfeeding experience. Your body’s potential is greater than you may think, and Robin’s compassionate, individualized care can help you unlock it.

SDBFC is committed to providing high-quality lactation and functional nutrition consultations to parents in San Diego and beyond. Explore our postpartum, prenatal, and functional nutrition consultations, take a breastfeeding class or attend a workshop.

About the Author

Robin Kaplan has been an IBCLC since 2009, the same year that she opened up the San Diego Breastfeeding Center.  Robin was the founding host of the Boob Group podcast and published her first book, Latch: a Handbook for Breastfeeding with Confidence at Every Stage in 2018.  Melding her passions for supporting lactating parents and holistic health, Robin finished her Functional Nutrition Certification in 2023. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her two teenage boys, hiking, traveling, weaving, cooking, and searching for the best chai latte.