Best Healthy Protein Powder Shakes for Breastfeeding Moms

The Best Protein Powder Shakes that are Safe for Nursing Mothers

What are the best protein shakes for breastfeeding moms? When trying to drop the baby weight and lead a healthy lifestyle protein powders are the secret key!

Whey protein powders and vegan plant based protein powders are wonderful for breastfeeding mothers and all the protein powder shakes on this list are packed with natural galactagogues to increase milk supply and your breast milk’s nutritional content.

These are the top protein shakes for breastfeeding moms no matter your dietary needs or taste preference!

It is very important to be sure your protein shake is safe for breastfeeding!

All protein powders are considered supplements so should be cleared by your trusted physician before adding into your breastfeeding diet plan.

Some of these protein powders are whey, some are vegan, some sweet, and others not as much.

**This post contains affiliate links to products I use and love and am confident you will too! Please read full disclosure here.**

protein shakes for breastfeeding mothers that are safe for baby and help to increase breast milk supply

The Best Protein Shakes for Breastfeeding Moms for Losing the Baby Weight

I’m a mother of three and a fitness trainer specializing in prenatal through postpartum nutrition and fitness and my best tip for quickly dropping the baby weight is supplementing your meals or snacks with delicious lactation protein powder smoothies with added galactagogues to boost milk supply.

Check out my other top tips for losing the baby weight in a fast and healthy way here.

I dropped the baby weight by 6 weeks 3 times through diet alone. I know that nourishing your body with the best foods and a high quality nutrient dense protein powder shake is a highly effective way to lose the baby weight postpartum.

When you have a new baby you are exhausted and overwhelmed.

Your body has just accomplished an enormous feat and deserves some rest and recuperation.

As a CPT, I know that abs are made in the kitchen, not at the gym. Yes it’s totally cliche, and it’s also totally true.

Right now your biggest and most important mommy jobs are to supply your baby with health and nutrition through adequate breast milk and to heal to the best of your ability.

But even knowing the monumental task that our bodies just went through, most of us are eager to drop the extra pounds and feel like our normal selves again after a pregnancy. Choosing the right diet and exercise plan is key to keeping that milk supply high while shedding the extra baby weight.

Postpartum Weight Loss While Breastfeeding

There is one struggle that so many moms have postpartum, knowing how to lose the baby weight safely while breastfeeding. Can you even do that? How can you diet and breastfeed? How can you lose the excess weight and not lose your milk supply?

What about losing the baby weight while INCREASING your milky supply?

For years I’ve been asked by my mom clients these same questions in different ways again and again. So as a certified online health coach, fitness trainer, maternal nutrition specialist, and mom of 3, I decided to compile the proven successful postpartum diet and exercise plan that I created for my breastfeeding mom clients into a program that now anyone can have access to!

It’s called the Milky Mama’s Postpartum Plan and it is built for you! To teach you everything you need to know to be successful at postpartum weight loss while breastfeeding and learning to make more milk!

Check out my 28 day plan now to help you regain strength postpartum with short effective workouts, increase your milk supply with loads of delicious recipes, and finally lose that excess baby weight at the same time!

What are the BEST Protein Shakes for Postpartum for Breastfeeding Mothers in 2025?

The options for protein shakes are seemingly endless these days. Every store has shelves of protein powder shakes all touted as health foods. But are they all really that healthy?

Short answer?

No way.

Lots of protein shakes are loaded with artificial sweeteners, sugar, artificial flavors, and fillers. So how are you to know what actually constitutes a healthy protein powder that is safe while you are breastfeeding?

It is very important to get enough protein so you can keep a high milk supply and produce enough protein in your milk to help baby grow. Every cell in your and your baby’s bodies directly need protein!

Whey, Plant-based, Soy… What You Need in Your Protein Shakes While Nursing.

About Soy Protein Shakes While Breastfeeding

Soy protein powders should not be consumed while breastfeeding. While once promoted as a health food, it has now come to light that soy is not all it’s cracked up to be.

Even if it isn’t genetically modified (which is tough to find), soy is an endocrine disruptor… NOT what you want while breastfeeding!

What that means is that it messes with your hormones… specifically estrogen because soy contains really high levels of isoflavones, which are basically a plant estrogen.

Hormonal balance is important for breastfeeding, so soy protein powders should be avoided.

About Whey Protein Shakes While Breastfeeding

Whey based protein powders are ideal for breastfeeding mothers who are not lactose intolerant (and whose babies are not lactose sensitive).

Postpartum you will have lost a lot of weight, water, and muscle. Whey is wonderful for helping women regain muscle mass. A whey based protein shake can help you regain the strength you lost during pregnancy that you will need to thrive in motherhood.

About Plant-Based (Vegan) Protein Shakes While Breastfeeding

Plant-based protein powders are another phenomenal choice to consume while breastfeeding.

Most plant based or vegan protein powders are free from all common allergens (which is perfect for sensitive moms or babies).

Plant based protein powders often offer protein sources from a variety of foods in order to taste less chalky or “green.” More food sources equal more nutrients, so that’s a good thing!

milk boosting recipes to increase supply with lactogenic food

The Top Protein Shakes for Breastfeeding Moms

1. So Lean and So Clean by Ora Organics

This is my personal favorite plant based protein shake for breastfeeding and happens to be the #1 plant-based protein shake on the market! This USDA organic vegan protein power is made with 20 superfoods!

So Lean and So Clean has only 1 gram of sugar and very low carbs (only 5 grams in 2 scoops) . So if you are following a low carb diet, this is the perfect protein shake for you!

ora organics so lean so clean protein shake for breastfeeding moms

What Amazing Things are in This Protein Shake for Breastfeeding Moms?

If you are looking for an outrageously clean and healthy protein shake while breastfeeding this is it. 22 g of vegan plant-based protein in 2 scoops of powder!

Protein is so important after childbirth because it is essential for healing (which you’re doing a lot of right now) and muscle growth (which you will be rebuilding after your body heals!) The first time I followed the Milky Mama’s Postpartum Plan to bounce back after baby, this is the protein powder I drank!

Everything in So Lean and So Clean is organic and derived from plants. It is dairy free, gluten-free, non gmo, soy free and vegan.

You can also easily mix this powder with additional nutritionally dense foods, galactagogues to boost milk supply, and extra greens! Though it does already contain 2 servings of greens in 2 scoops! I love this protein powder for breastfeeding moms.

So Lean and So Clean Contains:

Organic Acai
Organic Blueberry
Organic Blackberry
Organic Cocoa
Many more superfoods!
2 servings of greens in every shake
A full spectrum of digestive enzymes: amylase, protease, cellulase, lactase and lipase

(Check out So Lean and So Clean’s full nutritional contents. You can click on each nutrient and find out exactly why it in included in this shake.)

Great! So What Does that Mean for Breastfeeding Moms?

This protein shake is also awesome for breastfeeding mothers because it has lots of ingredients that boost milk supply as well as increase its nutritional density. Many of the ingredients in this protein powder are very high in essential fatty acids which are extremely important to keeping your milk rich and nutritionally dense for your baby.

It is gluten-free, lactose free, AND soy free so not matter your babies or your own sensitivity, this protein shake will be safe for you while breastfeeding. Plus you have the choice of vanilla or chocolate which are both delicious!

No protein powder gives me the refreshed vibrant feeling that So Lean and So Clean does. This is my new #1 choice for the cleanest protein shake for breastfeeding moms.

2. Milkdust Breastfeeding Protein Powder

Even the name of this protein powder screams, “Hello I’m awesome for milk supply!” Milkdust is a brand new lactation protein powder specially designed by a mom of 3 for lactating mothers looking to increase their breast milk supply while safely losing the baby weight postpartum.

Milkdust is a plant-based protein powder, which is one of the absolute best choices for breastfeeding mothers. Whey protein powder would be another good choice. Plant-based protein powders are a phenomenal choice while breastfeeding because plant proteins are easily digestible, typical allergen-free, and loaded with natural nutrition.

Milk Dust Breastfeeding Protein Powder sources it’s 16 grams of protein per scoop from:

organic pea protein
organic brown rice protein
organic pumpkin protein
chia seeds
flax seeds

Milkdust was created by a woman who has helped many moms increase their milk supply through the years. She saw breastfeeding moms wanting a number of things:

To lose the baby weight postpartum
To keep a high milk supply while losing the weight
To flood their bodies with nutrition quickly and easily
To fight the breastfeeding sugar cravings that are the Achilles heel of many breastfeeding mothers aiming for postpartum weight loss

and found no perfect protein powder to fit the bill. So she created her own lactation protein powder to tick all those boxes for breastfeeding mamas!

What awesome things are in this protein shake for breastfeeding moms?

a plant-based protein blend
a fruit blend packed with antioxidants
a greens blend with my two favorite powerhouse greens loaded with nutrients and detoxifying properties, chlorella, and spirulina
a special lactation blend
a sugar craving blend that helps to balance blood sugar

That sounds perfect! How does that benefit breastfeeding mothers?

Milk Dust Breastfeeding Protein Powder has a special blend of lactogenic ingredients that are well known to increase breastmilk supply right in their powder! The special lactation blend includes:

milk thistle
red raspberry leaf
brewer’s yeast
organic fenugreek seeds
fennel seeds

With such a great blend of galactagogues this protein powder is not only safe for you while breastfeeding, but very likely to increase your milk supply too!

As most lactation boosting drinks and snacks do, Milkdust also has a strong fennel flavor that may be a deal-breaker for you. Fennel tastes of black licorice, which you either love or hate. But, the sugar craving blend in Milkdust contains cinnamon bark, which in my opinion blends perfectly with the fennel for a very dessert-like flavor that I love. Try out Milkdust for yourself with my special 10% off code LACTATION you can enter at checkout!

Related: How to Boost Milk Supply With Home Remedies

3. Vega One Protein and Greens

This is one of my favorite new protein powders to keep on hand at all times as a busy breastfeeding mom. Why?

This protein powder has all clean ingredients, is plant based, has a super high protein amount per scoop (20g), is plant based, and contains extra nutrition by including greens in its formulation. In addition to all those great benefits for breastfeeding mothers (or anyone really) Vega Protein and Greens is also readily available at most health food stores, Amazon, and even grocery stores AND it is very affordable.

What is in this protein shake that makes it great for breastfeeding mothers?

Each scoop contains:

20 g plant based protein (Which is an amazing feature… that is a huge amount of protein for a single scoop and something us super busy breastfeeding moms can use.)
only 1 gram of sugar
it’s super low carb
it contains lots of great greens to help you detoxify
The protein is fully plant based so shouldn’t cause any aversions in the mom or baby

Vega One Organic protein shake is USDA organic, non GMO, and certified vegan. Give Vega One Protein and Greens a try today

4. Peacock Protein by Birdman

This has quickly become my new favorite protein powder this year. I was looking for a clean, high-quality all-in-one protein powder and found this new brand. The only other protein powder I’ve found with a similar all-inclusive supplement list is Shakeology, which is extremely expensive (but I do love it and for many including myself sometimes is worth the price).

Complete meal replacement shake
Full vitamin profile (can replace your prenatal/postpartum multivitamin
Fruit and veggies blend
Mood and and mind boosting supplement blend
Probiotics
Vegan formula

This new protein powder I find really impressive for the pricepoint especially. It tastes good, blends well, and saves me from taking a lot of my supplements.

Peacock protein is added sugar free and is sweetened with monk fruit and stevia. It also has a good amount of protein at over 20 grams per scoop.

The biggest downfall of this new protein powder is that it sells out a lot! There is a chocolate and vanilla variety and I prefer vanilla.

Give Birdman Peacock protein powder a try now!

4. Vega Organic All-in-One Protein Powder

This protein powder is similar to the Peacock Protein Powder in that it has a lot more than just protein. It’s a clean ingredient recipe and has the extra benefit of being organic. Plus it tastes really good and mixes easily.

Organic
Lots of protein = 20 grams makes it a meal replacement
Great fruit and vegetable blend
Probiotics included
Includes Omega-3s and fiber too!

Vega has a whole lot of great protein powder blends but this one is the most all inclusive (Vega Protein and Greens would be my second choice if I was on a strict budget. It’s about half the price but you’re losing a lot of the added nutrients that you will be spending the money on other ways such as probiotics.)

I love this protein powder because it’s easy to get on Amazon or even at your local health food store. Many protein powders don’t have much if any fiber but this one has a decent amount at 6 grams!

It is also a good source of 13 vitamins and minerals, not enough to replace your multivitamin (Peacock Protein and Shakeology will though) but it provides about 50% of your daily requirements. So two shakes and you’ve got those vitamins and minerals covered!

This is a great all in one protein powder that is safe for pregnancy and postpartum.

Give Vega All-in-One Protein a try today!

5. Shakeology Superfood Protein Powder

I know there is a lot of negative stigma around this brand because of it coming from an MLM in the past, but I still think it’s a really great option. It has many different things all in one scoop so you aren’t scooping all different types of supplements into your smoothies, postpartum moms need simple because you are doing so many other things every second! This is no longer an MLM product, so I’m really just recommending an amazing product I use and highly recommend. Shakeology is the true definition of getting all your nutrition in one glass, and that is even before making it into an irresistable lactation smoothie.

Shakeology is more than just a protein shake and the best for postpartum recovery because it also includes:

70+ superfoods (no other protein powder will come close to this amount.)
Enough dense nutrition to literally replace your multivitamin or prenatal vitamin
Probiotics and prebiotics to enhance digestion
Adaptogens to help your body naturally deal with stress better
More digestive enzymes than any other protein powder to help you break down
your food better and enhance the amount of nutrients your body can actually absorb
Greens and phytonutrients to fight free radicals and boost your immune system

The downside of this protein shake is the price, it’s high. But I was able to stop taking a handful of other supplements that were already in this shake and so the price was a wash for me and might me for you too. I was able to eliminate my prenatal ($37), my digestive enzymes ($30), my greens drink ($20), and my probiotics ($20.) Which saves me time and money PLUS now I can actually remember to get all my supplements in every single day because they are all in one scoop. The biggest postpartum mom win!

In this instance, you certainly get what you pay for.

What else about this protein powder is so great for breastfeeding mothers?

Shakeology comes in three forms. The first is a blend of whey and plant based proteins. If you and baby have no lactose intolerance, whey is an ideal choice for postpartum because it helps build lean muscle in women. Which we all need some help regaining after birth.

If you or baby needs to avoid lactose, there is an entirely plant-based vegan formulation as well. So you can STILL reap the benefits of this nutrient loaded protein powder!

I absolutely notice the difference that starting my day with their protein, digestive enzymes, and greens gives me. Only Shakeology makes me feel so vibrant and energized, and all with something I can make with one hand.

Then the newest option… sugar free! Yessss!

Learn more about everything you ever wanted to know about the pros, cons, nutritional benefits, etc of Shakeology Protein first. Something I found important before choosing to shell out for the cost of this top-notch protein powder.

Find Tips for Using Your New Lactation Protein Shakes and Recipes Below.

Exactly How To Use These Protein Shakes While Breastfeeding

Protein shakes are a perfect breakfast and can even supplement 2 meals a day to lose the baby weight quickly, in a healthy way, with a high milk supply.

The best way to use these shakes is to incorporate them daily and add a few well-known milk-boosting ingredients for even MORE essential nutrients!

The vanilla is always my favorite flavor because I can add in almost anything to create my own delicious milk-boosting smoothie and drop the baby weight. Use either a full or half serving at a time. When combining ingredients I only need half of a serving of protein powder for a satisfying meal.

(TIPS: 1. Using a full serving increases the flavor and sweetness immensely. 2. When using half of a serving of protein powder (as that is often all I really need when enhancing the perfect breastfeeding shake with additional nutritionally rich galactagogues and flavors) I often sweeten with additional stevia.

RECIPES to get the most of your protein shakes while breastfeeding:

These recipes and many more amazing lactation smoothie recipes come in the Milky Mama’s Postpartum diet and exercise plan.

Blueberry Delight Lactation Smoothie

protein powder smoothie recipe for breastfeeding moms

1 serving of vanilla protein powder
1/4 cup frozen blueberries
1 tablespoon quick oats
1 small handful of spinach

(Add all ingredients and blend well to increase milk supply and stay slim and nourished.)

Peanut Butter Chocolate Fantasy Lactation Smoothie

chocolate protein shake for lactation smoothie

1 serving of vanilla protein powder
1 Tablespoon Peanut Butter
1 Tbsp. Cacao Powder
1 Tablespoon Quick Oats
1 package Stevia sweetener (or one serving for other forms of stevia)