Could this Starbucks drink increase your breastmilk supply?

Nursing mamas, here's the perfect excuse for that afternoon pick-me-up!

Every breastfeeding mama knows what it is like to worry about milk supply. As nursing moms, our babies depend upon us for their nutrition and hydration, as well for their comfort and security. So it’s no wonder that moms are all about building and protecting their breastmilk supply. They don’t call that stuff liquid gold for nothing!

And here is some good news for nursing moms: Your favorite Starbucks drink might actually have milk-boosting benefits! That’s right. As reported on at Offspring by LifeHacker, mom Laura Galvin revealed a surprising benefit of her addiction to Starbucks’ “Pink Drink,” which is a combination of the Strawberry Acai Refresher mixed with coconut milk. (This started as a secret menu item, but once it gained country-wide popularity, it became a regular on the Starbucks roster.)

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In a post that Galvin wrote in the Milky Mamas breastfeeding support group, she explains that her milk supply recently went through the roof, which she believed to be directly related to all the Pink Drinks she tosses back at her local ‘Bucks.

Other hopeful moms jumped on the Pink Drink bandwagon, and a few of them reported similar results (one woman even said she produced 10 times her normal amount of milk).

So, what exactly is in the Starbucks Pink Drink, and is there any truth to this viral lactation tip?

The Pink Drink is composed of ice, a Strawberry Acai Base (which includes green coffee extract, grape juice, water and sugar), along with freeze-dried strawberries. It is then combined with creamy coconut milk to create a sweet and beautifully pink-hued drink. You can also have it with scoops of blackberries, strawberries or both.

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Some people say it tastes just like a Pink Starburst (like the Instagrammer below), while others compare it to a strawberry milkshake.

I'm late to the game, but I'm trying the @Starbucks #PinkDrink for the first time; It really does taste like a pink @Starburst! #sweet pic.twitter.com/XA27838mR6

— Sierra Fox (@thesierrafox) July 13, 2017

Sounds delicious, right? But can it actually bump up your milk supply?

Truthfully, no one is certain yet. Plant-based foods like acai berries have been shown to be very beneficial for our bodies, and coconut milk is very fiber-rich and boasts nutrients like vitamin C, iron, calcium and magnesium. However, we don’t yet have a proven link between Pink Drinks and a mom’s lactation output.

But we do know that hydration is key for a healthy milk supply, so having a refreshing drink can certainly help to promote milk production for your babe. We also know that stress reduction is important for a nursing mom, and let’s face it: Sometimes a Starbucks run is the only break moms get all day, so perhaps making a regular date to enjoy a Pink Drink with a friend could be beneficial for your supply in that regard as well.

But ultimately, research has only proven galactagogues, such as fenugreek, blessed thistle and alfalfa, to be beneficial in boosting a mom’s milk production. Oatmeal can also be hugely beneficial, whether you enjoy a bowl of it in the a.m., or you make oatmeal chocolate chip lacation cookies! Check out this recipe here from Bunsen Burner Bakery, or hit up your local Starbucks for a Pink Drink. Whether or not it actually works, you deserve a sweet treat!