Most new breastfeeding mothers are concerned about their milk supply at one time or another during their lactating months. It can be frustrating sometimes trying to figure out if you are producing enough milk to meet the demands of your growing baby. As mentioned in my previous post: Reasons for Low Milk Supply, Common Concerns and Questions , babies nurse at the breast for various reasons. Obviously the main reason is to be fed, but for some babies it is a sense of comfort that they are needing. New mothers often assume that because there baby is wanting to “suck” more after feeding at the breast or “acts hungry” must mean that they do not have enough milk. The majority of the time, mother’s have plenty of milk, the baby truly just has a desire to suck. It could also be that your baby is going through a growth spurt and needs to feed a little more frequently for a few days in order to meet the rapid changes their body is undergoing. Remember your breasts work by supply and demand, the more you stimulate your breasts, the more milk you are going to produce.
If you truly are unsure if your supply is dropping, or if your baby is just not getting enough milk, you need to look for signs that your baby is well fed. Your pediatrician and Lactation Consultant and help guide you in determining whether or not your baby is getting enough breast milk. Generally if your baby is gaining weight, seems content after a feed, has enough wet and poopy diapers, then your baby is doing just fine. However, there are those rare times where for various reasons, that a milk supply can suddenly drop, and there generally is a determined valid reason for the decrease. This could be due to a new hormonal change, a change in your baby’s behavior such as sleeping longer stretches at night, a new emotional stress, or it could be due to lack of stimulation. Whatever the cause, an experienced Lactation Consultant can help you figure out the source of the problem.
If you notice a sudden drop, or you just want to maintain an already established good milk supply, there are certain herbs that can help you out along the way. I do strongly suggest you discuss your situation with a trained Lactation Consultant before venturing out on your own to begin taking any herb or medication to stimulate milk production as some medical history could be contraindicated for some galactogogues or herbal stimulants. There are many over the counter herbs that can help boost a low milk supply such as Fenugreek, blessed thistle, More Milk Plus, and Goats Rue. These are rather strong herbs that will cause a significant change in production and if not taken correctly can cause stomach upset. Correct dosage is unique for each mother, which is where your Lactation Consultant can help you. Keep in mind that some herbs and spices, such as Peppermint, Sage, and Parsley can actually lower your supply, so use caution if ingesting large amounts.
If all you are wanting to do is maintain an already good supply, I recommend a more mild version of galactogogue that is easier on the tummy and more delicious as well. There is of course the famous “Mother’s Milk Tea” by Nature Maid which does help sustain an already booming supply, but it tastes like black licorice due to the amounts of fennel and fenugreek present. You can drink the tea hot or cold, but if you aren’t a fan of the flavor of black licorice, then I recommend downing it cold, makes it a bit more palatable. A tastier option is “Lactation Cookies” which work great and taste amazing. Who doesn’t love fresh baked chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, warm and gooey, and delicious too. There are many different recipes for these fabulous concoctions, but I prefer the recipes below.
Feel free to experiment and make your own version of these tasty delights, just make sure that you include the 3 main ingredients: oats, brewers yeast, and flax seed. These ingredients are what makes the cookies magical in producing more breast milk. Be sure to purchase slow cooking rolled oats from a whole foods store, not quick oats that are present in instant oatmeal. These healthy cookies are high in fiber, and low in cholesterol so not only will they give your breasts a boost, they’ll support a healthy, happy heart and body as well. Enjoy!
NUT FREE LACTATION COOKIES
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons flax seed
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups oats
1 cup chocolate chips
3 tablespoons brewer’s yeast
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Mix the flax seed meal and water and let sit for 3-5 minutes.
Beat butter, sugar, and brown sugar well.
Add eggs and mix well.
Add flaxseed mix and vanilla, beat well.
Sift together flour, brewers yeast, baking soda, and salt.
Add dry ingredients to butter mix.
Stir in oats and chips.
Scoop onto baking sheet.
Bake for 12 minutes.
Let set for a couple minutes then remove from tray.
LACTATION COOKIES FOR THE NUT LOVERS
1 1/2 cups flour
2 cups oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup almond butter or peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup flax seed
3 tablespoons brewer’s yeast
1/3 cup water
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 large eggs
2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts of your choice
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a bowl.
In a large bowl, beat almond butter, butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, brewer’s yeast, flax and water until creamy.
Mix in eggs.
Gradually beat in flour mixture.
Mix in nuts and chocolate chips.
Add oats slowly, mixing along the way.
Place balls of dough onto greased baking sheets or baking stones.
Bake 12 minutes.
Copyright© 2011 Danielle Gauss/ JustBreastFeeding.com. All Rights Reserved
Thank you posting this great article. These recipes look yummy! I just started a similar venture called Mrs. Patel’s Milk Makers. It’s these Indian Ayurvedic-based lactation and postpartum treats. We have Fenugreek Bars, a crunch and a Tea.
My wife went to the local food store and they gave her Bragg brand nutritional yeast seasoning. Can I use this instead of Brewers yeast.
It should be fine, brewers yeast is what I have always used, but nutritional yeast is just as good. Let me know how it works out.
How many and how often should I eat these? I don’t want to over do it. Thanks
With these, you can eat as many as you like. If you eat too many, the large amounts of fiber can give you loose poops, but other then that, from a lactation point of view you should be just fine.
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I made a very large batch of cookies. Can these cookies be put in the freezer for later use?
Yes absolutely they can! Hope you enjoy them!
How many cookies do these recipes yeild?
Hi Gina! So nice to see you on here. These cookies yield 2 dozen. Hope you enjoy them!
Danielle Gauss, IBCLC
Mine yielded 4.5 dozen. I used a tablespoon scooper for the nut lovers cookies.
I made the nut lovers recipe and when I baked them, they stayed the same shape. Is that normal? It tastes just fine but they don’t look like cookies.
That is totally fine, as long as they are cooked all the way through. Enjoy
Hi! I am having a hard time finding flax seed… We are in a very rural area and our little grocery store doesn’t carry much beyond the basics. I have the rest of the ingredients; will they still be effective at all without the flax? I could order online, I’m sure, but would rather not do that right now. Thanks!
yes you can make it without flax seed. It is a key componant of the increasing milk ingredients, but the others will work as well.
You can get flaxseed meal from Amazon x
You can get flax seed meal at walmart or from any store that sells bobs red mill at my walmart for one pound it was under $3
Would the cookies still work without the flaxseed or is it necessary to use it, I’m worried that my milk won’t increase due to not having flaxseed
Yes they will still help, the flax seed is just one of many galagtogogues used in the receipe.
Hi. I am planning to make this cookies. Been doing survey around for the recipes and noted mostly people use flax seed meal. You are using the whole flax seed or the powder form? Does it works the same if it is used whole? Thanks
Either form will work. Hope you enjoy them.
Whole flax is not easily digested, ground flax is better.
But, it’s also highly perishable, so it’s best to buy whole seeds, keep them in the freezer, & grind what you need as you need it.
Can a guy eat them just asking
Yes, it is absolutely okay for a guy to eat the cookies. You wont start lactation I promise. You may find your cholestrol improves however!! That is always a good thing.
Can I make this recipie with just flax seed and not brewers yeast? Also how do I ground the flax seed?
You can, but the brewers yeast is a very important ingredient. It is one of the main galagtogues in the recipe. You can buy the flax seed already ground at any whole foods store like Henry’s or Sprouts, Mothers’s, Whole Foods etc.. If not you can try putting the flax seed in a food processor for grinding. Best of luck.
hello to all the breastfeeding mommies im pastry chef and im star making lactation cookies after my daughter born because i need. since the first time im eat this delicious cookie my baby is happy and healthy.
breastfeed you baby is the best decision you take.
please come to check it up http://www.mycookies4milk.com
This is the second time making these & they are super tasty. I had a hard time keeping the rest of thefamilyaway from them. They also work as advertised.
So glad you liked them!
Hi how long does it take for ur milk to increase when eating these
It depends on the person, but usually pretty quick. If you are wanting to increase faster, then I would use herbs or tea vs. the cookies.
Is dry active yeast the same as brewers yeast cause I can’t find brewers yeast anywhere
It is similar and would work, but you should be able to find brewers yeast at any whole food store like Mothers, Sprouts, Wild Oats, Trader Joes, etc….
What is better to use nutritional yeast or brewers yeast?
Brewers yeast works better for increasing milk. Hope you enjoy the cookies.
The nut-free recipe is great! I was nervous that I would taste the brewer’s yeast after I opened it and the smell was so strong, but the oatmeal really covers it up. I added fresh chopped cranberries to my second batch and that was super delicious!