Photo: Creative Commons / christyscherrer Many times mamas want to increase their milk supply. Maybe you are going back to work and so baby isn't nursing as much, maybe you are going though a stressful time emotionally and this may affect your supply. Or maybe you are wanting to starting pumping breastmilk, and want to increase your supply for this.
The number one thing that will affect your breastmilk production is demand. Never forget this. The more your baby nurses, the more your body makes milk. When your baby's going through a growth spurt, it may take a few days for your body to catch up and start making more milk. Just nurse, nurse, nurse. But it certainly won't hurt to make a batch of these yummy cookies too.
Brewers yeast, hops, and oatmeal are just a few ingredients that come to mind as galactagogues, or foods that are supposed to increase your milk supply. This explains the old adage that drinking beer will increase your milk supply. There are also a plethora of herbs that are purported to increase your supply. Of course, you can also just eat oatmeal on a regular basis, or make these cookies often. Each lactation cookie recipe that you find will vary in its ingredients and its healthiness, but they usually have one or more galactagogue in them. These are the magic makers in lactation cookie recipes. The recipe below calls for brewers yeast. This is different than yeast used in baking, and different from the cheesy tasty nutritional yeast. Brewers yeast is a whole different ingredient. You can order it online or buy it in certain grocery stores, like Chico Natural Foods. Some stores like Raley's may carry it as well.
Here is a sample recipe for Lactation Cookies I found on Food.com
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies by Noel Trujillo
Yields 4 1/2 dozen
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons flax seed meal
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups oats
1 cup chocolate chips
2 -4 tablespoons brewer's yeast
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Mix the flaxseed 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.
If you are having trouble establishing or maintaining your milk supply, making an appointment with a International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is one of the best things you can do. There is no substitution for the information and guidance they will provide. So grab that baby of yours, stick them on your breast, munch some of these cookies, and make an appointment with an IBCLC.
The number one thing that will affect your breastmilk production is demand. Never forget this. The more your baby nurses, the more your body makes milk. When your baby's going through a growth spurt, it may take a few days for your body to catch up and start making more milk. Just nurse, nurse, nurse. But it certainly won't hurt to make a batch of these yummy cookies too.
Brewers yeast, hops, and oatmeal are just a few ingredients that come to mind as galactagogues, or foods that are supposed to increase your milk supply. This explains the old adage that drinking beer will increase your milk supply. There are also a plethora of herbs that are purported to increase your supply. Of course, you can also just eat oatmeal on a regular basis, or make these cookies often. Each lactation cookie recipe that you find will vary in its ingredients and its healthiness, but they usually have one or more galactagogue in them. These are the magic makers in lactation cookie recipes. The recipe below calls for brewers yeast. This is different than yeast used in baking, and different from the cheesy tasty nutritional yeast. Brewers yeast is a whole different ingredient. You can order it online or buy it in certain grocery stores, like Chico Natural Foods. Some stores like Raley's may carry it as well.
Here is a sample recipe for Lactation Cookies I found on Food.com
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies by Noel Trujillo
Yields 4 1/2 dozen
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons flax seed meal
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups oats
1 cup chocolate chips
2 -4 tablespoons brewer's yeast
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Mix the flaxseed 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.
If you are having trouble establishing or maintaining your milk supply, making an appointment with a International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is one of the best things you can do. There is no substitution for the information and guidance they will provide. So grab that baby of yours, stick them on your breast, munch some of these cookies, and make an appointment with an IBCLC.
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