Lactation Oatmeal Cookies Info Recipe
Tried it? Rate this Recipe:
|
Category: |
Category: |
|
Ingredients: |
Ingredients: WHAT ARE GALACTAGOGUES?
Galactagogues are substances that help increase mammalian milk production. Galactagogues can be synthetic prescription medications, or natural food substances.
Common galactagouges include oatmeal, fenugreek, brewer’s yeast, marshmallow root, blessed thistle, alfalfa leaves, fennel, and goat’s rue. I took all of these in combination for months in an attempt to boost my supply, in addition to “power hour” pumping session, pumping in the middle of the night, and nursing as frequently as I could on weekends. Did the galactagogues help? It’s quite possible that it is all placebo effect, but I did notice a boost in supply when I took them all in tandem.
WHAT ARE LACTATION COOKIES?
Most women, however, don’t have quite as big of an issue with supply as I do. Lactation cookies include some of the aforementioned galactagogues in smaller doses, with the goal of adding a little supply boost.
My issue with most lactation cookie recipes is that they are really just… cookies. An oatmeal chocolate chip cookie batter with 1 tablespoon of flaxseed divided among 2 dozen cookies is really just a cookie. Breastfeeding hanger is REAL, so if you want a cookie, have a cookie! But if we’re going to convince ourselves that it’s a beneficial cookie, don’t we want it to be overflowing with galactagogues? But inversely – we still want it to taste good, right? If it’s not enjoyable to eat, why bother?
I’ve baked literally dozens of batches of cookies over the past month, perfecting my recipe (and delivering cookies to new mom neighbors all over Southwest Center City Philadelphia!). This recipe is the culmination of many batches tweaking ingredients. It has less sugar than my typical oatmeal cookie recipe (but it’s still a cookie – definitely not a health food!). I’ve packed it as full with as much oatmeal, brewer’s yeast, and flaxseed as possible without severely impacting flavor. And of course, I added a few chocolate chips because… obviously.
HOW MANY LACTATION COOKIES SHOULD YOU EAT?
This is a common question I am asked a lot. The answer is: there is no real answer.
Lactation cookies are just that… cookies! It’s not a regulated FDA medication with a set dosage. Not every woman responds to galactagogues, and those who do respond differently. Women have different needs when it comes to increasing supply; some are looking to boost one or two ounces per day, some are hoping to up by 10 ounces. My advice is to start with one or two and see if it helps. I will say, however, that I had a friend eat a dozen all at once and then say she pumped 11 oz more than ever before the next day!
|
|
Directions: |
Directions:Bake up a special treat for the new mom in your life. Skip the lactation cookies that are all cookie and no lactation – these are the galactagogue-filled treats you need.
Before we get any further, let’s let the cat out of the bag: yes, this post is about lactation cookies. Yes, lactation cookies are exactly what the name implies — cookies to help with human milk production. Yes, these directly apply to a very, very small subset of those of you who read Bunsen Burner Bakery. But chances are, even if you yourself are not breastfeeding, you probably know someone who is. A friend, a family member, a coworker. Your sister or niece or daughter. A neighbor, another mother in your child’s preschool class, a friend from the gym. Before you completely skip over this post, you may be able to significantly brighten someone’s day by baking them a batch of cookies.
Coincidentally, this week is World Breastfeeding Week. I think many people think breastfeeding is easy. I probably thought the same until my friends started having babies. I’m thankful they shared their own struggles with me so I had a realistic expectation of the journey facing me.
It is hard. It is isolating (I pumped every night at midnight at 3:30am from the time Ryan started sleeping through the night until he was a year old and it is so, so lonely sitting there in the dark pumping). Sometimes, it’s downright painful. And it’s frustrating, trying your absolute hardest and yet still watching your body fail.
So here’s a virtual high five to all my fellow lactating mamas — whether your experience was wonderful and you nursed for 2 years, or your experience was disheartening and ended after 2 weeks — you did a great job. You are awesome!
(Also, can we please stop with the “and it’s free!” argument? I had to rent a hospital grade pump for a year since my supply was so low – $65/month. Over $40/month in various galactagogue supplements. Plus the immeasurable cost of hours I wasn’t working at work or sleeping at home because I was pumping. NOT FREE, PEOPLE.)
In a collision of worlds, today happens to be National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. (I did not plan this post according to either World Breastfeeding Week or National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. Coincidence on both accounts!). So why not celebrate your breastfeeding friends by baking them a batch of these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies? New moms deserve a treat. What exactly ARE lactation cookies anyway (and do they even work)? Lactation cookies are full of galactagogues. Some people swear they work, others say no way.
OTHER WAYS TO MAKE MORE MILK
Let’s start with: I am not a lactation consultant. But I do have lots of experience building my own supply, so I’ll share. I get a lot of questions on this post about non-cookie ways to make more milk.
1. Nurse or pump often. Milk production is supply and demand based; the more you remove milk, the more milk your body thinks it needs to make.
2. Fully drain your breast each time. Leaving a little milk behind gives your body the memo that it doesn’t need to make enough. If you’re pumping at work with a great supply, you can get away with a 15-minute pump session. But if you’re really looking to boost your supply, keep pumping. Pump for 5 minutes after the last trickle of milk. You may also find you get a second letdown if you keep going — I always pump for at least 30 minutes, and usually get a second letdown sometime after 20 minutes.
3. Power pump a few times a week. Power pumping mimics a cluster feeding session. Pump for 10-20 minutes, rest 10 minutes, pump another 10 minutes, rest 10 minutes, pump another 10 minutes.
4. Feed or pump in the wee hours of the morning. This one stinks, but your body produces the most milk in the middle of the night. I can pump 3x more milk at 4:30am than I can at noon, or 6pm, or midnight.
5. Spend time with your baby! Skin to skin contact is really played up in the hospital, but the benefits extend well after you come home. Trying to boost your supply? Hold your baby as much as possible. Do skin to skin. If you’re pumping, pump while holding your baby.
Now back to these cookies. Another question I often get: is it bad for someone who isn’t lactating to eat these cookies? No. Don’t worry, dads – there’s nothing harmful about eating these cookies if you’re not lactating, aside from having to tell your wife you ate all her cookies. Good thing you have this recipe now, so you can bake her more. |
|
Personal
Notes: |
Personal
Notes: These make great gifts for new mothers!
|
|
This recipe for Lactation Oatmeal Cookies Info is from