Breastfeeding is my all time favorite way to save money on a newborn. No need to spend money on bottles or formula when you have a boob available all day. Not to mention that I hate cleaning bottles. Seriously. I hate it with a passion.
The only downside to breastfeeding is that it can be tough. No one told me that the first time around. I honestly expected it to be easy. After all, isn’t breastfeeding the sole purpose of our breasts? Shouldn’t it come naturally?
I read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding in preparation for Robert. Even after reading an entire book devoted to breastfeeding, I still had multiple issues. Robert’s latch was wrong, I got cracked nipples (bad- I’m talking bloody nips), my milk didn’t come in until late, and I was completely stressed out. All of this resulted in a tiny bout of postpartum depression. It got so bad that I had to supplement with formula for a while because Robert was losing weight. Not to mention that Robert had a dairy allergy and I had to cut out all milk protein from my diet!
Robert and I finally got the hang of it and he nursed for a full year. I ended up loving nursing so much, but it took me a while to feel that way. This time around I wasn’t going to take any chances. I wanted to do everything I could to help my milk come in fast and to make sure Jackson had a perfect latch.
In order to help my milk come in, I made lactation cookies and starting eating them the week of my due date. Oats and brewers yeast are considered galactagogues, a substance that increases milk supply. I put oats and brewers yeast in my favorite cookie recipe to make lactation cookies.
After only a few cookies each day, my milk came in strong three days after Jackson was born. I don’t know if it was the cookies or if it has to do with being more relaxed this time around.
Notice the Guinness in the picture? Some people swear that helps to bring in milk too! Scientifically it is proven, but it turns out non-alcoholic beer has the same effect. It has nothing to do with the alcohol and everything to do with the brewers yeast.
Don’t want to drink a beer? Make cookies instead! You’ve got to try this recipe for lactation cookies if you want to increase your milk supply. Make this recipe dairy free by using Enjoy Life chocolate chips that are dairy and soy free.
Lactation Cookies
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Keywords: bake dessert
Ingredients (serves 24)
- 1/2 C. coconut oil
- 3/4 C. brown sugar
- 1/2 C. granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 1/2 C. flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 3 C. oats
- 1 C. chocolate chips (use Enjoy Life chocolate chips to make it dairy free)
- 2 tbsp. brewers yeast
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix oil and sugars in a large bowl. Add in eggs and vanilla.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, yeast, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Mix well.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet. Stir in oats and chocolate chips.
Spoon by the tablespoon onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 30 minutes.
Feeling lazy? Buy some brewers yeast and put it into your oatmeal each morning. Or add it to a smoothie.
Please tell me I’m not the only one who had issues breastfeeding!
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