MommaMatch

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.

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