Increase Your Milk Supply :: Ultimate Lactation Cookie Recipe (2024)

Increase Your Milk Supply :: Ultimate Lactation Cookie Recipe (1)

When my son was born, I made a commitment to myself to try my best to breastfeed him for a year. In the beginning, it was easy (well, relatively speaking). We had a few latching issues, along with super sore nipples, but I persevered through until we found our stride … even if it did involve a few a lot of tears.

Fast-forward five months. I was still exclusively breastfeeding my son and back at work full time. I had settled into a comfortable routine of pumping during the day and feeding my son at the breast while home. Baby was happy. Life was good. My supply was plentiful.

Then I hit a snag. A snag in the form of a “monthly visitor.”

All of a sudden, my supply plummeted and I wondered if it was the end of our nursing relationship. I frantically searched the Internet for ways to increase breastmilk production and ran across the all-so-mighty lactation cookie. Why had I never heard of this little lifesaver before?

I have to admit, at first glance it looked a little daunting. Brewer’s yeast? Flaxseed meal? Making cookies from scratch and not a box? I wasn’t sure I could pull it off. But I was desperate and willing to give it a try. I printed off the recipe and headed to Whole Foods to collect all the not-so-common ingredients. I rushed home, put the baby to bed, pulled out my mixing bowl and cookie sheets, and was ready to go!

The recipe was surprisingly easy … the clean-up, not so much. But as I watched the cookies rise from the heat in the oven, so did my expectations of what they could do.

And you know what? They did not disappoint!

I went from pumping 2 oz per breast to 5 oz per breast in LESS THAN 48 HOURS. It was amazing, my fears were calmed, and this little recipe became a regular part of my kitchen routine every 3-4 weeks.

Increase Your Milk Supply :: Ultimate Lactation Cookie Recipe (2)

And the great thing is, they are actually REALLY GOOD. As in, I couldn’t wait to eat them, had a hard time limiting myself to a reasonable amount, and even my husband thought they were delicious (when he unexpectedly thought I was just “baking cookies” and not a concoction to increase breastmilk supply … although rest assured, they are safe for people who are not lactating. No worries about engorged breasts or sudden leaking boobs from anyone partaking. But you do want to make it clear to anyone in your household their purpose. And trust me, once you mention the words “increase breastmilk production, supply, etc.,” no one will want to get within 10 feet of them in fear of what they could possibly do to them!).

Super Milk Boosting Lactation Cookies

There are LOTS of recipes you can find out there on the Internet for lactation cookies (aka Mother’s Milk Cookies) but this is my personal favorite, mainly because it includes a larger quantity of the three milk boosting ingredients — flaxseed, thick cut oaks and brewer’s yeast — than any of the others I came across. (Go big, or go home … right?) And you can add in some fenugreek, an herb used for increasing milk supply (found in capsule form at places like Vitamin Shoppe), for even more of a powerful punch.

I have to admit, I didn’t have a lot of these ingredients freely on hand (except raisins and fenugreek). All ingredients (excluding fenugreek) I was able to find at Whole Foods, but it did cost me upwards of $50+. But rest assured, this is a hefty initial investment and making cookies moving forward will not be as costly since brewer’s yeast, flaxseed meal, baking soda and other ingredients will not have to be purchased again (I made cookies for 2 years and did not have to purchase these ingredients but one time). So prepare for your visit, and keep in mind the investment you are making to boost your supply that will feed your baby for many days, months, years to come.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter (preferably with olive oil or flaxseed oil), softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup organic brown sugar
4 tbsp of water
2 tbsp flaxseed meal
2 large, omega 3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 cups of thick cut oats
1 cup of raisins
4 tbsp of brewer’s yeast (this is the main ingredient for milk production)
9 fenugreek capsules (empty capsules and discard)

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Mix flaxseed meal and water, set aside. Sift together dry ingredients (flour, brewer’s yeast, salt, soda and fenugreek), set aside. Blend butter and sugars well. Blend in eggs, one at a time. Stir in flaxseed mix and vanilla, mix well. Add dry mixture in three equal parts. Stir in oats and raisins. Drop on baking sheet 1 inch apart. Bake for 10 – 15 minutes. Once cooled, package 5 cookies into a Ziploc bag as an easy way to keep track of your daily intact. Try to space out eating cookies throughout the day (one for breakfast, one for mid-morning snack, one at lunch, one for mid-afternoon snack, one at dinner). Enjoy!

Increase Your Milk Supply :: Ultimate Lactation Cookie Recipe (3)

Words of Encouragement:

I hope you find this recipe as beneficial as I have. Fast forward 3 years later and my son is still breastfeeding at 3 1/2 years. Controversial? Maybe to some people. But to me, I am providing my son with important nutrients only mama can provide (even if it’s for a few minutes before bedtime and upon waking up at this point). For you? Make the best decision that works well for you and your family. And equip yourself with information and tools to maximize your breastfeeding experience.

You got this mama!

Got a great recipe or another method that has worked well for increasing your milk supply? Share in comments!

Increase Your Milk Supply :: Ultimate Lactation Cookie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do lactation cookies really work to increase milk supply? ›

Their findings revealed no evidence for an effect of consuming lactation cookies on human milk production.

What is the most important ingredient in lactation cookies? ›

Adequate nutrition is an important part of milk production, so simply filling in some of those nutritional gaps may be enough to increase the supply. Some of the most common ingredients in lactation cookies include oats, brewer's yeast, and flaxseed, all of which provide key nutrients. Oats.

What stimulates your milk supply the most? ›

Breastfeeding frequently—especially in the first hours, days, and weeks—is the main way to increase your milk supply. Your body will make milk to meet your baby's demand. Try these tips to help you make more milk: Breastfeed every time your baby is hungry.

How can I drastically increase my milk supply? ›

If You Notice Your Milk Supply Is Low

You can increase your milk supply by: Nursing your baby often. Nurse every 2 hours during the day and every 3 to 4 hours at night (at least 8 to 16 times in 24 hours). If your baby will not nurse, use a good quality double electric breast pump to increase milk production.

How long does it take for lactation cookies to increase milk supply? ›

How Long Does It Take For Lactation Cookies To Work? It can depend on the individual, but typically you should see results within 1-2 days. Moms will typically notice an immediate boost in my supply. So hang in there, you should be producing more in no time!

How many packs of lactation cookies should I eat a day? ›

A: It says "1 to 2 servings per day can help support milk supply", 1 bag is 1 serving.

What happens if you eat too many lactation cookies? ›

If you eat too many lactation cookies you may end up with an oversupply, or you may also have some bloating or gassiness which can be a side effect from too much brewers yeast for some mums.

What snacks increase breast milk? ›

Nuts or Trail Mix

Try trail mix to combine savory with a little sweetness. Some dried fruits are considered galactagogues, making them especially helpful in lactation, including apricots, dates, and figs. Just grab a handful for the perfect snack serving.

What are the cons of lactation cookies? ›

Purchasing lactation cookies to increase milk production may pose an unnecessary cost and may have additional implications for parents, such as limiting post-pregnancy weight loss and reducing consumption of healthier foods.

Which fruit increase breast milk? ›

Apricots and dates

Eating apricots and dates can increase prolactin, which is the hormone that tells your body to produce milk. Apricots contain essential nutrients such as dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium. Fresh is better than canned. If you have to go with canned, avoid apricots packed in syrups.

Does drinking water increase breast milk? ›

Although drinking more fluids won't help you produce more milk, it will keep you from becoming dehydrated – which is just as important. Symptoms of dehydration can include headache, fatigue, and constipation. Most nursing moms should aim to drink a total of 2.5 to 3 quarts of water a day.

Can you increase breast milk in one day? ›

Increasing your milk supply is probably going to take a little time. Through pumping and hand expression, you'll likely be able to get more milk out of your breasts immediately, but it may take several days to see a large increase in your breast milk supply.

How can I increase my milk supply in 30 minutes? ›

Hands-on pumping to increase expressed milk. If your baby is not breastfeeding directly at all, or you can't yet pump enough milk for her, a technique called 'hands-on pumping' can be useful. It has been shown to increase the amount of milk mums can express in a session. The whole process takes around 25 to 30 minutes.

How quickly do breasts refill? ›

To put a number on it, it usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes after feeding to generate enough milk for your baby, and about 60 minutes to replenish fully. The more often your baby feeds, and the more they empty your breasts, the more milk your body will produce.

Do Oreos actually help milk supply? ›

What do Blue Gatorade and Double Stuf Oreos have in common? According to internet lore they are both attributed to increased milk supply, although there is a lack of scientific evidence to support that claim.

Do boobie bikkies actually work? ›

They can help, absolutely, BUT they won't be able to treat true low milk supply. The thing is, breastmilk production works on demand. The more you feed, the more milk you'll make. It's why experts recommend feeding your baby on demand while your milk establishes.

References

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