Do Lactation Cookies Really Boost Milk Supply?

One of the number one reasons that moms stop breastfeeding is because of perceived low milk supply. Naturally when moms are concerned about their milk production they go looking for ways to boost supply. Lactation cookies are a popular quick snack that are thought to contain several lactogenic ingredients. Lactogenic foods are thought to support the maternal body to produce milk. 

So let’s chat about the top 3 lactogenic ingredients that are in most lactation cookie recipes that are thought to boost milk supply. 

OATS! Oats are typically the first ingredient in most lactation cookie recipes. We know that oats have a very high amount of an immune-stimulating compound that can help increase prolactin. Prolactin is the hormone that drives milk supply! Overall, oats are high in nutritional value because they contain iron, protein, vitamins, and minerals which can help increase a moms energy level.  

FLAXSEED! Flaxseed comes as a seed or when ground, as flaxseed meal.  Both are high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These essential fatty acids can influence brain growth for the baby. Flaxseed also has phytoestrogens that can help balance hormone levels to ultimately influence milk production. 

BREWER’S YEAST! Brewer’s yeast is considered a superfood because it contains chromium, selenium, iron, and B-vitamins. All of these nutrients help enhance the body’s efficiency at the cellular level which can help to increase milk production. 

There are plenty of positives about the lactogenic ingredients in lactation cookies, but most recipes are also high in sugar. It is helpful to be mindful of daily sugar intake and limit daily intake to 2 cookies per day. 

Of course eating just cookies is not going to magically make most moms an abundant amount of milk for their baby. There are many other things that moms should think about when low milk supply is being questioned. The most important one is simple…supply and demand. As the breast is emptied by the baby or pump the supply goes up. The most important aspect of a good milk supply is that moms are breastfeeding and/or pumping frequently enough. 

It always helpful to contact an experienced lactation consult or a medical professional if you are concerned about your milk supply to explore some other things that might be the cause of low production.

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With love & gratitude,

Stacy