Updated Recipe 7/1/24
My lactation journey as a NICU mom
My son was born at only 24 weeks gestation… he weighed only 1 lb 11 oz! He was my first baby, so I felt unprepared for everything.
Being a new mom sooner than I thought, my first question to the nurse was, “Can I produce breastmilk???” I was deeply relieved when she said, “YES”!
I knew the immense benefits of breastmilk, and now, with my son being born extremely premature, producing this magical milk was even more important to me.
Thankfully, in the following moments, my sweet lactation consultant, Kristi, walked into the room and taught me how to pump and hand-express my first drops of colostrum. I felt like a superhero! I proudly delivered 5 ml of “liquid gold” colostrum to my nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which was administered via a feeding tube to my son.
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Fast-forward two weeks, and my lactation specialist was checking up on me. I told her I was up to 2 ounces total per pumping session. I thought this was great since it had increased from the week before. My lactation specialist gave me a look of concern. She said I should be up to a full supply of 4 ounces per pumping session (every 2 hours) by now!
So, she encouraged me to seek supplemental nutrients and acupuncture to boost my milk supply! She also recommended Legendairy supplements, moringa, and lactation cookies!
I knew I had the perfect dairy-free and gluten-free easy lactation cookies recipe! From what I had learned in my studies of Traditional Chinese Medicine nutrition, oats, eggs, flaxseed meal (or flax meal), and goji berries were beneficial for boosting lactation because they nourish the mother. With the addition of Brewer’s yeast, which is high in B Vitamins, the cookie recipe was a sweet and nourishing treat! By making my own cookies, I could also control the quality of the ingredients, which is way better than store-bought lactation cookies that have processed brown sugar and white flour, which can cause inflammation. My lactation consultants approved of my lactation cookie recipe and gave it to other moms too!
I’m happy to say I’ve reached a full milk supply and have been producing breast milk for my son for one whole year now (update: almost two years now!)! I make this recipe whenever I feel like my supply is dropping, and it helps immediately!
I tell people that my lactation experience was due to sheer determination. It is hard work keeping your milk supply up! Whether you are pumping, breastfeeding, or both, keep going! I genuinely believe breastmilk is one of the best gifts you can give your kiddo.
If you are pumping and need a pep talk, this podcast episode from Hey Shayla is very motivating! Click here for the Podcast Episode.
If you are a new mama or a seasoned mama reading this beside your sweet baby in the NICU, my prayers are with you. Remember, this is not forever. Stay strong <3
What Causes a Low Breast Milk Supply?
New moms sometimes have difficulty keeping up their supply of breast milk. This can be due to many different reasons such as lack of breast tissue, stress, dehydration, poor diet, lack of sleep (which can be hard to come by with a newborn baby!), or changes in hormones. It is essential to address these different factors when addressing a low milk supply.
Whether you have been producing breast milk for days or months, a few essential foods can help boost your milk supply!
How to Boost Milk Supply with Whole Foods
Moms who have difficulty supplying enough breast milk for their child may find help with key foods such as oats, flaxseed, eggs, goji berries, and brewer’s yeast. These wholesome ingredients help nourish and increase your energy levels to produce more breast milk.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, oats are warming and nourishing. They provide nutrients such as iron, zinc, folate, and Vitamin B. I recommend these sprouted, organic, gluten-free oats by OneDegree.
Flax seeds boosts estrogen which helps to increase breast milk production.
Eggs contain lecithin, which is known as a galactagogue (lactation enhancer). Eggs are also a great source of protein, healthy fats, and choline!
Goji Berries are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to nourish the blood, which is important for the mother’s health and breast milk supply. They are also high in Vitamin A, which supports the liver and immune system while adding natural sweetness!
Brewer’s yeast is high in iron, protein, and vitamin B, which increases breast milk production. I found certified Gluten Free Brewer’s Yeast on Amazon!
It is important to note that these cookies do NOT replace a whole-food diet. The most important things are eating regular whole food (non-processed), nourishing meals frequently, and staying hydrated.
I recommend reading The First 40 Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother. This wonderful book, based on Traditional Chinese Medicine, provides nourishing recipes and teas to support recovery and lactation for postpartum women.
For more support, I highly recommend meeting with lactation consultants! They are a fantastic resource that I personally have found so valuable!
Lactation Cookie Recipe
Here are the key ingredients you will need:
Dry Ingredients
- Gluten-Free Sprouted Rolled Oats
- Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour (I like Better Batter pink bag)
- Brewers Yeast
- Ground Flaxseed
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Cinnamon
- Sea Salt
- Coconut Sugar (optional for sweetness)
- Dairy-Free Dark Chocolate Chips
- Shredded Coconut
- Goji Berries
Wet ingredients
- Water
- Eggs (room temperature)
- Melted Coconut Oil or Ghee
- Maple Syrup
- Vanilla Extract
Equipment you will need:
- Standing Mixer or hand mixer
- Large Bowl
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
- Baking sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Airtight container
Recipe Modifications
I have made this recipe in so many different ways! It can be easily modified depending on your needs.
Egg-free—This recipe initially had no egg in it. The “flax egg” was the egg component, but I added the eggs for extra nutrition. If you cannot have eggs, simply leave out the egg and make the recipe as is. Add an additional 1-2 Tablespoons of water if your cookie dough is dry or crumbly.
Rice-free—My baby was once sensitive to rice. Since gluten-free all-purpose flours typically use rice flour, I used cassava flour instead. Use the same amount of cassava flour as a replacement for gluten-free flour.
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Healthy Lactation Cookies
Equipment
- Standing Mixer
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup GF Organic Rolled Oats*
- 1 1/2 cup GF All-Purpose Flour* (I used Better Batter pink bag)
- 2 1/2 Tbsp GF Brewer’s Yeast* (see link above for brand I use^^ Make sure it is certified gluten-free)
- 1 Tbsp Ground Flaxseed
- 3 Tbsp Water
- 2 Eggs
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
- 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp Fine Sea Salt
- 1/2 cup Ghee or Coconut Oil (Grass-fed butter if you can tolerate dairy)
- 2 Tbsp Coconut Sugar (Optional for sweetness)
- 1/3 cup Maple Syrup or Honey
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 1/4 cup Dairy-Free Chocolate Chips (I use EnjoyLife, Lily's, or Hu chocolate)
- 1/4 cup shredded Coconut
- 1/4 cup Goji berries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a small bowl, combined flaxseed and water. Let sit for 5 minutes to thicken.
- In a large bowl combine together the oats, GF flour, brewer’s yeast, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- Mix together by hand or in standing mixer ghee (or coconut oil), coconut sugar, maple syrup, egg, and vanilla.
- Add flaxseed mixture.
- Slowly add dry ingredients to the mixer while mixing on low until all ingredients are combined.
- Stir in chocolate chips, goji berries, and shredded coconut.
- Roll cookies into 1 1/2 inch balls and place on cookie sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
