By Corky Harvey, Co-Founder of the Pump Station & Nurtury and MS, RN, IBCLCLast week a mom in my
Breastfeeding Support Group brought a big plate of delicious cookies to share with everyone. She was struggling a bit with her milk supply and had found a recipe on line for Lactation Cookies (see recipe below). Who knows if it will help, but the moms sure enjoyed them. They all admitted to needing a little something special—like some chocolate or a cookie (or two), in the late afternoon when they are especially tired and the baby is at the fussiest time of day. The cookies brought on a fun discussion about Galactogogues (things that help a woman make more milk) and cultural beliefs about increasing milk supply. Although most women make plenty of milk if they breastfeed often in response to their babies requests, increasing one’s milk supply is a common topic of discussion in our daily interaction with our clients. Many moms know about the
herbal remedies (Fenugreek, Fennel seeds, Blessed Thistle, Goats Rue, and Nettle) that are thought to
increase milk supply and are easily available in the form of capsules, teas and tinctures. Although there is very little scientific evidence to demonstrate that these herbs really work, the anecdotal reports from many moms are that they can help a lot.
So, what are some cultural beliefs about increasing your milk supply through diet? Here are a few ideas to ponder.
Women in El Salvador are told to drink lots of Hot Chocolate. Mexican women are also told to have chocolate and to have a warm drink called Atole de Maizena. It is a mixture of milk, water, corn starch and cinnamon. If you add rice and serve it cold, it is now called Atolede Arroz. Another choice in Mexico is watery oatmeal with cinnamon called Avenol. The theme here seems to be cinnamon.
Korean women eat cheddar cheese, Algae soup (Myok-Guk) and lean beef or beef broth. They are encouraged to eat a lot more calories.
Some Asian cultures eat seaweed soup, fish soup, and chicken-feet soup.
Some cultures encourage stewed meats and root vegetables.
My own mother thought Brewer’s yeast was a great idea to help almost anything (it is one of the ingredients in the lactation cookies—she’d have loved that). I’m going to Germany next week to see my 8 month old grandson Diego. I’ll find out what moms are taught in Deutschland, but I’ll bet it includes beer.
I think it would be fun to collect many more cultural beliefs about how to increase milk supply. Ask your mothers, aunts and friends and send us a message. It seems to me that most of the above foods have nutritional value and maybe that is the real deal: eat well, have good nutrition, nurse a lot and make lots of milk.
Enjoy the cookies.
Housepoet's Famous Lactation Boosting Cookies1 c butter
1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
4 tbsp water
2 tbsp flaxseed
meal
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp
salt
3 c oats (thick cut is better)
1 c or more chocolate chips (or
raisins)
2 tbsp Brewer's yeast (be generous)
Preheat oven to 375. Mix together flaxseed meal and water and set aside for 3-5 minutes. Cream margarine and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Stir flaxseed mixture and add with vanilla to butter mixture.
Beat until blended. Sift dry ingredients together, except oats and chips. Add to butter mixture. Stir in oats then chips. Scoop onto a baking sheet and bake 8-12 minutes.
6 dozen cookies.
Parents as Educators Workshop
