Are you a nursing mom constantly asking yourself ‘‘How many lactation cookies should I eat?’’ You may be worried about a low milk supply and you’re not alone. This is a common question from breastfeeding moms and the answer varies based on several factors.
So, how many lactation cookies should you eat per day?
It is recommended to eat 2-3 lactation cookies a day.
Still, it will mostly depend on your body and your own milk supply. Lactation cookies contain galactagogues, an ingredient that helps in stimulating breast milk production in lactating mothers.
Lactation cookies are a great postpartum supplement that helps mothers to increase their milk supply. When you have enough milk supply, your baby will sleep longer, be happier, and be healthier. Added bonus: you will also rest more.
Do breastfeeding cookies help? Are they beneficial? Here are some of the benefits these lactation cookies contain that make them great as snacks for mothers and any other person who may want a sweet treat.
Benefits of Lactation Cookies
Lactating mothers get essential vitamins when they eat lactation cookies. The ingredients are yummy and they help mothers boost and maintain their milk supply. Lactation cookies contain:
- Wheat germ
- Brewer’s yeast
- Flaxseed meal
- Whole oats
Brewer’s Yeast
Brewer’s yeast is full of magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, and vitamin B. This helps a lactating mom to increase their milk supply.
Whole Oats
Whole oats are an excellent source of iron. They help a lactating mom to have enough iron as low iron in the body affects milk supply,
Flaxseed
Flaxseed is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids and phytoestrogens which are very essential for breastfeeding mothers.
These ingredients are what make lactation cookies effective and nutritious. Brewer’s yeast or nutritional yeast is one of the most nutrient-dense foods available, containing trace minerals and vitamins.
The lactation cookies will help with your milk supply if you eat them in small amounts spread out throughout the day.
Benefits of Lactation Cookies
Apart from lactation cookies helping with milk supply, they have a host of other benefits. Are you a man and wondering if you can eat lactation cookies? Yes! Men can eat lactation cookies without worrying about their male nipples producing milk.
Lactation cookies help with:
Improved Health
These lactation cookies contain complex carbohydrates, antioxidants, proteins, minerals and a host of other nutrients that helps with the metabolic processes.
For example, iron prevents anemia by maintaining blood production rates which is a condition that most new mothers face.
Prevents constipation
Oats have large amounts of roughage and dietary fiber in the form of beta-glucans. When mothers give birth, they often have difficult bowel movements and suffer constipation. However, when they eat lactation cookies, they feel better.
Lactation cookies also help to metabolize fats, and they help with lowering your body’s fat levels.
After How Long Will Lactation Cookies Work?
When you eat a lactation cookie, it takes time for the yeast to get from your stomach into your intestines, where it can be digested and therefore act upon your body’s hormones.
The lactation ingredients in Brewer’s yeast take about one hour to become bioavailable after they’re eaten.
You may start seeing an increase in milk supply 2-3 days after you start eating lactation cookies.
How To Increase Milk Production Without Relying on Lactation Cookies
Though there are no guarantees, there are several things you can do to increase your milk supply.
Breastfeed Your Baby More Often
When babies suckle their mothers’ breasts, they trigger hormones that produce milk, and a mother gets that let-down reflex. This reflex happens as the breast muscles contract and milk moves through the ducts.
This let-down usually occurs shortly after the baby starts to breastfeed. If you want to produce more milk, try to breastfeed your little one more often.
Pump While Breastfeeding
Often, your vacant breast starts to leak milk when your baby starts to feed on the other one. You can use this to your advantage and pump your other breast so that you can store the precious liquid gold.
This will, in turn, help you produce more milk. Plus, your baby will have enough breastmilk for when you are not around to feed them.
Breastfeed Your Baby from Both Sides
You may have a favorite breast that you feel has more milk, and you prefer giving your baby that particular breast. Some babies may be picky and want to breastfeed only from one specific side. You can help prevent this by feeding them from both breasts from the time they are born. This will also help increase the milk supply.
You can also ensure you have sufficient milk supply by:
- Increasing your fluid intake, especially water
- Reducing stress levels in your life
- Getting sufficient rest
Frequently Asked Questions About Lactation Cookies
1. Should I eat a handful of cookies or a bowl of cookies?
Eating several lactation cookies at once won’t increase milk supply more than eating 2 or 3 throughout the day.
Eating a huge bowl of lactation cookies is also not going to have a more dramatic effect on milk supply than eating just a small amount throughout the day. In fact, eating too many at once could lead to upset stomach or tummy cramps!
2. Can You Eat Too Many Lactation Cookies?
Yes. Eating too much yeast can cause adverse effects. But your body knows how much is too much, so if you notice any adverse side effects, eat less the next day!
3. Where can I get lactation cookies?
You can purchase lactation cookies from online stores and local stores in your area. You can also find lactation cookies recipes online that you can try at home if you love baking.
In Conclusion
You should eat 2-3 lactation cookies in a day to enjoy the benefits of these cookies.
You should also make sure that you drink plenty of water, eat healthy foods, have enough rest, and breastfeed your baby on both sides and as often as they want. This will help with milk production.