If you’re breastfeeding, you might have heard about lactation cookies or breastfeeding cookies. These are basically tasty snacks made with ingredients thought to help increase your milk supply. Common additions include oats, brewer’s yeast, flaxseed, and sometimes herbs like fenugreek or fennel.
So, how do lactation cookies work? The idea is that these ingredients act as galactagogues, substances that may help your body produce more milk. However, the research is mixed. While some studies support certain ingredients like fenugreek, one study found that about 75% of women using fenugreek reported an increase in milk supply, the overall scientific evidence showing that eating lactation cookies significantly boosts milk production is limited.
Even though lactation cookies might not be a guaranteed milk booster, many mothers find they come with solid benefits that go beyond just milk supply.
1. Convenient Nutrient Boost
Breastfeeding demands extra nutrients and calories. Lactation cookies are typically packed with ingredients like oats, brewer’s yeast, and flaxseed, which provide important nutrients like iron, protein, fiber, and B vitamins. For example, oats are rich in iron, and iron deficiency can sometimes reduce milk supply. Brewer’s yeast brings B vitamins that help keep your energy levels steady.
This means when you snack on lactation cookies, you’re not just eating something tasty, you’re giving your body some of the fuel it needs to support milk production and your own health.
2. Contains Ingredients That May Support Milk Production
Lactation cookies work to help breastfeeding. It lies in certain traditional galactagogues added to these cookies. Ingredients like fenugreek and fennel seeds have been used for centuries to encourage milk flow.
Although scientific evidence on their effectiveness isn’t definitive, many mothers report increased milk supply when including these ingredients regularly in their diet. Lactation cookies make it easy and enjoyable to get these galactagogues without taking pills or drinking herbal teas.
3. Quick, Portable Snack
As a breastfeeding mom, you’re often busy and on the go. Stopping to prepare a nutritious snack can feel like a chore. Lactation cookies offer a simple, grab-and-go option that fits into your hectic schedule.
Having a breastfeeding cookie ready means you can fuel up quickly, keeping your energy steady without needing to pause for a full meal. This convenience can make a big difference during those demanding early months.
4. Helps Reduce Stress and Encourages Self-Care
Breastfeeding is rewarding but can also be stressful and tiring. Taking a moment to eat a lactation cookie can serve as a small act of self-care, giving you a mental break. Stress negatively impacts milk production, so lowering stress is an important part of supporting your supply.
Enjoying a cookie can boost your mood and remind you to slow down for a minute. This calm moment can actually help your body respond better to breastfeeding.
5. Encourages Hydration
Hydration is key when breastfeeding. Dehydration can reduce your milk supply, but busy moms sometimes forget to drink enough water. Reaching for a lactation cookie might also remind you to grab a glass of water or another healthy drink.
This combination of fueling your body with nutrients and fluids helps maintain steady milk production and overall health.
6. Helps Establish a Feeding or Pumping Routine
Pairing eating a lactation cookie with your breastfeeding or pumping session can create a comforting routine. These rituals are good for your mindset and can help regulate hormones like prolactin, which controls milk production.
This kind of positive association between self-care and feeding time can make your breastfeeding journey feel more manageable and even enjoyable.
7. Provides Extra Calories Needed for Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding burns an estimated 300 to 500 extra calories per day. Lactation cookies are an easy way to add some of those calories without having to prepare or eat a big meal.
Getting enough calories is crucial for maintaining milk supply and keeping your energy up. A cookie that tastes like a treat but fuels your body can feel like a win.
Lactation Cookies Support You Beyond Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is more than just a biological process, it’s a demanding daily practice that shapes your physical and emotional state. Lactation cookies might not be a miracle milk booster, but they represent something bigger: a simple, tangible way to honor yourself amid the chaos.
These little snacks can help carve out moments of calm, fuel your body when energy is low, and remind you that taking care of yourself matters just as much as taking care of your baby. In that sense, lactation cookies become more than food, they become a small act of resilience and kindness in the middle of the beautiful, challenging journey of motherhood.