How To Make Lactation Brownies
These lactation brownies are super easy to make and they are often referred to as emergency lactation brownies because theyre made from a box brownie mix.
Youll begin with the box mix itself and then whatever amount of vegetable oil is called for and either 1 or 2 eggs depending on whether or not you want a fudgy or cake-like consistency.
Youll also add a touch of vanilla and some chocolate chips if there arent any already in the box mix.
Next, were going to add in the magic stuff:
Mothers Milk Tea Ingredients
Most mothers milk tea contain all herbal ingredients that have been known as milk producing helpers. The main ingredient in mothers milk tea is fenugreek.
- Fenugreekseeds contain hormone precursors that increase milk supply. Scientists do not know for sure how this happens. Some believe it is possible because breasts are modified sweat glands, and fenugreek stimulates sweat production. It has been found that fenugreek can increase a nursing mothers milk supply within 24 to 72 hours after first taking the herb.
- Fennel is an anise flavored herb. Fennel is believed to be a galactagogue which is something that brings about more breast milk.
- Anisecontain anethole, which is a Phytoestrogen. This means it has estrogen-like effects. Increasing breast milk supply its now for treating clogged ducts and other problems in the milk glands, by maintaining a constant milk flow. Be sure to not confuse anise with star anise. Star anise should not be taken then breastfeeding.
- Blessed thistleis believed to be a galactagogue, which is something that you take to help you make more breast milk. It seems to work best when combined with fenugreek.
If you arent a tea drinker, many new moms take fenugreek supplements to increase milk supply.
How To Make Mothers Milk Tea
A timesaver is to make a pot of tea in the morning. Drink a cup when its ready, and save the rest for later. You can drink your second or third cup cold, or simply reheat.
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Why I Love Mothers Milk Tea
After I had my first child I was invited to attend a weekly mothers tea sponsored by the hospital where I gave birth. New moms were invited to this special tea service for the first six weeks of their babys lives.
Nurses and certified lactation consultants were in charge of the tea. It was kind of like a meeting, if you can imagine a meeting with about 20 nursing moms and their babies! There was a structure to the event, yet it was unstructured enough to accommodate babies cries, new moms getting up and down to get comfortable, and boppies for everyone!
This is how the class was structured: Wed sit in a room and grab a boppy pillow, get comfortable, and nurse our babies. While this was happening, the nurses would introduce themselves and all the moms would introduce ourselves and our sweet babies. We all had comfy chairs or a sofa to sit on and a TV tray for our snacks.
The nurses mad mothers milk tea and served it with a cookie or biscuit. While we drank our tea and ate our snack we could ask all of our pressing, new mom questions.
Questions like:
How long should I feed my baby?
How do I know how much the baby is eating?
It hurts when the baby is feeding! Not a question, but that comment always brought a nurse to attend to the mom and make sure she didnt have thrush or something else going on.
It was amazing! No shame. No embarrassment. No question was off limits.
What Is Lactation Tea
People have used herbs and teas for thousands of years for various purposes and ailments, including low milk supply. Certain herbs, such as fennel, anise, coriander, and fenugreek, are known to help women produce more milk. This is important today, and it was crucial in the days where you couldnt buy formula to supplement your babys needs.
If its worked for that many years, its worth a try to see how much it can help you.
Keep In Mind
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How Much Lactation Tea Should I Drink Per Day
Youll want to try to drink about three cups a day. Depending on your taste buds, you may love the taste. If you dont, try to improve the flavor by adding a bit of sugar or honey. If that isnt doing the trick, add a little juice to see if that helps.
Some people like to drink their lactation teas hot, but if youre not a hot tea type of person, you can easily put it over ice.
Quick Note
Regardless of how your supply does, you shouldnt stay on these teas permanently. You should constantly try to wean yourself off. If you dont take short breaks from them, your body can get used to them, and they may eventually stop helping your milk supply.
Who Can Benefit From Lactation Tea
Moms who are low on milk might want to consider lactation tea. Lactation tea can also help moms who are trying to build a freezer stash for when they return to work. However, when trying to boost milk supply quickly, its always best not to put all your eggs in one basket.
You should try other tips as well, especially if youre opposed to supplementing with formula in case your milk supply doesnt respond as well as youd hoped.
And if you decide youre going to try a galactagogue , try more than one in your tea. Adding additional herbs may do you more good than just having one, and it can also enhance the flavor of the tea.
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What Is The Best Mothers Milk Tea
While I was nursing, I loved the Yogi Womans Nursing Support tea. It was easy to find and I stocked up! But, its really up to you. Most brands contain the traditional ingredients of fenugreek, fennel, anise, and/or blessed thistle. Because several of these have a licorice taste, most mothers milk teas taste the same.
Is Lactation Tea Safe
The biggest no-no youll sometimes hear about drinking tea while breastfeeding is related to the caffeine content. As your doctor has probably told you, caffeine can impact your baby by making them jittery.
But lactation teas are generally caffeine-free, so that means youre in the clear, right? Not so fast. First, you should consult with your doctor or medical professional. The problem is that not all herbal teas are created equal.
Some teas are safe during pregnancy, while others are questionable or should be avoided. If youre thinking about trying lactation herbs, here are some things to check first.
- Make sure it doesnt contain much caffeine, especially if youll be drinking several cups a day.
- Check the list of ingredients and make sure your doctor signs off on them.
- Avoid drinking any teas that contain plants youre allergic to or that cause you any sensitivities.
- Dont buy anything that isnt labeled clearly.
- Only buy your teas from a trusted source.
- If youre taking any medications, ask a pharmacist to ensure the tea wont interact with the active ingredient in your medications.
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Does Mothers Milk Tea Work
From my personal experience, mothers milk tea does work. I say YES, YES, and YES! I drank two to three cups of this tea a day when I was nursing. Before taking mothers milk tea, I was struggling to produce enough breastmilk to feed my baby and make it worth all the time I was pumping. Pumping 6 times a day for 18 minutes each time, really was time consuming.
Once I started drinking the tea, I saw an increase in milk production. But, dont get me wrong, its not like my milk supply doubled. I was able to increase it enough to make it worth the effort to continue pumping. Its what made the difference from me quitting breastfeeding to having enough encouragement to continue. Im so glad I did.
What Are Lactation Cookies
Breastfeeding cookies, nursing cookies, and lactation cookies are all the same thing. But what exactly are they?
Lactation cookies are oatmeal cookies that can help increase milk supply for a nursing mother. The combination of rolled oats, flaxseed, and brewers yeast helps with the production of milk and can help a new mom with her breastfeeding journey during those early, difficult postpartum days.
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Can I Freeze Lactation Cookies
Absolutely! I loved making a big batch of these cookies and freezing half of them for later. Simply thaw them out the night before or heat them for a few seconds in the microwave and enjoy!
These cookies can be stored at room temperature for 2-3 days, in the refrigerator for 5-7 days, and the freezer for up to 3 months.
What Teas To Avoid While Breastfeeding
There are certain herbs your doctor will tell you to stay away from. The list is long and can include teas that have the following fairly popular herbs or plants as an ingredient :
- Rhubarb root.
That isnt a complete list of herbs to avoid just some of the more common and popular options. When in doubt, always consult your doctor.
Other teas can have the opposite effect of what youre looking for. If you use the wrong herbs, they can decrease your milk supply. To ensure this doesnt happen, stay away from the following herbs :
- Mint teas you can use a little of these if your baby has colic because it may help soothe their tummy if they get the benefits through your breast milk, but dont overdo it.
- Lemon balm.
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Can You Freeze Lactation Brownies
You sure can! Feel free to whip up a batch and put half in the freezer. Enjoy the first half for the next few days and when you run out, pull the others out and let them thaw on the counter before enjoying.
If youre making these in advance, say before the baby even arrives, just so its one last thing you need to worry about, bake the brownies and let them cool.
Then, slice and wrap the brownies individually in plastic wrap then put in a large freezer bag for up to 3 months.
So there you have it, an easy recipe for lactation brownies that will hopefully help boost your milk supply and be a welcome treat during the trying baby stage.
Also, you burn 20 calories for every ounce of milk you express, so you can feel a little less guilty about indulging!
When To Eat Them:
If youre looking to increase your supply, lactation brownies could be a good option to try and do so. But I recommend speaking with a lactation consultant as well to make sure there isnt a large issue.
In my case, Im exclusively pumping so Im able to measure how much milk Im producing each day, unlike a mother who primarily nurses.
However, I dont want to be attached to the pump forever, some days it feels like my life revolves around it.
So in my case, my goal was to create an oversupply to make a large freezer stash so I can stop pumping after a few months but still provide my daughter with breastmilk for several months after that.
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How To Make The Best Lactation Cookies
Making lactation cookies is SO incredibly easy! Simply mix the dry ingredients, mix the liquid ingredients, combine, and roll the dough into medium-sized cookies. Place on a baking sheet and bake for about 12-15 minutes!
TIP: Add a sprinkle of sea salt on top of each cookie to make these extra delicious!