Lactation Cookies

Breastfeeding is really important to me and I hope to b/f Eleanor for the first year and then start to wean. B/f is not easy though, it's hard work! I drink 2 cups of Mother's Milk a day, take fenugreek, and I made these lactation cookies that I'm going to be sharing with you guys. I've had a hard time increasing my supply and am meeting with a Lactation Consultant this week to help me build it up and ensure that our little Ellie is getting enough. I know there's only so much I can do and if we go to just formula or have to supplement that I didn't fail, it just didn't work out as awesomely as I had envisioned.

Anyways, from all the talk amongst my mommy friends and in my Mommy and Me group (which is so awesome, if you have the opportunity to join one do it! Meeting women with babies close in age to your own and having somewhere to go to vent, celebrate and learn has been an incredible experience to me. Check out your local Healthy Beginnings to see what's available in your area) lactation cookies is one way to help build your supply and they are delicious! My father-in-law couldn't stop eating them, and not he didn't lactate as a result. They're super easy too!

The recipe I used is from Belly Belly:

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup butter or margarine
1 & 1/2 cups brown sugar
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons flaxseed meal
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups oats, thick cut if you can get them
1 cup or more chocolate chips/sultanas/almonds/macadamia nuts
2-4 tablespoons of brewers yeast

DIRECTIONS:
Preparation time is around 15 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 356F.
Mix together 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal and water, set aside for 3-5 minutes.
Cream (beat well) margarine and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mix well.
Stir flaxseed mixture and add with vanilla to the margarine mix. Beat until blended.
Sift together dry ingredients, except oats and chips. I actually used a freaking sifter and it took forever, next time I'm just going to mix it!
Add to margarine mixture. Stir in oats then chips.
Scoop or drop onto a greased or lined baking tray. Because the dough is a little crumbly, it might be easier if you use a scoop.

Bake for 8-12 minutes. I used a cookie scoop and it made about 30 cookies and I ate the rest of the dough.

On their site they have a ton of ideas for variations (I used white chocolate chips for mine), ways to make it healthier and some more tips/tricks. So be sure to check out their recipe!

I found the flaxseed and brewer's yeast at my local Sprout's shop, but any health food store should work. The brewer's yeast is the magic ingredient that helps your supply and it's a huge freaking tub that I had to buy because I couldn't find anything smaller, but I plan on putting it into my smoothies and other food. I mean why not right? If you know another pregger, I would suggest splitting those ingredients because there's just so much of it! I know I'll be giving mine away or sharing it with whoever is interested!

Hope you're all having a great week, I have an awesome giveaway later this week for you ladies!