Are You Breastfeeding? You Might Want to Try Lactation Cookies (2024)

One study explained that 80% of mothers enrolled in the research reported difficulties breastfeeding. A potential difficulty can be related to having a low milk supply. Yet a special cookie—called a lactation cookie—has anecdotally helped some people with increased milk production.

Despite reports of lactation cookie benefits, research has revealed mixed results about how well lactation cookies work. Additionally, there's no official information detailing how long the cookies take to work. The suggested timeframe may be as little as a few hours or up to one to two days. Learn more about these cookies and what you can do to help increase your milk supply.

Lactation cookies are cookies with specific ingredients aimed at increasing breastmilk supply. Nearly 60% of nursing individuals do not feel they make an adequate amount of breastmilk for their infants. As a result, many turn to lactation cookies to try and boost breastmilk supply.

Do Lactation Cookies Work?

While there are theories about why individuals see results after consuming lactation cookies, more research is needed to understand whether or not they provide a real benefit. Studies have provided conflicting results, with some indicating increased milk production with lactation cookie use and others finding no increase.

Still, one of the reasons some may see success with lactation cookies is due to ingredients known as galactagogues. Galactagogues are substances that increase breast milk. One study, a systematic review, examined the existing literature about the effectiveness of galactagogues in term mother-infant pairs.

Numerous galactagogues exist, ranging from more common ingredients such as oats, prescribed medications, and less commonly known ingredients such as moringa leaf.

There's no official advice about when you should begin lactation cookies. However, the suggested time for use has included a range from a few weeks before delivery to shortly—about an hour—before you breastfeed or pump.

How Long Do They Take To Work?

Anecdotally, the cookies take a few hours to two days to work. However, research has not provided evidence for this timing.

You can find lactation cookies almost anywhere. Many major grocery stores and online marketplaces have lactation cookies available to buy.

Other Foods for Nursing Individuals

Focus on eating a mixture of healthy foods—like whole fruits and grains, veggies, and protein foods—if you're breastfeeding. In particular, foods high in protein and amino acids can be beneficial. Amino acids, the basic compound foundation of protein, can promote increased milk and milk proteins.

Other essential nutrients include:

• Choline: Helps the brain and spine development of your baby. Foods with choline include eggs, lean meats, poultry, seafood, beans, peas, and lentils.
• Folic acid: Can be beneficial for preventing any brain or spine problems for your baby. You can get folic acid from dark green vegetables (e.g., spinach), beans, peas, and lentils.
• Iodine: Is helpful for your baby's brain development. Seafood, low-fat or fat-free dairy, and eggs are good sources of iodine.
• Iron: Necessary for the overall growth and development of your baby. Eat lean meats, poultry, some seafood options, dark green veggies, beans, peas, and lentils to increase your iron intake.

If you try lactation cookies and they don't result in increased milk production, there are still other ways you can increase your milk supply, such as:

• Avoiding bottles or pacifiers in the first weeks after birth, which allows you to feed your baby as much as possible
• Breastfeeding frequently at the beginning of the postpartum period and every time your baby is hungry
• Eating a healthy diet
• Emptying your breasts following a nursing session for your body to make more
• Engaging in self-care, which includes allowing others to help you when necessary
• Ensuring your baby is latching well
• Getting enough sleep
• Offering both breasts when you're feeding your baby, allowing them to finish one side before going to the other
• Pumping or expressing milk between nursing sessions to build your milk supply
• Relaxing and massaging your breasts before a nursing session

Lactation Cookies Recipe

To make lactation cookies, ensure you have the basic ingredients for cookies—a fat (e.g., butter), a leavening agent (e.g., baking soda), flour, and any sweeteners. Several lactation cookie recipes also include the following four ingredients:

• Brewer's yeast: Has B vitamins and the trace minerals chromium and selenium. B vitamins may be essential for nursing individuals since "they're involved in many of the body's processes," Stephanie Middleberg, RD, founder of Middleberg Nutrition in New York City, told Health.
• Fenugreek: Is considered a galactogogoue. However, if you have a peanut allergy, you may want to avoid fenugreek as it may cause an allergic reaction.
• Flaxseed meal: Has nutritional benefits for the nursing baby and the individual nursing. Flaxseed meals contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids but also nutritionally boost breast milk.
• Oats: May help to stimulate mammary gland tissue, aiding in milk production.

Even if you don't notice an increase in your milk supply, healthier recipes that substitute ingredients like butter or sugar can't hurt. "Clean lactation cookies contain extremely nutritious ingredients for a nursing mother," said Middleberg.

Lactation cookies might help increase your milk supply and provide the necessary calories and nutrients while nursing. Numerous galactagogues and other supplements claim to boost milk supply, but research is clear that additional high-quality studies on the benefits (or lack of benefits) are needed.

However, if you find that your milk supply is low, talk with a healthcare provider familiar with lactation or an international board-certified lactation consultant. They are great resources to help you troubleshoot any concerns over milk production.