Like many women, I spent my whole pregnancy planning out
what I would do as soon as our little guy got here. For me, breastfeeding was a given. It is the most natural and nutrient-rich food
you can offer your child-sign me up! I
foolishly read articles and books on many topics….except nursing. I figured it was natural, so everything would
fall into place and we will both just know what to do and how to do it, right?
I was so very wrong.
From the very beginning I struggled with my supply, with his latch, with
how much food I should be eating, his
food intolerances in combination with my food intolerances, and terrible pain
each time he nursed. This all made
nursing a big struggle physically, mentally, and emotionally. This was supposed to be natural, why couldn’t
I get it together and feed him?! I
finally stopped feeling bad for myself and started reading articles, called a
lactation consultant, had Dr. Maxfield test me, and tried every suggestion my
nursing friends offered. I also put my
nutritional therapy knowledge to good work and focused on foods that would help
increase supply naturally.
One word you may be familiar with is Galactogogues. These are
substances that promote lactation in animals and humans. There are many foods
that claim to be in this category. Some
seem to work for women, while other foods work much better for other women. The most common of these are oatmeal, fennel,
fenugreek, brewer’s yeast, and the ever-popular lactation cookies. Oatmeal was
my go-to. It worked wonderfully for
me. The only problem was that I soon
realized a pattern between loading up on oatmeal and clogged milk ducts. The oatmeal helped, but almost too
effectively.
The problem with many galactogogues is that they don’t
address the underlying issues keeping you form producing enough milk in the
first place. There are many reasons
ranging from calories and iron levels, to a slow pituitary, which can play a
role in decreasing supply. The best course
of action is to not only try eating different galactogogue foods to increase
your supply, but to also work with a qualified practitioner to find and address
the cause. Simply eating more food
and drinking more water everyday can be a very quick fix to the problem or you
may need to give your body a little more support.
If you are looking for a healthy snack to offer plenty of
good fats and calories, here is my favorite homemade shake. I would often make this as a dessert in the
evening while pregnant to make sure I didn’t wake up throughout the night
hungry. It proved to be helpful even
after delivery for the same reason and for increasing calorie consumption. If you have exhausted your options and still
can’t increase supply, call our office to set up an appointment! You can also call our office if you are in
need of a local lactation consultant referral.
Chocolate Coconut Milk Shake (Serves 2)
1 Can full fat coconut milk
1 banana
½ avocado
2 tablespoons nut butter (almond or peanut butter were my
favorite)
1 tablespoon maple syrup
¼ cup cocoa powder (Optional: 1 scoop of high quality
protein powder)
Place all but the pecans into a blender. Blend on high until combine, but don’t let
the ice melt. You may need to add more
ice to get the shake cold enough. Once blended,
pour into two large cups and sprinkle with pecans.
Enjoy!
Becca Potter
To schedule online with Becca click the link below
