Foods that Boost Breast Milk Production

Milk-Supply-Food-Drinks3
Ever heard of lactogenic foods?  These are basically just foods that are chemically beneficial to the production of breast milk and could, potentially, help increase your milk supply.  Many moms struggle with low milk supply and producing enough breast milk to satisfy their baby.

This can sometimes be amplified by returning to work and/or not responding well to the breast pump while away from baby.  Other than nursing or pumping often, certain foods can naturally benefit lactation.  Whether you eat these foods raw or whip them up into a yummy cookie recipe is up to you.
Lactation-Drinks3

Drink

  • Water
  • Lactation Teas
  • Coconut Water
  • Barley Water
  • Some imitation coffees
  • Ginger Ale
Milk-Boosting-Foods3

Eat

  • Carrots
  • Asparagus
  • Green Beans
  • Yams
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Watercress
  • Green leafy vegetables
  • Peas
  • Beets
  • Oatmeal
  • Brown Rice
  • Barley
  • Most grains/legumes
  • Avocados
  • Raw almonds
  • Cashews
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Apricots
  • Green papaya
  • Parsley
  • Salmon
Breastmilk-Herbs-Spices3

Spices & Herbs

  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Onion
  • Basil
  • Fenugreek
  • Dill
  • Marjoram
  • Turmeric
  • Fennel

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30+ Recipes For Boosting Lactation

Breast Milk Boosting Recipes
Breast milk production is heavily influenced by supply and demand from baby (or pump, if you’re an exclusive pumper).  However, sometimes that just doesn’t seem to be enough and we need a little extra lactation boost.

Certain foods are known to help increase milk supply for breastfeeding and pumping moms.  To help stave off boredom with eating oatmeal everyday, all day—or one of the other lactation superfoods—some pretty genius moms have come up with a variety of recipes that can help boost milk supply.
Lactation Drinks Smoothies Shakes

Lactation Smoothies & Shakes

Gluten & Dairy Free Lactation Recipes

Lactation Cookie Recipes & Baked Goods

Lactation Cookies & Other Baked Goods

Other Milk Boosting Goodies

lactation-recipes-roundup

Your Comments About My Pregnancy Are Not Wanted

Pregnancy Comments
As I get more pregnant, people get more loose lipped and brazen with their assumptions, comments, and so-called jokes.  I am just shy of 39 weeks pregnant when writing this, so it’s quite obvious that I’m pregnant.  I get that.

And I don’t mind the polite questions or conversation, even if it is repetitive and I’ve already had this same conversation with 5 million other people.  Or the fact that I’m a surrogate and some of the questions (well, a lot of the questions) don’t even really apply to me.  However, I don’t want to have to explain being a surrogate to every. single. person.

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In case you’re wondering, it’s really not that cute or funny when you’ve heard something like, “Wow, you look like you need another one” for the third time in a day.

I’d also like to make a PSA that any of these types of comments are not appreciated either:
Things Not to Say to Pregnant Women

You need the lay off the cheeseburgers.

Are you serious right now?  This isn’t appropriate to say to anyoneEver.  It’s just rude.  I get that you’re just acknowledging my obvious pregnancy, but I could definitely do without the acknowledgement if this is how it’s going to be done.

You’re not suppose to swallow the watermelon seeds.

My intense eye rolling cannot be conveyed appropriately through a blog post, but I’ve heard about 100 too many watermelon related jokes.  Or basketball references.   It’s really not that cute.

Related Post: 14 Quick Breastfeeding Facts

There’s something wrong with the water here.

Believe it or not, we (the pregnant ladies) are not all congregating around you on purpose.  Just because there are two of us in the same county, doesn’t mean you have to go on and on about the quantity of pregnant women in the area.

You haven’t had that baby yet?

No.  Thanks, though, for pointing out that I’m still pregnant.  I didn’t notice myself.

Any comments about my size/baby’s size.

Oh you think baby is going to be huge?  Oh you think I’m huge.  Well, I surely appreciate your unnecessary assessment.

Related Post: 4 Reasons to Cloth Diaper

Try this instead…

Okay, so once when walking through the grocery story, a young woman passing me by simply smiled and told me, “Congratulations.”  I don’t know if it was because I was 30+ weeks pregnant or what, but I felt like that was the sweetest, simplest gesture anyone could make.  I didn’t get hounded with questions by a (well meaning, I’m sure) stranger.  She just simply congratulated me and I kind of wanted to hug her.
No Pregnant Jokes
I think it’s important to remember that we are pregnant for 40 (sometimes very long and miserable) weeks.  Our hormones can be crazy.  Our emotional state may be questionable.  And it can get really outrageous with all the comments, questions, and so on from friends, family, and complete strangers.  Instead of cracking a joke, try a kind and simple gesture.  If you’re close to the person, offer a hand.

6 Perks to Being a Young Mom

Perks to Young Motherhood
So I’m not even 25 and I have 3 kids.  Some people might read that and be like, “Okay, so what?”  Other people are flabbergasted.  It really depends on your circle and your own personal beliefs on whether being a young mom is the norm or not. 

My oldest was born when I was 14, so I’ve had comments all over the place about that, because most people just assume I’m the one who birthed him and that I was got pregnant at 14.  Not that, even if that were true, that gives them anymore right to their sometimes rude comments and assumptions.

Being a young parent can be crazy, but definitely has its perks.

1. I’ll be a young grandparent.

Unless all 3 of my kids wait a really long to have kids, I’ll have grandkids by my early to mid 40s, if not sooner.  I think it’ll be great to be that young and, most likely, still have my health and the energy that I currently know it takes to interact with little ones!  I’ll be able to play with them and babysit them and all around enjoy them in a way that I might not be able to if I was older.  This is probably even more true for great-grandchildren, which I’ll probably have a few of by 60 to 65.  Basically, it’s great to know I’ll likely see several generations of my family in my lifetime!

Related Post: 21 Ridiculous Things All Parents Say

2. I have the energy now!

Kids are exhausting regardless of if you have one when your 19 or when you’re 40.  I get that.  I just can’t help but think about all the effects of aging on the body I keep learning about in my pre-nursing classes, though.  The truth is, I’m young now and taking advantage of the perks of youth by pouring my life and energy into motherhood and other things (marriage, college, etc); instead of taking it one life step at a time.
Why I Love Being a Young Mom

3. We grow and learn together.

I have the opportunity to grow and learn with my kids.  All parents change from the people they were before children, but I mean this in a different sense.  I’m still in school and can relate to my children in that aspect and I’m still developing as a person and I’m not so set in my way.  I feel like my children have a lot of opportunity to see me mold into the person I will eventually be, and I hope it can be comforting to them as they grow and learn about themselves and who they are.

Related Post: Relieving Pregnancy Pains Without Medication

4. I can relate to them!

It hasn’t been that long since I was a kid, even if some days it feels like an eternity.  I feel like I can more closely relate to my children, their experiences, and how they’re feeling because there really isn’t a huge time gap between my childhood and theirs.  Heck, sometimes I still get called a “baby” by coworkers or others that are part of similar life experiences as me but older.

I’ll be a young empty nester.

So when my youngest turns twenty-one, I’ll only be forty-three years-old!  That’s so young!  Now who knows if my nest will be totally empty by then, because kids don’t just magically disappear at the age of 18 and phase into adult life and their adult homes.  I’m just imagining that my husband and I will both be able to enjoy each other and just whatever stuff we want to to do still because we’ll be pretty young!
Being a Young Mom Rocks

5. I have time to return to my career.

If I want to take time off to dedicate to moming or just to have a break from pursuing my career goals, I’m still young enough where, theoretically, returning to the workforce shouldn’t be as challenging as if I were older; if for no other reason than I have plenty of time to rebuild momentum.

Related Post: 10 Chores for Toddlers

6. I’m still kind of cool, right?

I’m not totally out of sync with what’s currently trending.  And even if I am, it’s probably because that’s how I’ve always been without caring much for what’s currently “cool.”  So, this one is more of a joke than anything, because I’m a mom now, so I’m sure I’m definitely not “cool” and haven’t been for a long time.

I’m not sure if there is a perfect time to conceive, socially or biologically.  There are all kinds of studies that have produced varying data and come to all kinds of conclusions.  So, basically, do whatever works for you, right?

Are you a young mom or did you wait to have kids?  What prompted you to be one or the other?