What's up with these "lactation cookies" recipes?

If you're a breastfeeding mom chances are you've worried at one point or another that you may not make enough milk to adequately feed your baby.  Maybe you're back to work full time and you must pump to save milk for your baby while you're away.  Whatever the reason you are looking to increase your milk supply here are a few things that may help:

• Eat a healthy diet rich in all the food groups avoiding processed foods
  
• Nurse frequently
• Drink fluids every time you nurse, at meals and frequently in between
• Get plenty of rest

There are some foods known as galactagogues.  These are foods that may help increase milk supply.  By doing an Internet search for "lactation cookies" or "lactogenic foods" you'll find a decent variety of recipes and articles telling you what you should eat to increase milk supply.  In my searches the ingredients that seem to be most popular are flaxseed meal, brewer's yeast and oats.  There are many others but I think these 3 are very easy to sneak into many recipes you're already making at home.

This pancake recipe by Nurture Normally is a great basic recipe to start with.  I like the idea of making pancakes better than cookies (which seem to be most prevalent) because they are lower in sugar and fat and they are very versatile.  The author gives you ideas to alter the recipe to fit your dietary needs and preferences also.  When I whip up pancakes at home I make a large batch (like this recipe) and be sure they are toaster sized.  I freeze the pancakes in freezer ziploc bags and to reheat I let the pancakes sit out for about 5 minutes at room temperature to thaw and then I pop them in the toaster.  You can top your pancakes with applesauce, fresh fruit, syrup or even spread them with peanut butter or other nut butters.

If you're talented in the kitchen or even have some basic baking knowledge it's easy to add some lactogenic foods to some of your favorite, go-to recipes.  Find a recipe for oatmeal bread, oatmeal muffins, oatmeal cookies etc. and add 2 tablespoons each of flaxseed meal and brewer's yeast to the your dry ingredients before mixing wet and dry ingredients together.

For more information you can check out Kelly Mom.com which is a great resource itself.  She has compiled a list of where you can find help too.  If you live locally The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor is a good resource too.  It's important to get help early if you think you actually have low milk supply or other breastfeeding/lactation problems.

What is your favorite lactation support recipe?  Please share!