Lactation Cookies - Do they really work?

I was wandering around the net and came across this recipe for lactation cookies, has anyone tried anything like this before? Has it worked? What is the "active ingredient" that boosts lactation?

Lactation Boosting Biscuit Recipe

1 cup butter or marg
1 cup sugar
1 cup 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
2 tablespoons of brewers yeast* (be generous)

Directions:

Preheat oven at 375 degrees F. 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. Add to margarine mixture. Stir in oats then chips. Scoop or drop onto baking sheet, preferably lined with parchment or silpat. The dough is a little crumbly, so it helps to use a scoop.

Bake 8-12 minutes, depending on size of cookies.

Serves: 6 dozen cookies

Preparation time: 15 minutes

*can be found at any local health food store.
*NOTE* IT MUST BE BREWERS YEAST, NO SUBSTITUTIONS

I think I posted that recipe in the Increasing Breat milk thread as well. I haven't tried them yet though.

If you need some other ideas, have a look at this thread :)

Hi, I havn't tried them either but I have heard that they do work wonders and are yummy too!

I'm pretty sure it is the brewers yeast that is the secret ingredient too! :)

The oats too - they are considered to be beneficial to improving lactation. Many of the girls had a bowl of daily oats :)

Ooh thanks girls :)

Wasn't sure if it would make much of a difference!!

I'm a big fan of oats, just found them a bit tricky to eat when bf'ing!!

Thanks for the link to that thread too Sarah, this is all pretty new and I have been trying to get my supply up as quickly as possible, cos with a premie at home, who hasn't put on weight yet, I have been worried that she hasn't been getting enough milk, but she is settled after feeds, feeding regularly and a pretty happy baby...

We will be getting weighed in again this week and hopefully the weight has gone up or I am off to do some cooking!!

Definitely try the Aktavite milk shake thing then, everyone that tries it raves about it :)

Hi,

I have been breastfeeding my DS exclusively for 6 months and am thinking that my supply is slowing/dwindling a bit and am open to ideas on how to boost it, but I have to have a dairy free diet due to his eczema. Is Actavite dairy free and could you mix it with soy or does it have to be milk to work. I would love some ideas if anyone has any. I had also heard that a glass of beer helps as well. Have you heard of this? Might be the yeast thing that helps.

Nita

Yep but it has to be a dark beer, like Guiness or something similar (stout I thin it's called). I'll check on aktavite for you, it can go into soy milk but will check the label if there is any dairy in it.

Thank you so much Sarah. I had heard that stout or Guiness might be to go, but it is so horrible LOL!! Might have to hold my nose and drink it down fast so I don't taste it!!

Guiness is great!! The only problem is having to wait till bubs is down for a big sleep to have it so the alcohol is gone before they have their next feed. This normally means really tight engorged boobies happening in the middle of the night. Ouchies, but atleast is shows the guiness is doing its job.

Bugger I wish Cooprs Pale Ale would help, I can't handle Guiness!! Mind you I don't know how I would go drinking a beer it has been a damn long time since I have had any alcohol! Think I might go the milkshake, what is Actavite and where do you get it? I'll have my Pump ready for thos engorged BB's!!

Cheers

Haven't tried Aktavite for boosting supply myself either, but like Sarah, have heard all good things about it. You just get it in the supermarket around the same area as you find Milo. It's got an orange label - can't miss it :) Quite yummy too and you get a bit of a chocolate fix at the same time...mmmmmmm :)

The cookies do sound good... and I have some brewers yeast... might try these out...

I have been using a nursing tea which is quite nice... It has anise, fennel, caraway, and fenugreek seeds and lemon verbena leaves. It is quite nice, (if you dont mind licorice, and better than straight fennel tea) and I think it has helped me with my afternoon supply which gets quite low...