Milk Production Recipe #4

Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Butter (room temperature)
3/4 Cup Sugar
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 Cup Peanut Butter
1-1/4 Teaspoons Baking Soda
3 Cups Rolled Oats
6 Ounces M&M's

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Beat sugar, brown sugar, and butter until creamy.
3. Add eggs, vanilla and baking soda and mix well
4. Add in peanut butter and mix
5. Stir in oats, then M&M's
6. Place teaspoon full of dough on lightly greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly brown

Milk Production Cookie Recipe #3

Ingredients:
1 Cup Butter
1 Cup Raw Caster Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
4 Tablespoons Water
2 Tablespoons Flaxseed Meal
2 Large Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence
2 Cups Plain Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
3 Cups Rolled Oats
1 Cup (or more) of White Chocolate Chips

Optional:
1 Cup of Chopped Dried Apricots, Cranberries, or Etc.
3 Tablespoons of Brewer's Yeast


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix together flaxseed meal and water and set aside.
3. Cream together the butter and sugar.
4. Add the eggs one at a time and mix well.
5. Stir in the flaxseed mixture.
6. Add vanilla and blend well.
7. Sift together the dry ingredients, except oats and chips.
8. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.
9. Stir in the oats, then the chips.
10. Scoop tablespoon sized balls onto the baking sheet.
11. Bake 8-12 minutes, then cool.

Negative Influences on Milk Supply

It takes about six weeks after birth to establish a good and abundant milk supply for your little one. Some factors and substances can contribute to the most common problem a lactating mother will have, maintaining their milk supply.

• The first negative factor that can cause low milk supply is long spaces between feedings.

When my son was born, I was always told to feed him every 2-3 hours. Little did I know I was setting myself up with supply issues.

Pay attention to feeding cues instead of the clock. Feeding cues a baby exhibits include:

• Rooting, turning their head with searching movements of the mouth. If you stroke their cheek and they turn towards the stimulus, this is a feeding cue.
• Increasing alertness, especially REM (rapid eye movement) under closed eye lids.
• Flexing of the arms and legs.
• Bringing hands to the mouth, followed by sucking on their fist or finger.
• Mouthing motions of the lips and tongue.
• REMEMBER: Crying is considered a late feeding cue! Crying is an infant's way of getting their mother's attention when they failed to see the other subtle cues.

When you follow a baby's feeding cue rather than a clock, you will not compromise your milk supply. When you feed your baby, the prolactin (hormone that produces milk) levels are high. If you wait the full 3 hours before feeding your baby again, the prolactin levels are very low and the levels will not rise as high. The key to establishing your supply is to feed while the prolactin levels are still somewhat high.

• Another negative factor that can cause low milk supply is cigarette smoking.

Smoking mothers may have lower fat in their milk. Prolactin levels in a mother who smokes are also lower than in mothers who do not some. The levels can rise normally after 12 hours of not smoking. Mothers who are pump dependent may collect less milk if they smoke. Breastfeeding may mitigate the adverse effects on the child's cognitive development of smoking during pregnancy.

• Pacifiers can have a negative effect on milk supply

Research indicates that pacifier use resulted in fewer feedings, shorter duration of suckling per 24 hours, shorter duration of exclusive breastfeeding and any breastfeeding at all.
Lactation professionals often would like to know why the pacifier is being used? Does the mother have sore nipples? Soothing crying? Or even sleeping problems? If any of these problems lead you to consider using a pacifier, contact a lactation consultant. Most of the time they can help solve these problems.
- Here's a little statistic: The risk of ear infections in an infant is 2x greater if a pacifier is used and 5x greater if bottle fed. A 20% reduction of pacifier use led to a 29% reduction in ear infections.

• Bottles of water or formula also have a negative effect on milk supply

Water is not needed for either breastfed or formula fed babies. Babies that are fed formula do not need extra water. Even if the weather is hot and dry, babies do not need extra water. Babies can actually become water intoxicated! Also, early introduction of supplemental feedings with formula is often associated with a decrease in the amount of breast milk and even early weaning.

When problems arise concerning milk supply, seek out a lactation professional. They are there to help you in this time of need. Each time they help you, you will begin to build your confidence. Confidence is so important to have during your breastfeeding journey. Take advantage of your local support groups as well as the help of a lactation consultant.

Information provided by Healthy Children Project, Inc.

Milk Production Cookie Recipe #2

Ingredients:

2 Eggs
1/2 cup Unsweetened Applesauce
1 cup Flaxseed Meal
1-1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 cup Melted Butter
2 cups Agave Nectar
3/4 cup Crushed Walnuts
2 cups Chocolate Chips
3/4 cup Raisins
4 tablespoons Water
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Salt
4 tablespoons Brewer's Yeast
3 cups Oats

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a bowl mix flaxseed meal and water until thoroughly mixed.
3. In another bowl mix flour, baking soda, salt, and brewer's yeast.
4. In another bowl mix butter and ONE cup of the Agave Nectar.
5. Add eggs to the nectar mix, stirring well after each one.
6. Add vanilla, stir.
7. Add the nectar blend to the flax and mix well.
8. Pour the nectar/flax blend into the large bowl of flour.
9. Mix in walnuts, chocolate chips, raisins, and oats.
10. After blending well, add applesauce and the last cup of the Agave Nectar.
11. Scoop onto sheets and press down lightly with a fork.
12. Bake for 13-14 minutes.

How to Safely Use and Prepare Infant Formula

I am all for breastfeeding! But I will never judge a mother for using formula. After my son was born, we were having trouble breastfeeding in the beginning. He lost over 10% of his body weight at 2 days old, which was a red flag for the pediatrician. He also had jaundice. I would start each feeding by nursing him, then give him formula afterward. My milk did not come in until almost day 5, so from day two to day 5 he was getting formula after each nursing session. Once he regained his weight, we eliminated the formula feedings down to one bottle before bedtime every night. By the time he was three months old, bottles were completely eliminated (formula and breast milk, by his choice) and from three to six months he was exclusively breastfed.

Here I will discuss the proper safety that should be considered when preparing formula for your child.

1. Safe Handling

• Formula is easily contaminated in the collection and manufacturing processes. Powdered formula is very susceptible to this. Liquid, pre mixed formula is the more sterile option. 
• Enterobacter sakazakii is microorganism that can be found in powdered infant formula.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends mixing powdered formula with water that is at least 158 degrees F to kill this microorganism. Must be cooled to body temperature before giving to your baby.
• Once formula is mixed it is only good for 24 hours. Keep it refrigerated until ready to use.  Do not leave the reconstituted formula out at room temperature for a long period of time.
• Avoid saving left over formula. Throw away the unfinished formula. 
• Use the exact amount of water recommended to mix formula. Do not dilute the formula to make it last longer, this can actually cause harm to your baby.
• Make sure bottles and nipples are cleaned and sanitized thoroughly. When selecting bottles choose those that are BPA free.   

    2.   Responsive Feeding

• Regardless of what is in the bottles (formula or breast milk) a baby is more likely to be overfed when bottles are used. 
• Follow the baby's feeding ques and allow the baby to pace the feeding. 
• Be sure to burp the baby after feedings.

     3.   Be Aware of Other Feeding Issues Associated with Formula

• Gastroesophegeal  reflux (GER/GERD). During the first 2 months, 20% of infants spit up more than 4x per day.
• Babies who are exclusively breastfed spit up less than babies who were breastfed and being supplemented with formula.
• Colic- Remember rule of 3: If the baby has 3 hours of crying, 3 days of the week, for 3 months, it is considered colic. Soy formula is not a solution to this. There is no treatment for colic.

For more information about safe formula handling from manufacturers you may use, please click here.
Information provided by the Healthy Children Project, Inc.

Got Milk? Milk Production Cookies!!

When my son was a few days old, I was given a Breastfeeding Cookie Cookbook. These cookies were always amazing and I did notice a difference in my milk supply. So I figured I would share these recipes with you. There are many recipes, so I will just post one at a time, once a week.


Ingredients:
1-1/2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
1-3/4 Cups Oats
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Salt
3/4 Cup Almond Butter or Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Butter, softened
1 Cup Flaxseed Meal
3 Tablespoons Brewer's Yeast
1/3 Cup Water
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
2 teaspoons Vanilla
2 Large Eggs
2 Cups (12oz) Chocolate Chips
1 Cup Chopped Nuts of your choice


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl.
3. In a large bowl, beat almond butter/peanut butter, butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, brewer's yeast, flaxseed meal, and water until creamy.
4. Mix in eggs in with the creamy mixture and gradually beat in the flour mixture.
5. Mix in nuts and chocolate chips.
6. Add oats slowly, mixing along the way.
7. Place balls of dough onto greased baking sheet.
8. Press down each ball lightly with a fork.
9. Bake for 12 minutes.

Reaching For Your Goals!

This post is more of an encouraging kind of post rather than a post with information about breastfeeding.

In my personal experience, I have learned that setting goals has actually helped me to be successful at breastfeeding.

After my son was born, I decided to breastfeed for six weeks and strictly pump to have my husband help out and be involved with our son's feeding time. I had learned that by six weeks, the breast milk supply would be well established. By the time six weeks rolled around, I realized I didn't want to pump. I wanted to keep breastfeeding our son. I set my goal higher to six months. With each goal that I met, I gained more confidence. Today our son is 10 months old and my current goal is to keep breastfeeding him until he is a year old. By the time he is a year old, I hope to have him weaned enough to where he will nurse in the morning when we wake up, before nap times, and before bed time. And to have him fully weaned by 18 months.

It all starts with "I want to try to breastfeed..." that alone is an awesome goal to set! When you try, at least you are giving your baby their "first vaccination" through the nutrition of the colostrum. This first stage of milk provides that first bit of antibodies that breast milk is known for.

When a new mother is provided with enough resources to keep encouraging her to reach her goals then she will achieve her goals and may even set the bar higher.

So set those goals mommies! And reach for them!