As you all know, I'm on baby Girl #3. I've had some pretty tough times with breast feeding in the past, including several different issues, but a significant one was my milk supply.
G1 was a totally unique situation, complete with the NICU and an oral feeding tube. Breast feeding was doomed from the start! We made it a whole 10 days, 8 of which were in the NICU with nurses and lactation consultants helping us.
With G2, I made it a full 3 months before my supply really started suffering. I took fenugreek, drank gallons of water, dark beer, lots of protein, oatmeal and vitamins. It still was a struggle to nurse her and have a satisfied baby afterwards. We started supplementing with formula at about 3.5 months and she was exclusively formula fed starting at 6 months.
I'm determined to go longer with G3. I've been much more proactive about maintaining a good supply, rather than boosting a falling supply.
One of my methods to keep the supply I've got going now (which is pretty good if I may say so) is these lactation bars that I've made. I first made them when G3 was going through a growth spurt and I felt like I wasn't keeping up, and I wasn't. We did need to give 2 oz of formula every evening for 2 weeks because I just didn't have enough for her. The first day I made these bars, I ate 6 of them (and it took zero effort as they are quite tasty!). That evening, no formula was needed. Now, I'm not a doctor or a lactation consultant or a nutritionist, so I can't promise that these will work as well for everyone, but they were a score for me!!
This is how I made mine. The 'goodies' that I used were just what I had on hand. You can use whatever you choose! I've made this recipe before and used about 2.5 cups of dried fruit trail mix!
Soak:
1/2 c steel cut oats
1 1/2 c milk
While that is soaking, mix:
3 c quick oats
1c sugar (white or brown)
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 c brewers yeast
1 stick melted butter/margarine
3 eggs
The Goodies:
1/4 c peanut butter (crunchy or creamy works fine!)
1 TBSP cinnamon
1 c chocolate chips
1 c white chocolate chips
1/2 cup m&ms
Brewers yeast and flax seeds (which I didn't have on hand) and the oats (steel cut especially) are the lactation boosters.
Let sit in the fridge for a couple of hours. This helps the liquids absorb into the oats a bit, though I don't think this is necessary. You'll just have to check your bars while they are baking.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes give or take. You may have to bake longer or shorter. A lot of this depends what kid of goodies you put in them! Some will absorb some of the moisture (like dried fruit or coconut), and others won't (sunflower seeds, other nuts, chocolate chips). The first time you make them, keep a close eye on them and take them out when they aren't runny in the middle. I usually just shake the pan... if the middle still jiggles, keep baking.
The first batch I made, with dried fruit and shredded coconut, I baked for 25-30 minutes. They were good. The second batch (chocolate chips and m&ms with peanut butter), however, I couldn't tell you how long they baked. I put them in, and ten minutes later the tornado sirens went off. We turned off the oven, checked the radar to see how close the storm was, and drove a few blocks to my sisters house, because she has a totally concrete enclosed cellar. I don't remember how long we were there (probably 30-45 minutes), I only know that when we came home, the bars were still in the oven and they were perfect!
I use square bar pans for mine, but round muffin pans would work just as well I assume.
Just a tip: I you don't want colorful streaks in your bars, add the m&ms right before you put them in the pans, or even just sprinkle them on. I added mine before I let it sit for a while, and when I gave it a final stir, the candy coating streaked through the bars!
Please enjoy! Feel free to post your results in the comments!
