And so the nesting continues… Following on from my Lactation Tea post last week where I promised some lactation cookies, here they are!

I’m making these, along with my Breastfeeding Flapjacks, to freeze in preparation for baby number 2, as I sure as hell won’t have time to make any once the little one arrives! My good friend also just had a baby and this is her third, so she needs all the energy and sustenance she can get! I also think taking healthy food is the best present any new mama can get. I know how much I appreciated food and healthy snacks after I had my first.

It is so important to nourish our bodies postpartum, not just to help with breast milk production, but also simply to give our bodies nourishment after the labour of birth. We will noticeably be lacking in many vitamins and minerals and it’s crucial to replenish these through bioavailable means (whole foods), especially as breastfeeding puts an even higher demand on the body for extra nutrients.

To help with breast milk production, and to help with a quicker recovery from labour, it’s crucial to eat real, whole foods, but of course none of us has the time to bake cookies or make quinoa salads in those early days, so preparation is key, and I can’t stress how important this kind of preparation is over nursery wall colours. And don’t get me wrong, I’m the nesting queen! I obsesses over every detail, but if time is tight and it’s a choice between preparing for birth and postpartum over nursery decor, this wins every time.

The reason these are actually ‘lactation’ cookies is because of the carefully chosen ingredients which can help ensure adequate milk supply and also offer the right nutrients for breast milk production.

Ingredients such as coconut oil, nut butters and oats are all conducive to breast milk production, fennel seeds ease tummy discomfort (for you and baby) and fenugreek boosts milk supply. If you feel your supply is adequate, omit the fenugreek seeds as oversupply can cause mastitis.

Of course being that they are made from real, whole foods, with no gluten, dairy or refined sugar also helps the the body’s defences and keeps the gut healthy, leading to a healthier immune system.

If you’re trying to think of a suitable gift for a new mama, why not take along a box of these together with a jar or bag of my lactation tea blend. It’s a gift that will be well received!

Ingredients

1 cup ground almonds
1 ½ cups organic rolled oats
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp fenugreek seeds
Pinch Himalayan salt
5 tbsp coconut oil
1/3 cup maple syrup
4 tbsp almond butter
¼ cup almond milk
Handful raisins or chocolate chips (optional)

Method

Preheat the oven to 180* and line 2 baking trays with baking paper and grease with coconut oil.

Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl.

Add all the wet ingredients (except the raisins or chocolate chips if using) to the blender and blend until combined.

Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well. If using raisins or chocolate chips, add these now and mix.

Form into balls with your hands and press down on them on the prepared baking trays and bake for 7-9 minutes, depending on your oven. I have a fan oven and 7 mins is enough. They will seem soft when they come out but they will harden a little more once they’re out.

Put the baking sheets with the cookies on them on a wire rack (the surface they cool on shouldn’t be cold) to cool away from the heat of the baking trays so they don’t crisp up too much. Once cool put in an airtight container.

Love & health,
Lauren