When is a cookie not JUST a cookie? When it’s a bona-fide boobie filling lactation cookie, that’s when!

As any mother will tell you, worrying about your breastmilk supply is at the very top of the list of new mummy concerns. Am I making enough milk? Is my newborn getting enough of the good stuff? Add in a healthy helping of sleep deprivation and post-birth hormones and it’s not surprising that there’s a very real chance of tears.

Want the good news? The vast majority of women can and do make enough milk to feed their baby. If your baby is feeding regularly and having plenty of wet nappies (and the occasional poo) then chances are good that they’re getting enough. And if low milk supply IS a concern, it can generally be rectified with help and support from a breastfeeding professional.

Sometimes though, even with a healthy, established supply, you might feel as if you need a little boost.

Product Feature: Milky Goodness Lactation Cookies

Newborn going through a growth spurt and spending 23 hours a day attached to the boob? Long night with a toddler perma-latched and feel like you’re running on empty (both in the energy AND milk department)? That’s where galactagogues or supplements that can help boost your supply come into the game.

Lactation cookies,teas and tonics might be the new kids on the breastfeeding block but the ingredients they contain have a long established history (the Ancient Greeks would often use herbs to help boost milk supply and treat infections like mastitis!) The most common galactagogues include fenugreek, brewer’s yeast, flaxseeds and oats. Conveniently, all ingredients that lend themselves to being baked into milk making cookies or biscuits!

Now the million dollar question; do lactation cookies and teas actually increase breastmilk supply? They can help, absolutely, BUT they won’t be able to treat true low milk supply.

The thing is, breastmilk production works on demand. The more you feed, the more milk you’ll make. It’s why experts recommend feeding your baby on demand while your milk establishes. In the early days, ‘the more boob, the better’ is the best motto to live by. Skin to skin, offering both breasts at each feed, feeding regularly throughout the night and pumping when necessary can also help.

If you’re doing the above and decide to introduce lactation cookies and tea as a tasty (and nutritious) treat, you’ll be well on your way to a healthy supply. Added bonus, the pre-made lactation cookies, lactation cookie mixes and lactation teas we stock are packed full of ingredients that help nourish new mamas.

Product Feature: Mama Body Tea Lactation Tea

At Milkbar, we stock a range of milk boosting biscuits, including Franjos Kitchen and Pinky McKay's Boobie Bikkies, including both gluten free and dairy free options for mamas with food intolerances.

If you’re more of a DIY kind of gal (or have a partner who loves to bake), we also stock a range of lactation cookie mixes and bliss bites from The Milk Pantry. Just add wet ingredients, mix, bake and you’re ready to rock and roll! No trip to the health food shop for brewer’s yeast required!

If you enjoy a cuppa, adding a lactation tea to your day is an easy way to help boost your supply. 

We stock a range of lactation teas, including Mama's Milk Lactation Tea and MaterniTea ProsperiTea Breastfeeding Tea. Both of these products contain a mix of known galactagogues and are packed with vitamins and minerals to help support lactation and busy mamas nutritional needs.

MaterniTea ProsperiTea Breastfeeding Tea is slightly different in that it doesn't contain fenugreek.

For mamas who enjoy a chocolatey treat, we also stock The Milk Pantry Hot Chocolate Lactation Mix and Mumma Shakeswhich are a delicious way to give your supply a boost while enjoying a nutritious snack.

One of the new products in the Haakaa range can be super useful for mamas wanting to help maintain their supply (without any extra effort!) The Haakaa Silicone Milk Collector is worn inside your bra to collect let-down throughout the day and save every precious drop of your liquid gold. And, by engaging the gentle suction by pressing the Ladybug into your breast, you can maximise the amount of breast milk leakage produced.

Product Feature: Haakaa Ladybug Milk Collector

Don't forget, breastfeeding, especially in the early days is HARD WORK. Remember, it’s a learnt skill that takes time to master, for both you and your baby (they’ve never done it before either!) If in doubt, speak to a professional.

A qualified Lactation Consultant can make all the difference to your breastfeeding experience. And don’t forget, the Australian Breastfeeding Association runs the National Breastfeeding Helpline which is available 24/7 for anyone needing help or advice. Phone 1800 mum 2 mum (1800 686 268) to speak to a counsellor.

Keen to start building a milk stash? Check out our post on how to use your Haakaa to effortlessly build a milk stash here

Do you need a boost? Shop our selected range of lactation boosting products here.