I Tried Lactation Cookies to Boost My Breast Milk Production

Even though you know it's coming, when your body starts creating milk after having a baby, it can be surprising and strange. And breastfeeding can be both physically and emotionally demanding, draining, and (at least at first) quite confusing.

For these reasons, many people who breastfeed or chestfeed worry about low milk supply—whether or not they actually have an insufficient supply. In fact, research shows that these doubts (which are understandable but typically unwarranted) are a common reason for discontinuing breastfeeding.

After having my first baby, all of these thoughts hit me hard. Was I making enough breast milk? What my milk good enough for my baby? So, when I came across Majka—a company that sells lactation bites and powders—I was intrigued. A quick Google search reveals plenty of companies like Mrs. Patel's and Seedlyfe that sell lactation goodies as well as tons of promise-to-boost-your-milk-supply recipes that you can whip up at home.

So, I thought: Why not try some bites? And over my maternity leave, most mornings, I would wake up with a lactation bite. Learn more about lactation cookies and whether or not you should give them a try, too.

What Are Lactation Cookies?

On top of aiming to boost milk supply (some research finds that about 12% of people who breastfeed struggle with "disrupted" lactation), lactation cookies or supplements are said to nourish the postpartum body. That's a biggie considering that making breast milk typically requires between 300 to 500 calories per day, says Kirby Walter, R.D., a board-certified lactation consultant and owner of Nourish Nutrition and Lactation.

Typically, lactation cookies are high in whole grain carbohydrates (which can make you feel relaxed and help with let-down), have a natural sugar component (read: an immediate energy boost), and contain healthy fats, explains Walter. "The ingredients are essentially 'superfoods' which help ensure mom is well-nourished so her body has the capacity, energy, and nutrient stores to produce breast milk."

Lactation bites and cookies also often boast ingredients called galactagogues—foods or herbs that can potentially increase breast milk production—such as oats (a nutritious substitute for white flour and said to boost milk supply), flax seeds (a source of nutritious fats, among other nutrients, that transfer into breast milk), and brewer's yeast (which has B vitamins, which many swear increases supply), explains Marina Lane, R.D., a certified lactation counselor and founder of The Lactation Nutritionist.

Some also contain herbs and spices, such as fenugreek, goat's rue, ginger, or Shatavari, Lane says.

Do Lactation Cookies Work?

Well, first things first: Lactation bites are in no way necessary for maintaining milk supply. "Our bodies post-baby can make breast milk, no matter our nutrition," says Lane, who explains that a change in hormones after delivery and the stimulus from the baby's latch (or a breast pump) enable our bodies to produce milk.

Of course, nutrition does play a role. "It affects the composition of our breast milk. Most vitamins, some minerals, the brain-boosting fatty acids, and many beneficial phytonutrients such as antioxidants increase in our breast milk when we include them in our diets," says Lane.

But lactation bites likely aren't an elixir. Take the herb fenugreek: Walter notes that it's been shown to have an effect at no less than 3,500 milligrams per day (which would be almost impossible to consume via lactation bites alone) but that it has also alternatively been shown to reduce supply. (So, it's always important to talk to your doctor before supplementing.)

"Many of the herbs have been used for thousands of years to increase milk supply," says Walter. However, while there are many anecdotal reports of these ingredients boosting supply, there's only limited or mixed research to show that most galactagogues are actually effective.

Should You Try Them?

My feelings about the bites? Well, for one, breastfeeding was leaving me starving and the bites tasted good, were fairly filling, and I looked forward to eating them. If they helped with milk supply (Majka's products have ingredients like rolled oats, fenugreek, almonds, and more)…great! But if they didn't? I truly enjoyed them.

After using the bites for a few days, I did feel like I was producing more milk, though, admittedly, it's hard to know whether that's because I was simply getting more calories or because of some magic blend of ingredients.

It's also important to note that I never personally struggled with my milk supply. I feel lucky in that my daughter latched on right away and when my milk came in, I found that it stabilized fairly quickly. That said, some days when I pumped—especially stressful days or days that I knew I just wasn't eating enough—it did seem as though I could never get more than a few ounces out. (Lane says that the amount of breast milk we produce can decrease if we cut calories too much.)

If you are struggling with your supply, experts say that on top of regular feedings and latch, it's important to make sure you're simply eating enough (if you're consistently eating less than 1,500 to 1,800 calories a day, that could hinder your supply), taking in enough protein, and staying hydrated.

But as long as the ingredients in lactation goodies are safe and beneficial for you and your baby, Lane says lactation cookies and bites can be a great addition to your breastfeeding diet. As for me? I don't know if lactation bites truly had an effect on my supply (although I felt like there was a difference), but as of now, I plan to keep them in my morning routine. After all, I need extra calories, I'm crazed for time, and I look forward to eating them—a win-win(-win).

The Bottom Line

Ingredients like galactagogues in lactation bites are only effective (if effective at all) when used in conjunction with frequent nursing or pumping. "Making sure your baby nurses frequently and efficiently is more effective than any galactagogue. Breast milk is produced 'on-demand,' so being separated from your baby for extended periods of time or having an improper latch are the most common reasons for reduced milk supply," says Lane.