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After Baby

DIY Padsicles (for postpartum relief)

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Having a baby, whether it’s a vaginal delivery or c-section, is no joke. Whether you have a fast labor, a long labor, one that is relatively easy or sheer hell-

You are gonna need to do some postpartum planning for pain relief and care- here’s a full postpartum recovery checklist!

Pushing a baby out takes tremendous strength and will power. It leaves all your tissues inflamed and you may need stitches which just sucks.

With my first baby, I did need stitches. It hurt to pee, it hurt to sit, it hurt to sneeze. I wasn’t prepared and sent my husband out to go get a bunch of random shit for me which was fine but I would have liked to be better prepared!

Enter- DIY PADSICLES. 

 

WHAT ARE PADSICLES?

Padsicles are made by putting common ingredients onto a pad (preferably a giant one), closing it back up and placing in the freezer.

Some people like to use ice packs but let’s face it, they’re super uncomfortable to use down there. A pad is perfect for down there and won’t feel as uncomfortable or bulky.

The extra healing ingredients help to soothe any inflammation or pain cause by stitches or bruising.

All you need is:

  • Pads: Preferably large ones like these that will fit in the disposable underwear you brought home from the hospital.
  • Witch hazel: Anti-inflammatory and anti-viral. Reduces skin irritation.
  • Aloe vera gel: Anti-bacterial and accelerates wound healing.
  • Lavender essential oil: Anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, anti-microbial.

HOW DO YOU MAKE  HOMEMADE POSTPARTUM PADSICLES?

Open up your pad but don’t take the paper off the back. Spread it open.

Grab your aloe vera gel and generously apply, in a zigzag pattern from top to the very bottom.

Pour 1 teaspoon of witch hazel down the very center.

Add a couple of drops of lavender essential oil to the center as well.

Re-fold the pad. Repeat for as many as you want.

Place in a freezer safe bag in the freezer. Take out as necessary!

I DON’T WANT TO MAKE THEM. WHERE TO BUY PADSICLES?

I get it. You have a lot going on. Sometimes DIY’ing something is the last thing you want to do!

You can totally buy premade padsicles. They’re called Tucks and are supposed to be specifically for hemorrhoids but you can use them for this instance too! Grab some Tucks here.

WHERE CAN I FIND THE INGREDIENTS IF I DO WANT TO MAKE THEM?

You probably have at least one or two of these ingredients in your home.

Witch Hazel can be found in almost any grocery store or pharmacy. So far, we love the Thayers because it’s alcohol free! You can find it here.

Lavender essential oil can be found at health food stores or in the natural aisle at some grocery stores. So far, this kind has been my absolute favorite for a reasonable price.

Aloe vera gel you can get pretty much anywhere! I do recommend buying a brand that doesn’t have dyes or other weird ingredients since it will be in a sensitive area. This one is on Amazon for a good price and only has natural preservatives on the ingredient list aside from the aloe gel.

If you are just wearing panties, try to get some pads that have the sticky wings to attach it better.

If you’re going with the disposable underwear, grab the big pads with no wings. I like to have an assortment of different styles and sizes when I get home from the hospital.

DIY Padsicle (for postpartum relief)

DIY Padsicle (for postpartum relief)

DIY, homemade postpartum padsicles for serious relief after childbirth. Made with witch hazel, aloe vera and lavender essential oil. Bring sweet relief to your lower area following a vaginal delivery.

Ingredients

  • Pads
  • Witch Hazel
  • Aloe Vera Gel
  • Lavender Essential Oil

Instructions

  1. Open your pad but don't remove the back. Spread open.
  2. Apply the aloe vera gel generously, in a zigzag pattern from top to bottom.
  3. Pour 1 tsp of witch hazel down the center of the pad.
  4. Add a couple of drops of lavender essential oil.
  5. Place in a freezer safe bag in the freezer until needed.
  6. Enjoy the sweet relief!
© Jenni

Looking for more postpartum advice?

HOW TO MAKE PADSICLES

Everything You Need To Know About C-Section Recovery

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HOW TO HEAL AFTER A C-SECTION

 

If you were googling “C-Section Recovery” or “C-Section Recovery Essentials”-

You’ve come to the right place. I’ve never had any experience with C-Sections myself so I asked my lovely sister-in-law, who has had 4 of them (and has 4 lovely, healthy children) to allow me to interview her for this article! 

You can check out this article for the full list of postpartum recovery essentials.

Can you introduce yourself and describe each c-section?

My name is Amanda and I am lucky enough to have four kiddos to love.  I’ve had four c-section recoveries!

Baby 1 was an emergency. After 12 hours of labour there was fetal distress to the point that it became necessary.

Baby 2 was breach right to the end. The doctors didn’t feel breach delivery was safe and attempting to turn the baby could also carry heavy risks. No vbac for me!

Baby 3 was elective, based on my risk factors and my chance of a successful vbac being very low.

Baby 4 was elective with a “high risk specialist” at my side, as the risks increase with every additional c-section.

How was the c-section recovery? Different or similar for each delivery?

The first c-section was most difficult to get through the first couple of days. My body was so exhausted after a labour followed by a major surgery. When my pain medications wore off, I was still having some contractions, and in a lot of pain. The good news was that after those first days, my recovery was surprisingly quick and easy!

Baby 2 and 3 were scheduled and similar to each other. I knew what to expect, and got through without complications.

Baby 4 was hard. I had some complications so my surgery was longer, I had a vertical incision, as well as my tubes tied.

My recovery was long and painful, but at exactly 6 weeks postpartum, in an almost miraculous way, I very suddenly bounced back.

What things came up after your c-sections during recovery that were unexpected? 

With Baby 1, I felt great by week two! They say don’t carry anything heavier than your baby for those 6 weeks of recovery. At about 4 weeks I thought I was totally fine, and I carried my baby in her car seat for about a block and then suffered in pain for a week after. When they say take it easy for 6 full weeks, you don’t know better, just listen to them!

You still bleed. After baby 1, I thought “well my belly looks like Frankenstein’s forehead, but I escaped all the other stuff.”

No, you still bleed afterward and I bled for over a month straight with all of my babies.

I had never had any kind of surgery and didn’t know more than the basics about c-sections before my first. I honestly expected to be bedridden. I was shocked to find out that you need to be up and walking around within hours of your surgery!

The first time you get up is a shock. 

With baby 1, When I tried to get up the first time, I just couldn’t do it and I cried and gave up. The nurses gave me more pain meds and came back in a few hours to make me try again. It took my breath away to get up for the first few days, but every day gets a little bit easier.

I was also surprised and amazed at my body and how quickly it was healing. Each day, I could actually notice that I was better than the day before. It’s so crazy to be in that state one day, feeling like you’ll never be the same again and then a week later, walking around with your baby and getting on with life!

I had never been terrified to sneeze before. Sneezing hurts…a lot.

And so does coughing…and so does laughing. After my fourth section, my 3 year old was suddenly a full blown comedian and I would beg her to stop. “Stop, stop, I’m gonna laugh. Stop!” And then I’d break and burst out laughing at her. Laughing while doubled over holding my stapled-shut stomach was a daily occurrence.

I’m not sure if everyone has this happen, but I would physically shake after the surgery. With baby 1, I was too afraid to hold her in the recovery room because i was shaking so hard.

You also can’t really breastfeed your baby immediately, because you are frozen and can’t feel if you are being pinched etc. As soon as you “thaw out” you can though, and that shouldn’t take too long. (You can still snuggle skin to skin until then!)

What are your absolute essentials for c-section recovery? 

  1. A chair or couch that you can easily get out of, and maybe something next to it to help you pull yourself up. You’ll need to rely on your arms, not your abs to help you up. Same thing in bed, something to hold onto while you get up can be helpful.
  2. Some help! Support people to help look after your other kids, cook and clean, Especially in the first couple of weeks.
  3. A pillow. Keep a pillow next to you. If you need to cough, sneeze or laugh, hug that pillow tight against your incision to help you get through.
  4. High waisted underwear. Go get some granny panties because there’s nothing worse than the elastic waistband of your underwear rubbing away at your raw incision all day.
  5. On that note, soft and loose waisted pants, or better yet, dresses / clothing without waistbands at all.
  6. Prune juice or stool softener. You’re not gonna want to strain any time soon.

What can you do in advance to be prepared for a c-section? (Physically and mentally?) 

  • If you have a scheduled surgery, the hospital should give you a list of ways to prepare. Do all of it!
  • Don’t expect your “birth plan” to be your reality. Things happen that are out of your control. If you set too much of an expectation, you might be disappointed. Remember that you and your baby’s health are what matters, and if you need a c-section to hold that baby, just appreciate that we live somewhere that can provide such an amazing an life saving intervention. (I’m From Canada by the way). ‘
  • The usual prep for a baby, like frozen meals, having diapers and supplies, and having support people lined up.

What advice do you have for other moms who have one scheduled or may end up needing an emergency one? 

Remember that this will be a tiny dot in the timeline of your life. When you are going through something, remember you are going THROUGH it, meaning there will be a point where you come out the other side of it. Get through one day at a time. You can do this.

You have not failed!

I hear other c-section mothers say they feel like they “failed” by not giving birth vaginally.

I never felt this way, and I think women who do, could be less hard on themselves. You grew a human! Your body did something amazing and miraculous and if you are holding a healthy baby at the end of it, you are one of the lucky ones! To me it doesn’t matter if you have a c-section, or a vaginal birth, if you get an epidural or you don’t.

The delivery is just the means to getting to hold your baby in your arms.

Thank you so much for sharing all of that about c-section recovery with us Amanda! 

***

Are you in the process of recovering from a c-section or are you still pregnant? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to connect with you!

Looking for more postpartum care tips?

Breastfeeding Tips For New Moms

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We’re on baby number 3, she’s 6 months old and the breastfeeding this time around has been a dream! When I had my first baby, not so much.

My first baby had:

  • tongue tie
  • thrush
  • trouble latching from the two mentioned above

As a mom, I had:

 

Breastfeeding a newborn is surprisingly difficult. Milkology is offering a short class that guarantees you’ll be breastfeeding like a pro in 90 minutes! So, if you’re short on time but need some help with your breastfeeding game- this class is for you.

Breastfeeding tips for new moms:

EXPECT THAT IT WILL BE PAINFUL

(At first, but that will go away as you both learn)

Breastfeeding is a HUGE learning curve. You should be completely committed to breastfeeding so that you stay with it. I think it takes mothers by surprise how intense it is, how raw and real and painful it can be.

Especially in those first few weeks.

That being said, OF COURSE there are reasons to stop, I do not want to discount that and it is so important you do what’s best for YOU and YOUR BABY.

It’s important to stress here that most of us believe we’re just gonna sail into breastfeeding like we’re breastfeeding goddesses that won’t have a single issue…

and while YOU ARE a breastfeeding goddess, you are one that will need to learn this new skill. Just like diaper changes, swaddling and baby wearing, it takes-

PRACTICE.

Don’t give up!

I had *almost* forgotten the pain of breastfeeding until my 3rd was a couple days old and the milk really started to come in. Your nipples are not used to being suckled on and they will be sore and may crack (this is what I’ve used every baby), no matter how many babies you have had.

The good news?

It gets better.

Oh hell yeah!

Suddenly you realize that you just fed your baby and it didn’t hurt! 

And honestly, it seems like an eternity when you are in the thick of it, but by roughly 6 weeks (usually sooner) your breasts will have evened out with production and the cracked and sore nipples will have cleared up.

RELATED: Breastfeeding Benefits

TRY A NURSING PILLOW

Being able to have your baby at the right height and easily access your breasts without killing your back is CRUCIAL during those first few months. Using a nursing pillow with my first two children really was extremely helpful.

This is a great nursing pillow to start with because it’s sturdy and even has a strap so that it won’t slip around.

You can grab a FREE nursing pillow by using the code NEWMOMMA20 but please be aware that they aren’t as good quality.

If this is your first (or second!) baby, grab a nursing pillow. They‘re soooo freaking helpful.

Also fun to use the nursing pillow to prop your baby up in bed before they can sit up by themselves!

BE AWARE OF TONGUE TIE

My first baby had a hell of a time latching. She just couldn’t quite do it and it was excruciatingly painful. After 24 hours in the hospital, they whisked her away and made a tiny cut to help with the tongue tie symptoms, which are:

  • difficulty lifting the tongue to roof of mouth or side to side
  • trouble sticking the tongue out past gums
  • a tongue that appears notched or heart shaped when stuck out
  • difficulty latching properly

If breastfeeding is unbearable, your baby might have tongue tie. It will be painful at first, but if it is so painful you are crying at the thought of a feed, look into tongue tie.

(Disclaimer: You may cry when they take your baby away to do this. I was absolutely heartbroken, but it IS worth it, for you and for your sweet baby.)

RELATED: How To Lose Weight While Breastfeeding (without affecting your milk supply)

BE AWARE OF THRUSH

My first two babies had thrush, almost immediately following the birth. This is usually because you’ve had antibiotics during your pregnancy or labor. Or you’re prone to yeast infections. I was lucky enough to have antibiotics during both pregnancy and labor with both children. (This is what to take after antibiotics to build your immune system back up)

Thrush can cause difficulty feeding and irritability in your baby.

Symptoms are as follows:

  • white patches on tongue, roof of mouth or inside of cheeks
  • redness around the patches
  • corners of the mouth may crack
  • patches of white that look like milk but can’t be wiped away

Luckily, it is easily treated. Just make sure if you are treating your baby, you are also getting yourself examined because mom and baby can pass it back and forth between nipple and mouth. No big deal, just make sure you are both treated at the same time!

RELATED: No BS Pregnancy Essentials (for every trimester)

CHECK INTO D-MER

Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex.

This is something I wish someone had told me about sooner.

When I breastfed my first daughter, right before my milk would let down, I would get some crazy feelings. Feelings like-

  • unbearable homesickness
  • deep, aching sadness
  • being totally unworthy
  • a feeling of just being sick to the stomach, almost like when you realize you’ve done something shameful and the pit of your stomach drops.

It took me a long time before I would openly talk about it with anyone. And when I did,  I realized that MANY other mothers experience something like this.

Although there isn’t much in the way of treatment, just knowing that what you are experiencing is a chemical reaction and that there is nothing WRONG with you can help you get a serious handle on it.

CO-SLEEP WITH YOUR BABY

Imagine co-sleeping next to your baby and feeding them without getting up, sitting up, WAKING UP.

It’s a (sleeping mom’s) dream come true!

Not to mention, we are biologically meant to sleep with our precious babies.

It’s easy to quickly assess how they are doing, check their temperature or breathing and make sure nothing is obstructing their face all without having to wake up and run to the crib or another room.

BE PREPARED FOR PLUGGED DUCTS

Plugged ducts are seriously not fun. You’ll know when one of your breasts starts to feel hot to the touch, is red and has sore spot or lump.

It’s important to keep breastfeeding as often as possible to try to unplug the duct. Applying warm compresses and massaging during breastfeeding can help.

A hot shower and a gentle massage of the plugged duct has helped me more than a few times!

Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish a plugged duct from…

MASTITIS

Mastitis is different from a plugged duct because it is an infection, usually accompanied by a fever.

Although you may need to take antibiotics, (don’t mess around, if you need to take them, please do and don’t feel guilty about it) usually mastitis will clear up in 48 hours and they may not be necessary.

The reason for waiting to take antibiotics right away is because our bodies are extremely adept at fighting things off, if given the chance. When you take antibiotics, they wipe EVERYTHING out of your system, good or bad and then you can have a weakened immune system. Which is why I highly recommend taking a probiotic if you end up needing antibiotics!

RELATED: No BS Breastfeeding Essentials

KNOW HOW TO GET A GOOD LATCH

BE KIND TO YOURSELF

Even if you have the most amazing labor and delivery, nothing could have gone smoother and you are home within 24 hours of giving birth-

You are gonna have some HUGE emotions that come up. 

Your life has drastically changed. You are now in charge of a tiny human who is relying on your for their survival.

Yeah, it’s a big deal. 

It’s also an empowering feeling to know that you DID IT.

And that you will do it, keep your precious newborn sustained and thriving.

So when you have these emotions and you need to cry, or scream or break down-

DO IT.

Honor the hell out of those feelings, and also, let them go. 

It’s not you personally breaking down and entering a state of depression.

It might be if you let it get that far but if you try to remember that it is NORMAL to have these feelings and that they will pass, you will truly kick ass as a new mother. 

It’s when we try to fight these feelings, control them and act like they are wrong that it’s not gonna go well.

They’re not wrong.

Birthing a baby is a HELL of thing, no matter if you had a 48 hour labor or a 4 hour one. C-section or a vaginal birth.

IT DOESN’T MATTER.

Surrender to the feelings, don’t fight them and when you are ready to move on, do it with self-love.

By the way- don’t miss these nursing momma FREEBIES ❤

(use the code NEWMOMMA20 to grab any of the following for free)

Are you pregnant or nursing your new baby? Let me know in the comments what kind of stuff came up for you and how you dealt with it!

MORE HELPFUL BREASTFEEDING ARTICLES:

How To Increase Breast Milk Supply (for breastfeeding moms)

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SIGNS OF LOW MILK SUPPLY

This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure at the bottom of the page.

Having a baby is kind of sort of CRAZY. It’s like, your hormones are partying like teenagers on the 4th of July, you pushed a watermelon out of yourself and now you’re responsible for keeping this tiny, fragile human ALIVE.

Yikes!

And then on top of all of that you may be learning to breastfeed. Which comes with it’s set of challenges. And if you have a low supply? That could be devastating.

This post is meant to answer all of your questions on how to increase breast milk supply, why your supply might be low and signs of low supply! I’ve included some quotes from real mommas who did have some trouble but got their supply up successfully! Hopefully they help you.

how long does it take to increase breast milk supply?

It takes about 3-5 days before you’ll see an increase in your milk supply when you’re actively trying to increase it. This is because of supply and demand. Give your body a chance to adjust to the new demands!

Signs of low breast milk supply

Here are some signs your breastmilk IS decreasing:

  • Your baby isn’t gaining weight– babies lose 5-10 percent of their birth weight within the first days of their lives. However, they should be back up to their birth weight by day 10-14 and then start gaining around an ounce a day.
  • Not enough wet diapers– expect 5-6+ wet diapers every 24 hours after your milk comes in!
  • Dehydration in baby– if your baby has dark-colored urine, dry mouth or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) or if they seem lethargic or not interested in feeding they could be dehydrated.

Why is my milk supply low?

According to Mayo Clinic, your milk supply may be low for a number of reasons:

  • Waiting too long to start breastfeeding after birth.
  • Not breastfeeding often enough– even though your baby may be sleepy, make sure they are waking often enough to feed. Newborns eat 8-12 times a day.
  • Supplementing breastfeeding– the chances of needing to supplement are not high. Only supplement if your doctor has recommended this. Supplementing can cause a low milk supply because your body doesn’t think it needs to produce as much milk. This is because of supply and demand. 
  • Incorrect latch– I found it confusing and difficult to understand what the nurses were telling me about latching while I was in the hospital (probably because of sleep deprivation and utter exhaustion- go figure.) Check out this video to get a better understanding of a good latch if you’re struggling, it’s very helpful!
  • Premature birth.
  • Pacifier introduced too soon– giving your baby a soother in the first month can affect your supply. Mayo Clinic suggests waiting until 3-4 weeks after birth before giving your baby a pacifier.

What foods help produce breast milk?

Eating these foods can help you naturally boost your breast milk supply:

  • Oatmeal
  • Spinach
  • Brewer’s yeast
  • Garlic
  • Fenugreek
  • Apricots

RELATED: Yummy Lactation Boosting Recipes

What are the home remedies to increase breast milk supply?

  • Drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
  • Rest when you can.
  • Be easy on yourself.

Tips from real moms who had a low milk supply and brought it UP successfully!

Keyona from Professional Momma

When I first returned to work I experienced a decrease in my milk supply. I wasn’t able to pump as often as I’d been nursing at home and it was very stressful. I wanted to avoid the herb supplements because I had heard they could actually hurt your supply too. So, I turned to power pumping on the weekends and it was a game changer.

Keyona also has an in depth guide to power pumping, you can find it HERE.

Hilda from Real Mom Help

I had trouble with my milk supply with my first born. I am not sure it it was stress, inexperience or just overall low production that I dealt with. I think it was probably a bit of all of these. My lactation nurse recommended fenugreek capsules. They worked wonders. I was able to produce more ilk and was able to stop supplementing with formula. My baby was growing. Ever since, I breastfed two more babies successfully. And while my milk supply was never super abundant, the fenugreek helped make it enough for my babies.

Ashley from Mom Like You Mean It

Making sure to drink plenty of water and eat foods like oats and fenugreek. They always gave my supply a little boost, but when I really needed to up my supply considerably I always used power pumping to help increase milk production. Power pumping works by mimicking a cluster feeding session where you use a double electric pump to pump off and on for an hour.

You can check out Ashley’s post on power pumping that goes a lot more in depth HERE.

Rebecca from Collecting Clovers

My last child was born with an undiscovered tongue-tie. By the time it was discovered, at 4 weeks of age, my supply had already taken a significant hit.

With the assistance of an IBCLC, I began triple feeding and power pumping to increase my supply. Since supply is established by demand, triple feeding and power pumping told my body it needed to produce more milk. I also added in oatmeal every morning, increased my water intake and fenugreek free Milk Mama supplements.

It took several weeks, but I was able to increase my once depleted supply. I increased it so much, I actually ended up with an oversupply, which came with its own set of challenges!

It’s a wild and scary time the first few weeks/months with a newborn. If you’re struggling with a low supply, please know that it’s probably not your fault. These things happen sometimes that are out of our control. Be easy on yourself, be patient. I’m sending you so much luck and love on your journey, whether you breastfeed or not. I know you’ve got this ❤

Do you have any tips or words of wisdom for other mommas who may be struggling? Leave a comment and let me know where you’re at, I’d love to connect!

Lactation Recipes For Boosting Milk Supply (VEGAN)

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The three main ingredients that are good for lactation and boost milk supply are:

  1. Oats- they contain saponins, plant estrogens and beta-glucan which all have a positive effect on the hormones that help produce breast milk.
  2. Flaxseed- contains alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which increases the ALA content in breastmilk.
  3. Brewer’s Yeast- contains galactagogues which have lactogenic properties.  (This brewer’s yeast has been debittered which I would recommend using in your recipes! Otherwise it does have a slightly bitter taste.)

Although I truly love to bake… I also truly love doing things quickly because with 3 kids, the youngest being 1.5, time for baking is hard to come by. When I discovered this protein powder I had to share it! It’s made with milk boosting ingredients and designed to help breastfeeding moms lose weight while keeping up supply. It makes a super healthy, super easy snack for us breastfeeding mommas- you can check it out HERE.

Other foods that can help are:

Courtesy of Mom of 11 Kids

I used this tea after my first daughter was born and actually had to stop drinking it because I was producing too much milk! It has fenugreek and blessed thistle herb which are all helpful in boosting milk supply.

Supplementing with lactation boosting herbs may work better than tea as they are a lot more potent. This supplement contains fenugreek, blessed milk thistle and fennel for boosting milk supply.

Unfortunately, not all the recipes are certified vegan. If you are vegan, there is an asterisk next to the recipes that will need one or two minor substitutions. 

OVERNIGHT BROWNIE BATTER CHOCOLATE CHIP OATS

CHOCOLATE OVERNIGHT OATS

Get the recipe here

Oats are a great way to boost your milk supply and they keep you feeling full and satiated! Perfect for a breastfeeding momma.

DATE & OAT LACTATION ENERGY BITES

Get the recipe here

Perfect for a super quick and healthy snack, these vegan lactation energy bites are perfect for when you need a sweet, protein packed pick-me-up.

RELATED: How To Lose Weight While Breastfeeding (without losing your milk supply)

CARROT CAKE LACTATION BREAKFAST COOKIES*

Get the recipe here

These breakfast cookies do call for an egg. If you haven’t tried making a flax egg yet, get the instructions here. I still had to include this recipe cause they are so dang good! Just replace the egg with a flax one and you are on your way to vegan lactation cookie heaven!

RELATED: No Fluff Breastfeeding Must Haves

HEALTHY VEGAN LACTATION COOKIES

Get the recipe here

These cookies are bursting with the added omega-3’s from the chia and flax. The oats and brewers yeast truly make this a great lactation recipe. Eat up and don’t feel guilty!

SALTED CHOCOLATE ALMOND VEGAN LACTATION COOKIES

Get the recipe here

This recipe is a bit more on the indulgent side, but that is totally necessary when you are in the throes of breastfeeding. It’s hard work and you deserve a delicious vegan treat sometimes 🙂

VEGAN PEANUT BUTTER LACTATION COOKIES

PEANUT BUTTER VEGAN LACTATION COOKIES

Get the recipe here

These peanut butter lactation cookies can be made gluten free and are baked in 10 minutes. They are low sugar and vegan!

RELATED: VEGAN SNACKS FOR BREASTFEEDING MOMS 

 

VEGAN LACTATION COOKIES

STACK OF COOKIES

Get the recipe here

These cookies hit the trifecta of lactation ingredients with oats, milled flaxseed and brewers yeast! Done in 12 minutes, they are absolute perfection.

RELATED: HOW TO BREASTFEED (TIPS FOR FIRST TIME MOMS)

VEGAN CHOCOLATE BANANA LACTATION COOKIE BARS

CHOCOLATE COOKIE BARS IN GLASS PAN

Get the recipe here

Cookie bars that are somewhat healthy (even if they don’t taste that way) and boost milk supply for breastfeeding mommas? Yep, dreams really do come true!

VEGAN APPLESAUCE OATMEAL LACTATION MUFFINS

OATMEAL MUFFINS ON WIRE WRACK

Get the recipe here

These muffins are naturally sweetened and can be made with simple pantry ingredients. They come together quickly and taste amazing!

RELATED: DO YOU NEED A BREAST PUMP WHILE BREASTFEEDING?

NO BAKE PEANUT BUTTER OAT LACTATION COOKIES*

CHOCOLATE OAT COOKIES ON PARCHMENT PAPER

Get the recipe here

These cookies don’t require an oven! The recipe does call for honey, please swap with agave syrup or brown rice syrup to make them completely vegan.

HOMEMADE VEGAN LACTATION BARS

Get the recipe here

These bars from The Conscientious Eater are healthy and jam packed with lactation goodness. They do contain tahini and if you like that, great. If not, sub with almond butter!

PEANUT BUTTER AND CHOCOLATE NO-BAKE LACTATION BALLS*

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP BALLS

Get the recipe here

These no bake peanut butter balls from Love Jenny Blog are so easy and tasty! Sub out the honey in this recipe with agave to make it vegan!

DARK CHOCOLATE ALMOND BUTTER LACTATION BARS*

Get the recipe here

These bars from The Cocina Monologues include all three milk boosting ingredients (oats, flaxseed, brewer’s yeast) but aren’t quite vegan. Sub out the honey for agave and the egg for a flax egg for vegan perfection!

CARROT CAKE VEGAN LACTATION SMOOTHIE

Get the recipe here

Dessert in smoothie form! Healthy, tasty and hydrating for nursing mommas. With all three lactation ingredients and fully vegan, you can’t go wrong with this Carrot Cake Smoothie from Abbey’s Kitchen.

VEGAN LACTATION SMOOTHIE

Get the recipe here

This recipe from The Friendly Fig is peanut buttery, chocolatey, cruelty free and milk boosting goodness! Enjoy momma, you deserve this ❤

RELATED: How To Boost Your Milk Supply (quickly!)

Did you try any of the lactation boosting recipes listed above? Any milk boosting tips you’d like to give new moms? Mention those in the comments!

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VEGAN LACTATION RECIPES

12 (vegan) Snacks For Breastfeeding Moms

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Breastfeeding is some seriously hard work. Did you know that exclusively breastfeeding can help you to burn 200-500 calories per day?

These snacks are protein rich and will help keep you full in throughout the intense days of breastfeeding!

 

NUTS

Nuts are chock full of protein, omega-3’s, unsaturated fats, fibre and vitamin E. They make a super easy to grab and eat snack, especially if you have your hands full with a baby (and/or other children!)

Almonds can also help get rid of a heachache, which is helpful if you are still avoiding tylenol while breastfeeding! These are by far our favorite kind to get as they are completely unsalted.

OATMEAL

Oatmeal can actually help increase your milk supply as well as being a nutritionally dense food. If you’re short on time, throw it in the microwave or add a 1/3 of a cup to your morning smoothie!

Overnight oats make an awesome option if you remember to do it the night before. Add equal parts liquid (almond milk, coconut milk) to equal parts oats with a tablespoon of sweetener and add toppings (fresh fruit, seeds, peanut butter).

APPLES AND PEANUT BUTTER

This makes such a good snack for mom and kids alike! Almond butter or seed butters can replace the peanut butter if you have an allergy. Apples have amazing benefits for your brain, including decreasing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and to decrease decline associated with aging!

SMOOTHIES

green smoothie, simple easy vegan snacks for kids and toddlers

This is how I think of smoothies- You walk up to your metaphorical bank of health inside your body. You slam down a green smoothie and shout ‘I’m making a deposit for today and you can’t stop me!’

That’s what it’s like! You get one of those down and it’s a concentrated dose of vitamins, minerals and nutrients so if you do that and forget to or just don’t end up eating too healthy for the rest of the day, at least you got that down ?

My absolute favorite, can’t mess up, tastes good every time green smoothie?

  • 1/2 C almond milk (or soy, cashew, coconut)
  • 1 small pear
  • frozen banana
  • 1 tbsp almond butter
  • 1 C spinach or kale
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla optional

RELATED: VEGAN PROTEIN SMOOTHIES FOR WEIGHTLOSS

HUMMUS WITH VEGGIES AND PITA BREAD

Hummus got so many vitamins! It’s crazy!

  • manganese
  • copper
  • folate
  • magnesium
  • phosphorous
  • iron
  • zinc
  • thiamine
  • b6
  • potassium

Plus it packs a punch of 7.9 grams of plant based protein per 100 grams. Now add all that together with some beautiful healthy veggies? You are winning the healthy breastfeeding game!

FRESH FRUIT

Fruit seems to be getting a bad rep for having too much sugar. It’s high time this myth was dispelled. Fruit is one of the healthiest things you can eat, providing light, clean energy with sugar that is extremely different from the processed crap you get in candy.

Fruits are rich in dietary fibre, potassium and vitamin C. They boost energy, contribute to heart health and help control blood sugar levels.

RELATED: DOES FRUIT HAVE TOO MUCH SUGAR?

SUPER SEED CRACKERS 

This recipe is from Oh She Glows- all her recipes are amazing! Not gonna lie, this one ain’t quick. But once you make them, they’re easy to store or save in the freezer. And trust me, they are so worth it! Vegan and gluten-free, they contain sunflower seeds, oats, hemp hearts, raw pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and sesame seeds.

So, yeah.

A nutrition BOMB!

EDAMAME BEANS

Edamame are high in protein and they’re a complete protein source so they will keep you feeling full, perfect for a breastfeeding mom! They are chock full of vitamins and minerals and won’t raise your blood sugar.

They are super easy to steam, either on the stove or in the microwave. They are delicious with just a pinch of sea or pink himalayan salt crushed over top!

AVOCADO TOAST

avocado toast, snacks for vegan kids and toddlers, healthy, easy delicious

I know- everyone and their dog is talkin’ ’bout avocado toast. Well, there’s a reason for it!

It’s just so damn delicious and nutritious ?

Avocados are loaded with heart healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. They even contain more potassium than a banana! And they can help you absorb more nutrients from other plant food.

If you choose to do a whole grain or sprouted type of bread, this makes an incredibly nutrient dense food for breastfeeding moms!

Here’s my favorite way to eat avocado toast:

  • toast some bread
  • cut open an avocado
  • put about 1/4-1/2 of the avo on the toast and mash that shit with a fork!
  • squeeze some lemon
  • a pinch of salt
  • a dash of pepper
  • some fresh tomato slices
  • BAM!

CHIA SEED PUDDING

Chia seeds– they are tiny but fierce. Fiercely full of vitamins, minerals, protein and fibre! A 1oz serving contains:

  • Fiber: 11 grams.
  • Protein: 4 grams.
  • Fat: 9 grams (5 of which are omega-3s).
  • Calcium: 18% of the RDI.
  • Manganese: 30% of the RDI.
  • Magnesium: 30% of the RDI.
  • Phosphorus: 27% of the RDI.

They also contain a decent amount of zinc, vitamin B3 (niacin), potassium, vitamin B1 (thiamine) and vitamin B2.

All you need to do is mix:

  • 3/4 c almond milk
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp cacao (optional-for chocolate pudding)

Add to a container with a lid, shake well and let it sit in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. Then you can top with whatever you like!

NICE CREAM

Have you ever thought about why we take milk away from baby calves? It’s crazy that we are so protective of our own sweet babies, who we breastfeed and care for but then take the life giving milk meant for the baby calves. Cows are the same as us, they want to breastfeed their babies and care for them.

I never thought about it until I had my own baby and it really hit home-

Why are we exploiting a female body for her milk and/or eggs (in the case of chickens)?

So!

Why not choose to eat something that didn’t come from an exploited mother that is healthier and cruelty free? 

Nice cream usually consists of a base of bananas, a sweetener (like maple syrup or agave), a splash of almond milk and then either other blended fruits or just by itself to make vanilla or chocolate!

Here’s a basic recipe:

  • 4 frozen bananas
  • 1/4 c almond milk
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1/2-1 tsp vanilla
  • optional: 2-4 tbsp cacao to make it chocolate

Blend in a high powered blender or a food processor!

RELATED: 8 VEGAN NICE CREAM RECIPES

FLUIDS

Did you know you need a whole extra quart (32oz) of fluids while breastfeeding? Of course water is the best option.

Some other options include:

RELATED: BREASTFEEDING TIPS FOR FIRST TIME MOMS

It’s so important to listen to your body while you are breastfeeding. Eat when you’re hungry, remind yourself to keep hydrated.

It’s so easy to just put the baby before anything else and all of sudden you realize you really haven’t eaten anything or had enough to drink all day!

Take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby ❤

Are there any other major snacks you’d add to this last? Did you try anything you hadn’t before? Let me know in the comments!