It’s National Breastfeeding Week so I figured this would be the perfect time to post this recipe!
You probably know I have stuffed my face with these lactation cookies many a night these past few months.
I decided to make something slightly healthier to add to the mix too and love these no bake lactation energy bites.
I found this recipe from the baker mama after a reader sent it my way in my early newborn days.
These are so quick and easy to make AND guilt free!
although, while pumping or nursing there is no guilt whatsoever about any food –
I am a sugar-aholic for the first time and I am embracing it!
I am HUNGRY! Oh so hungry. All the damn time…..
It’s a little ironic that I’m posting this recipe right now because I’m preparing to wean. The girls are 5 months old and 6 months has been my planned cut off. I don’t mind pumping when I’m home and have my set up and can pump while I bottle feed them, but any time I ever leave the house it is such a pain. (Going to our friends lake this past weekend I just was barely able to pump otherwise we never would have left the house! I couldn’t pump while I fed them there and then if we didn’t leave when we did we wouldn’t get as much time out of the house, etc. Always something! My supply has dropped since they started sleeping through the night and I decided to start sleeping along with them. Then not pumping as frequently the Lake weekend caused another dip. I didn’t think it would bother me since I am planning to wean, but it does. I wasn’t expecting to be all over the map with stopping or continuing….. since often times I want to light the pump on fire. Kidding… haha…. totally…. sometimes kidding.)
I’ve had so many bouts of clogged ducts that I feel like it’s never ending. Now that month 5 has arrived and my planned time to start weaning has arrived I have a lot of mixed emotions about it….. but I know that there are a million reasons why I DO want to stop. Constant clogged ducts and being tied to an electrical outlet at all times being the top two. I keep reminding myself of that (as I am rotating a hot compress on my chest this very moment due to, ya guessed it, clogged ducts.)
BUT I DIGRESS…….
I always see a BIG difference in supply when I stuff my face with lactation cookies or these delicious, easy lactation bites!
I highly recommend for any of you lactating ladies.
The biggest things for me were drinking tons of water and eating ’round the clock.
These and the cookies were treats to look forward to stuffing my face with.
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup ground or milled flaxseed
- 3 tablespoons brewer’s yeast
- 1 cup peanut butter or almond butter
- ½ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add all ingredients except for the chocolate chips. Mix on low speed until mixture is well combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Roll mixture into 2-tablespoon sized smooth balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or enjoy right away. Once the bites have set, transfer them to an air-tight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
I also HIGHLY recommend loading yourself up with sugar with the lactation cookies.
Even my husband would eat them!
And as always FED IS BEST.
Screw anyone with any opinions about anything involving pumping/breast feeding/anything regarding raising babies and children whatsoever. YOU DO YOU, GIRL!
ALSO. Here’s a cute little video about lactation consultants from
Caroline Rhea if you’re breastfeeding and need a laugh.
You are AMAZING for making it this far! Pumping for twins (heck, even keeping twins alive) isn’t for the faint of heart haha!
You are a rockstar! I also struggled with a mix of emotions when I weaned (I EP’d for six months) – I was grateful to have made it as long as we had but equally grateful to no longer be tethered to my pump.
I’m so glad you posted about this! My son is 4.5 months, I’m in the process of weaning and the emotions are HARD. One minute I want to keep going and the next I want to be done NOW. I did not expect this decision to be so hard or have such an emotional tie.
Ooh I can’t wait to try this recipe! I had my mom make me a batch of the cookies you recommended and I still have some frozen dough. So good.
Tell me more about how the girls are sleeping through the night! Did you sleep train?
HI! I just did a post on sleep today!
I am following Moms on Call so in a sense yes but also no – we were able to just drop a feeding at a time slowly!
You’re doing great! BF’ing, pumping, formula, whatever it takes! I remember when I was going through this process it felt so consuming, like all I thought about was my supply, how much I was pumping when I was away from baby, how much longer can I keep this up, etc., whew! At the end of the day, all that matters is that you keep those babies fed however you like 🙂
I did just want to chime in that we make these “bites” ALL THE TIME! I’ve taken out the brewers yeast since i’m not BF’ing, and replaced it with coconut flakes (1/2 cup) and I add in 1 tsp cinnamon. But I’ve kept the flaxseed (1-2 tsp) because it keeps them healthy-ish 🙂 I also keep them in the freezer, yummmmmmm.
Love your blog!
Can’t wait to try this recipe! And would love to hear your experience on how weaning goes. Currently exclusively pumping for my twin girls and thinking about starting that process. Love your blog and instagram!
Congrats to you!!!! Ugh it’s okay so far….. I’m getting clogged ducts and having a little hair loss, but what I wasn’t expecting was acne. I feel like it has to be from weaning? I never suffer from more than an occasional zit and haven’t really had any since pre-pregnancy….. but my whole jaw line broke out this week so badly it almost looks like a rash 🙁 Also, my girlfriend told her doctor said it may make you a little depressed when you stop with homronal things too. So just a heads up as I have that to look forward to too 🙂