Sometimes, it’s good to be a cow.
Growing up as an obese kid, being called a cow was the last thing I wanted to hear. As a young mother, though, I would sometimes affectionately call myself a cow.
Did you know that most women give up breastfeeding by the sixth month because they don’t have enough support? Most of their friends and mothers might have bottle-fed their babies or don’t know how to tackle some of the harder issues, such as mastitis, bad latch, or low milk production.
I breast-fed both of my daughters for a minimum of a year each. Considering that the average American mother gives up breast-feeding around 6 months, I lasted longer than most. There are many benefits to breast-feeding, and a few frustrations.
One of my bigger frustrations with breast-feeding was not producing enough milk. If you are a full-time working mother, or chose to exclusively pump, sometimes it’s not enough to just eat right and drink plenty of water.
As a new mother, I spent much of my waking moments looking for a safe and natural way to become a better cow. My experience with La Leche League and nurses was not helpful, and internet resources were vague or did not work.
Then, I stumbled upon Mother Food. Finally, a book that provides good nutrition tips for the breastfeeding mother who struggles with her milk supply. This book was awesome! Author Hilary Jacobson explores what different cultures eat in order to assist mothers with feeding their babies.
Most common foods for the average American
- Sesame seeds and/or tahini
- Dried apricots
- Molasses
- Malt
- Coconut
- Oats
(See my Super Bars recipe for a tasty way to increase your milk supply)
International cuisines for those who love Food with Flavor
- Indian (turmeric, fenugreek)
- Asian (miso, leafy greens)
- Mediterranean (tahini, chickpeas, olive oil)
Foods that decrease your milk supply
- Mint
- Dandelion
- Dairy
I would never tell a mother that she needs to breast-feed her baby. But, I want to make sure that those who choose to breast-feed find ways to continue breast-feeding. Mother Food is a mother’s breast friend.
5 thoughts on “A Mother’s Breast Friend”
Great post! One thing I struggled with was not eating enough or drinking enough when breastfeeding. With my third child I felt so insatiable, and even though I was eating whole foods and not junk, I still felt so hungry!
Thanks for commenting, Angela! That’s one of the upsides to breastfeeding- being able to eat more than you normally can. You really are “eating for two”. Although I suppose this can get tricky for eating less after you wean your child.
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