ELSA AUGUSTINE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Within my first week of being a mom, I met with two lactation consultants, read far too many articles online, and watched videos on how to get my baby to latch. It seemed so straightforward, but baby and I could not figure it out. Often, both of us ended up in tears when we tried. The poor little guy was not gaining weight the first two weeks and I felt drained (pun intended).
At that point, I was apprehensive about feeding time which meant I was apprehensive pretty much every other hour. I started to pump, and thankfully had plenty of supply. But I was bummed about missing out on the magical mother and baby bonding experience I heard so much about. I started to feel guilty that I was doing the "easy thing" by pumping and not feeding the baby directly. In hindsight, I can't believe I spent so much of my day pumping! It was hard, but at the time I was convinced I was taking the shortcut.
At about the two month mark, I decided to let those feelings go and to try and be okay with not having the experience of nursing. He was nourished and gaining weight, and that was most important.
But sometimes things have a funny way of working out just when you let go. A few days later, I tried nursing again. I was convinced that it wouldn't work, but I was more relaxed than I'd been before. He started whimpering, and I said to my mom, "See, it just doesn't..." And then it happened. He latched! Out of nowhere.
While it has been wonderful and SO much more convenient to nurse my baby, there are a few things I would have done differently if I were to do it over again.
First, the baby needs to be fed. Whether it's by nursing, drinking pumped milk, or drinking formula, the baby needs to be fed - try not to worry how, just that the baby is healthy and nourished. Second, I need to do what is best for me to be at my best. If that means pumping or giving the baby formula, I will do that guilt-free. Having a mother that is at her best leads to much of the best magical mother and baby bonding.
Elsa’s favorite LACTATION COOKIES
I loved this recipe I found on a blog called Dessert Now Dinner Later. I made two substitutions: all purpose flour instead of wheat flour and butter for the coconut oil. These cookies are delicious, and they really do help with milk production!
The below is copied from Dessert Now Dinner Later. For the full, original recipe, click here.
INGREDIENTS:
2 Tbsp flaxseed meal
1/4 cup of water
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup of brewer's yeast (this is the main ingredient for milk production)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
9 fenugreek capsules (empty capsules and discard)
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup coconut oil, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups of old fashioned oats
1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mix flaxseed meal and water; set aside.
Stir together the flour, brewer’s yeast, salt, baking soda and fenugreek, set aside.
Blend butter, coconut oil, and sugars well. Blend in eggs. Stir in flaxseed mixture and vanilla; mix well.
Add dry mixture. Mix until just combined. Stir in oats and chocolate chips.
Scoop 2 Tbsp of dough, 1 to 2 inches apart, onto a silicone lined baking sheet, or one covered with parchment paper or non-stick foil. (About 8 cookies per tray.)
Bake for 9 to 10 minutes, until matte on the top.
Once cooled, individually wrap cookies in plastic wrap and place them in a container the freezer. Eat at least 2 cookies the first day, and one each day afterwards. (I have one every day after lunch. Just unwrap it and nuke it in the microwave for 30 seconds.) Enjoy!
Elsa is passionate about empowering people through technology. She loves spending time with her husband and baby, and particularly enjoys absorbing the world through her baby's perspective. Elsa and her family live in the Bay Area.