This is a recipe that I have changed and updated over the years. I give a batch to every mom that I doula for when I go for a postpartum follow up. They make a great gift, and a good cookie for the kid set too.

I started playing with the idea when I had my first child in 2004. I had read that rolled oats and whole wheat could help boost your milk supply when breast feeding. When I went back to work I was desperate to keep my milk up since I didn’t have as many opportunities to pump while I was at work. I hated oatmeal, but I knew I really liked cookies so…I fiddled around with an oatmeal cookie recipe or two and this is what it has become now.

By the way, the first time I tried this for my milk supply, I went from pumping two ounces from both breasts together to pumping 6 oz from each, but I ate tons of them because they were so stinking good! Unfortunately, I think my body became kind of used to it because with in a week and a half I was back to the two ounces. I could lay off the cookies for awhile though and do it again in a week or two. It was crazy.

I can’t prove the effectiveness by any means, but it at least gave this mama a little confidence boost if nothing else. I’ll give you a strange way to tell if it’s working…(this only works if you used the fenugreek listed below)…your armpits, …they will start to smell like maple syrup.

I swear. It’s totally true.

A Note for the Dads: These cookies will not make you lactate if you are not already lactating!

Ingredients:

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar (I have also used raw sugar before)

3/4 cup salted butter (the wonderful amish butter is best if you can get it, I have a source if you need one)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 egg (farm fresh is best)

1/4 cup water

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups rolled oats (do not use quick oats)

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp fenugreek ( optional…this herb has been shown to improve lactation…if you are pregnant though, hold off on using this in your cookies…It can also stimulate labor.I find my fenugreek at Dekalb Farmers Market)

1 cup of chocolate chips (totally optional but highly recommended. Also good is white chocolate chips and dried cranberries)

1. Heat oven to 350. In a large bowl, beat brown sugar, butter and sugars until cream. Add the egg, water, and vanilla until totally combined.

2 Add the already combined dry ingredients minus the oatmeal, a little at a time alternately with the oatmeal.

3. Fold in chocolate chips

4. Drop dough by the teaspoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

5. Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool. Cool completely before storing in an air tight container.

This makes roughly 5 dozen cookies and they do freeze well.

Feel free to share with your pregnant and breastfeeding friends.