recipe: really yummy lactation cookies

Lactation cookies. Yes, lactation cookies are a real thing. And all cookie lovers who lactate rejoice.

One of the greatest things to happen to me this time around is being able to nurse my son (you can read about my nursing struggles with my firstborn here). Unfortunately, I don't have amazing supply so I've had to resort to all the crazy supplements and pumping sessions to keep the milk flowing. But these lactation cookies are by far the most enjoyable way to boost my supply. And yes, I do believe they work. But even more wonderful than that is that they really are yummy!

So how do lactation cookies work? Well, they use "galactagogues" (yes, a real word) that women have been swearing by for decades -- namely, brewer's yeast, oats, and flax -- to boost supply. 

Now these cookies do come with a warning: they are not low fat and they will not help with your post-baby weight loss. sorry. But they are yummy and when it's 3 am and you have a ravenous newborn AND you've got the nursing munchies, the calories simply don't matter.

Ingredients:

3 cups rolled oats

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

6 tablespoons brewer's yeast (*this is a crucial ingredient! don't skip it! you can find brewer's yeast at your local Bulk Barn)

3 tablespoons ground flaxseed

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoons salt

3/4 cup butter

5 tablespoons coconut oil

1 1/2 cups white sugar

2 eggs

1/4 cup peanut butter

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl. In a separate bowl (I use my stand mixer) combine the butter and oil and then add the sugar, beating until fluffy. Follow with the eggs and peanut butter until well combined. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and then add the chocolate chips.

Scoop onto baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes (don't overdo these unless you like them crunchy) or until done.

I modified this recipe from here.

Enjoy!

To yummy galactagogues,

♥ Dion

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have pretty presents this Christmas

I have a confession. I am a bit of a wrapping paper nut. Most people don't understand, but those who do (like my mom...from whom I got this addiction), know that the only thing better than a thoughtful gift is a beautifully wrapped, thoughtful gift. It's been a busy season with a new baby at home, but that wasn't going to stop me from wrapping each and every present I bought, nor taking meticulous care as I wrap. With the exception of Gemma's gifts of course -- she's going to annihilate whatever her toys are wrapped in.

With Christmas exactly one week away (wow. panic. breathe. you got this.) I thought I'd share a few simple things to make your gifts so pretty you'll cry when they are unwrapped.

#1 - Choose a colour scheme and go with it. This year I've done black, gold, silver and craft paper. I love the combination of all out glitzy paper paired with the rustic look. When you stick to a unified scheme your tree looks oh so pretty. Bonus points if you coordinate the wrap with your tree's decor theme! (yes I do this. again, I blame my nuttiness on my mom entirely)

My favourite places for paper (I always buy at the end of season for next year) include:

- Homesense (of course)

- Target (RIP)

- Ikea (at the end of the marketplace area)

- Walmart (hard to believe, but yes)

- Chapters (end of season or else you have to mortgage your home to afford it)

- Pier One (also, end of season)

 #2 - Skip the ribbon. Ok, I love curling ribbon. But there are alternatives including decorative tape (which I didn't do this year) and twine. You can purchase twine at the dollar store, but I got a three pack of black, white and brown at Ikea this year and I have been loving interchanging them. I just love the simplicity of a twine shoe-string bow.

#3 - Don't forget the tag. Don't wrap the most beautiful gift and attach a tacky tag to it. Stores like Homesense, Ikea and even Wal-mart have some really pretty tags. Again, follow your colour scheme. My mom actually prints her own tags on clear labels so that she doesn't have to write out everyone's names multiple times -- brilliant I tell ya.

#4 - Add a little pizzaz. Sometimes I tie a Christmas ornament to the ribbon to make the gift just a little more beautiful. Plus it serves as another little gift to the recipient. This star ornament I got for dirt cheap, literally, at Canadian Tire this year. Yes, CANADIAN TIRE. Proof you can be cheap and classy all at once.

#5 - Take your time. Don't rush ladies. Make a big cup of tea and set out a plate of cookies and then wrap with care. Treat these babies with respect.

Now, if you do all these things, prepare to cry a little on the inside on Christmas day when all your hard work gets thrown in the trash. So put those puppies under the tree ASAP and snap a photo so you remember how lovely those presents once looked.

To having the merriest of Christmases...from me to you,

♥ Dion

Five Tips for VBAC Success

Recently I shared my VBAC success story on the blog with the hopes of encouraging any mamas planning to VBAC one day. I thought it would be helpful to share five tips for VBAC success with you brave ladies.

1 (a) - Research, Research, Research:

Knowledge is power, right? VBACs are not without risks and some moms are better candidates than others. You will get a sense from your research and conversations with your doctor whether you are a good candidate. The 1 in 200 risk of uterine rupture was what freaked me out the most about having a VBAC; however, when I did my research I learned that EVERY delivery has its risks, VBAC or not. Some of these complications are about as likely to occur as  a uterine rupture, and yet your doctor may not even mention these risks! For me, the research took some of the fear out of the process.

1 (b) - Don’t research too much:

Ok, so now I am confusing you!! Yes, do your research BUT dr Google can be a scary place. Don’t read and ruminate on the one in a million chance of something happening to you or your baby. Otherwise you’ll just go ahead and book a c-section, which has its own fair share of “one in a million” risks!

2 - Choose your medical provider wisely:

Although VBACs are considered safe, not all providers are as comfortable or experienced with performing VBACs as others. I’m not sure it really matters whether you choose an OBGYN, family doctor or a midwife, what matters most is that your caregiver understands your wishes and is on board. Personally I knew I wanted a medicated birth (I love me some [legal] drugs!) and with some of my higher risk history the OBGYN seemed like the best call. Plus, I am of the belief that if I did end up needing an emergency c-section, I didn’t want to have to switch care providers in the middle of my delivery. OBGYNs have gotten a bit of a bad rap since everyone watched “The Business of Being Born” on Netflix, and while I know that some doctors are more eager to “cut”, you can find OBGYNs who are truly motivated by what is best for mom and baby, and will not perform c-sections unless they find it truly medically necessary.

If the doctor you are referred to isn’t in support or doesn’t make you feel comfortable, get another referral. You want a care provider who you trust implicitly.

3 - Find a VBAC mama tribe:

There’s nothing more encouraging to a mom hoping to VBAC than a mom who has done it. Find friends, acquaintances, anybody who has VBAC’d and ask them to tell you their story. Read my story and share it with others. These stories will pierce through the times of doubt that you will feel along the way.

4 - Think positively:

Hearing positive stories of others’ VBACs are just part of the mental game you need to play when planning a VBAC. You need to train your mind and your heart to think and feel positively towards your delivery -- this is hard because something negative happened for you to need to VBAC in the first place! If you read my VBAC story you know that I devoted a lot of mental and emotional energy to believing that my VBAC would happen. For me, that looked like prayer and reading my Bible. I know that may not be everyone’s thing, but it's hard to deny the power these acts had in my situation. For you, it might mean planning and visualizing your VBAC and avoiding negative thinking patterns (such as,“I’ll try for a vbac but it’ll probably end in a c-section”). Also, surround yourself with positive people, cheering you on toward your goal. I think my husband wanted me to VBAC as much, if not more, than I did. Whenever I felt doubt and fear, he stayed positive, assuring me that a VBAC was possible.

5 - Take care of yourself:

I always felt my VBAC would happen regardless of what I did physically to prepare, so I never went to chiro or physio and I certainly wasn’t doing hundreds of cat-cows a night to ensure baby was in the right position. However, lots of women swear by those to get baby right where you need it to be! And I suppose it couldn’t hurt. But taking care of yourself during your pregnancy is crucial, to ensure you will be physically well to deliver. Giving birth is HARD physically, and fortunately I was in pretty good shape prior to getting pregnant, so I really did have a lot of stamina when it came time to push (the drugs didn’t hurt either!). There isn’t much you can control during your delivery, but you can set yourself up for success by eating healthy, keeping active and resting when possible (which is nearly impossible with a toddler…).

Good luck on your VBACs mamas. I’d love to hear your tips and success stories too!

To beautiful babies and beautiful births,

♥ Dion