Welcome to my latest obsession. These Bars are sooooooo yummy, really fast and easy to make, and made with one of my favorite flavor combos- peanut butter and banana!!! There's also some healthy, "milk boosting" ingredients disguised in this treat, and it's still so good you can have it as dessert! (Especially if you drizzle a little chocolate over the top!) Even my kids loved this.

You've been dreaming about the day your baby is born, and holding him in your arms. You've probably also been dreaming about breastfeeding. At the very least you thought breastfeeding would come naturally. Breastfeeding is supposed to be natural, after all, right?

Well, unfortunately, what is natural doesn't always come natural to us. There are many hurdles that can interfere with breastfeeding. Birth interventions, separation after birth, premature delivery, or traumatic birth are just a few circumstances that would cause a baby not to latch at the breast. Sometimes, without any obvious reasons, baby will struggle to come onto the breast too. The BEST thing you can do is seek expert lactation support (which you can find here) and follow the advice in the video below!

One question I am often asked is how long are you supposed to breastfeed??? Well, the answer is simple. There is no right or wrong length of time to nurse your baby. There are expert recommendations. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing to the age of 1 year and beyond. The World Health Organization recommends nursing until the age of 2 years and beyond! So, even our experts can't agree!

​I happen to have my own opinion on the subject. I even made a video about it which you can check out below. The simple answer is- IT'S COMPLETELY UP TO YOU! Breastfeeding is a relationship, and it takes two for this relationship to work. So no matter who decides it's time to stop, mom or baby, then that is the right time for that specific dyad. There are many reasons a mother may want to wean, and for some, weaning when baby is still very young is the healthiest option for both involved. No matter when, or why, when you're ready to wean you'll need to know how! So, I have put this guide together for YOU momma. So when it's time for your breastfeeding journey to come to an end, you'll know how to get through it. 

OMG. Chocolate. Do I really need to say more? I looooove chocolate. It is a weakness. Especially dark chocolate. What I love even more is the excuse to have my chocolate fix disguised as a healthy treat!! These chocolate oatmeal lactation cups are so good, good for you, and have ingredients some people believe to promote milk supply as well. Let's not forget about the chocolate, which I swear by as a magic, milk flowing, miracle treat. Here's why:

One of my favorite tips for pumping moms is to associate pumping time with something pleasurable, like eating chocolate, and there is a good reason for it! When you are feeling anxious, your body tenses (including your nipples!) and when your nipples are tense, it can hold back your milk. If you can relax, and enjoy something while pumping, your body will relax, your nipples will relax, and your milk will flow!!! (This is actually the reason why eating Oreos is associated with higher milk output. The Oreos don't do anything at all to increase your milk supply, but they give you something yummy to focus on while you're pumping, and it let's the stress melt away and your milk flow! I actually plan to write more on this topic later.)

by Kelly Maher, CLC, CLE
​Successful Breastfeeding Expert

Virtually anyone can breastfeed! All you really need is the right knowledge, and support!
Here is some of that knowledge, and some of my best tips I share with my clients! 

One of the most common complaints among new nursing moms is that their baby is ALWAYS NURSING! They feel like a 24/7 milk factory, and find that their baby isn't happy unless on the breast. While it's true that there is never a wrong time to offer the breast, and I do FULLY ENCOURAGE you to nurse your baby often (at least 8 times every 24 hours!) there are likely times when your baby is trying to tell you that they ACTUALLY NEED SOMETHING ELSE.

Who doesn't love a fast and easy, delicious, make ahead breakfast you can eat from all week long??? I wouldn't eat if I didn't make most of meals in advance, and I love, LOVE! these baked oatmeal cups. They are hearty, filling, TASTY, and have just enough sweetness to curb my sugar craving. I eat these for breakfast on the go, or for a quick snack in the afternoon. With whole grains, protein, nuts (and even some "milk boosting" ingredients) these Baked Oatmeal Cups help me keep my energy during busy mornings, and days packed with Breastfeeding Support Sessions!

I am so excited to share one of my most favorite, and healthy, breastfeeding friendly foods! After you make them, comment below with your thoughts!! I'd love to hear from you. 

When you are pumping, especially at work, time is everything! Nobody wants to be attached to a pump any longer than they need to be. With this hands on pumping technique, you'll be able to cut down on the amount of time you spend attached to your breast pump! 

I love a snack that curbs my sweet craving AND is good for me too! These Energy Bites are one of my FAVORITES! They taste great, and are packed full of protein and nutritious ingredients to keep your energy levels up, stabilize blood sugar, and these bites contain flax, which is believed by some to be a milk boosting food!

They taste like raw cookie dough- chunky chocolate chip cookie dough!  They are really simple and fast to make. Keep these in a sealed container in your fridge and enjoy for a week. They are also really easy to make vegan, gluten free, and dairy free too!!! 

WARNING: You may want to make a double, or even triple, batch of these. These are kid and man approved, and they don't stick around for long. *wink*

There's been a lot of talk in the private Successful Breastfeeding Community group on Facebook lately. A lot of talk about FOOD! And food that is good/bad for breastfeeding. I have a disclaimer about that, and plan to write more about this topic in a future post. I do not believe that there are foods that need to be avoided, or even foods that need to be added to a breastfeeding mom's diet. What I DO believe is that having a healthy, well rounded diet, is beneficial for YOU, YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH, and will provide you the energy you need to keep on being the mom you want to be! 

I have had multiple requests for Lactation Recipes​, so I decided to start sharing some recipes that will help keep energy levels up to help you not only with breastfeeding, but with life as a mom in general! I am a big fan of REAL, WHOLE, FOODS that help bring balance and wellness into my life. I am also a BIG FAN OF COOKING AND BAKING. So, I'm going to share my VERY OWN, original recipes that are going to help YOU stay on track with your very own Successful Breastfeeding Journey! 

DISCLAIMER: I am a firm believer that the only thing necessary to make plenty of milk for your baby is to JUST NURSE YOUR BABY. Outside of rare, biological circumstances, having an efficient, pain free latch, and adequate time at the breast is all you need to do to make plenty of milk for your baby. If you believe you are struggling with milk supply, please reach out for support, or download our GUIDE FOR INCREASING MILK SUPPLY.

Also, some affiliate links may be added to recipe posts. Purchases made through these links help support this blog, our online community, and the content and resources Successful Breastfeeding LLC provides free of cost to the families we serve.

When I bake, I tend to use as many plant based products as I can. I often replace dairy products in my recipes. In this recipe I use apple sauce in place of butter! Applesauce is an excellent butter replacement in baking, and I use it (almost) exclusively in place of butter when I bake. I also use unsweetened almond milk, too. 

This recipe is also SUPER EASY to make, and requires only 1 bowl, and a spoon to make it. (Hence the lazy!)
No need for an electric mixer, or fancy 

This recipe was inspired by Jessica, a mom in the Successful Breastfeeding Community, who has recently embarked on a dairy free journey, as she recently discovered her newborn may have a dairy intolerance. 
(If you've been told by your doctor your baby may have a dairy allergy, please reach out for expert lactation support. Certain breastfeeding problems, like oversupply, closely mimic dairy intolerance in infants, and is commonly misdiagnosed.)