Oatmeal for Breast Milk - How Much Oatmeal Should I Eat?

Diet Jan 20, 2021

Does Oatmeal Increase Breast Milk Supply?

To optimize the whole breastfeeding experience, one has to take many factors into account, and diet is huge. If there is a challenge in the human body, nature always carries and provides the solution. If you have opted to breastfeed, you obviously want the best supply of milk possible. What if I told you that something as simple and humble as oatmeal would give you just that?

steel cut vs rolled oats breastfeeding, what foods help produce breast milk?

Factors That Cause Oatmeal to Increase Breast Milk Supply

The mere thought of oatmeal is calming, it is comfort food: Thus Oxytocin and Relaxin is released, which stimulates breast milk production and helps with milk flow. Oxytocin is said to promote feelings of trust, so, you transmit that to your baby who will, thus, feed better.
Oatmeal contains an amazing array of nutrients like beta-glucans, phytochemicals, protein, fiber, and carbohydrates. This will promote a richer supply of nourishing milk.
Oatmeal is an excellent source of iron. Mothers with low iron levels often struggle with low milk supply and the oatmeal can help with this.

Interesting Fact: Oatmeal has been found to thicken hair, this is because of it's high protein content. If you are a mom who is worried about hair thinning out after giving birth, then this is for you.

All oats are not created equal. You are advised to forego convenience and put a huge pot of slow- cooking or steel cut oats on the stove and leave it there to brew after you give it some time to boil. Make life easier for yourself and soak the oats in hot water overnight: the next morning, cooking them will be a breeze.

oatmeal and breast milk for baby, what kind of oatmeal is good for breastfeeding — Photo by Margarita Zueva / Unsplash

You can also dress it up with one or more of these to add some more flavor:

A dash of salt.
Blueberries.
Honey.
Cinnamon.
A hint of brown sugar.
A wee bit of butter.
A few nuts. (Worried about allergies?)
Some raisins.

Keep the sugar low, add some olive oil if you dare, and watch your post-baby glow surpass your own imagination, not to mention that gushing milk!

How Much Oatmeal Should You Eat to Increase Milk Supply?

Just one bowl of oatmeal per day can have an incredible impact on the amount of milk a mother produces. But, as you know, everyone is different and if one bowl doesn't work for you, you could try adding one or two oatmeal cookies to your diet (recipe below).