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

Diet Jan 20, 2021

To optimize the whole breastfeeding experience, one has to consider many factors, 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 want the best milk supply 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? — A spoon filled with raw oatmeal.

Factors That Cause Oatmeal to Increase Breast Milk Supply

Oxytocin and Relaxin are released when oatmeal is consumed, stimulating breast milk production and helping with milk flow.
Oatmeal contains many 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 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.

oatmeal and breast milk for baby, what kind of oatmeal is good for breastfeeding — Oatmeal topped with nuts and raisins - 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 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 significantly impact 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).