What Are Lactation Cookies — and Do They Actually Work?

If you’ve been up at 2am with a newborn Googling how to increase milk supply, chances are you’ve come across the phrase “lactation cookies.” But what actually are they? What makes them different from a regular cookie? And can a sweet treat really make a difference to something as complex as breastfeeding?

Let’s dig into the ingredients, the science, and the cultural roots of this much-loved snack — and explore why so many breastfeeding mums swear by them.

🍪 First Things First: What Makes a Cookie a “Lactation” Cookie?

Lactation cookies are snacks made with ingredients traditionally known to support breast milk production. These ingredients are called galactagogues, or sometimes lactogenic foods — and they’ve been used across cultures for generations to nourish postpartum mothers and encourage milk supply.

At Milk it, every cookie is intentionally crafted with a blend of functional ingredients that support both lactation and postnatal recovery.

Here’s what makes them more than just a snack:

Oats: A fibre-rich whole grain and traditional galactagogue, oats are thought to support levels of prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production. They’re also a valuable source of iron, which is crucial for energy and healing after birth.

Flaxseed: contains omega-3 fatty acids and lignans, which may help balance hormones during the postpartum shift. It’s also great for digestion, which often takes a hit in early motherhood.

Brewer’s Yeast: A nutritional powerhouse used for decades in postpartum recipes, brewer’s yeast contains B vitamins, protein, selenium, and chromium — all of which help replenish nutrients and support energy levels while breastfeeding.

Fenugreek: Used in Ayurvedic and Middle Eastern traditions, fenugreek is one of the most well-known galactagogues. It’s often brewed into tea, added to broths, or — in our case — baked into cookies designed to support your milk supply in a gentle, food-based way.

🌍 Traditional Roots of Lactation Foods

The idea of eating specific foods to support lactation is far from new. Across cultures, new mothers are cared for with warm, calorie-dense, and milk-boosting meals:

• In India, new mums are given ladoos made with fenugreek, ghee, and sesame

• In the Middle East, halva made with tahini and spices is often gifted to mothers postpartum

• In Korea, miyeok-guk (seaweed soup) is eaten daily after birth

• In Western herbalism, oats, brewer’s yeast, and fennel tea have been used for generations

Lactation cookies take these traditional ingredients and turn them into a snack that fits your life today — easy to grab, easy to love, and actually satisfying.

🧾 So What Makes a Cookie a Lactation Cookie?

In short — it’s the ingredients and intent. A proper lactation cookie should be:

• Made with lactogenic foods

• High in calories and nutrients to meet the energy needs of breastfeeding

• Easy to digest, easy to eat, and ideal for one-handed snacking

• Designed with both tradition and science in mind

We bake fresh every week, folding functional ingredients into cookies so soft and delicious you’ll forget they’re doing double duty.

💡 Do Lactation Cookies Actually Work?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here — and no food, no matter how functional, can replace the basics of effective milk removal, responsive feeding, hydration, rest, and enough overall food intake. But within that big-picture context, yes — they absolutely can support you.

Here’s how:

• Galactagogues like oats and flaxseed have been traditionally used to help increase milk supply — and many mums report a boost, especially during growth spurts, pumping transitions, or when returning to work

• They provide quick, nutrient-dense calories (300–500+ extra per day is typical for breastfeeding), which is key when you’re burning energy making milk

• They offer support at a time when you may be skipping meals or living off toast crusts

• They’re a practical, joyful way to nourish yourself 

Lactation cookies can be a functional, intentional part of your postpartum plan — a food-based tool in your feeding journey.

🤱 A Note on What They Don’t Do

Lactation cookies are a supportive food, not a medical intervention.

They won’t:

• Induce lactation if you’re not already producing milk

• Replace effective latch, frequent feeding, or skilled breastfeeding support

If you’re looking for personalised help with feeding or supply, explore our Breastfeeding Support Hub — it’s full of evidence-based guidance and resources for every kind of feeding journey.

❓Wait… Do They Contain Breastmilk?

Let’s clear this up — nope, there’s no breastmilk in our cookies (or any lactation cookies, for that matter). It’s a common misconception, but the “lactation” part refers to the foods supporting lactation, not the ingredients themselves. We’re nourishing you, not baking with breastmilk!

💛 Why They’re More Than Just a Treat

The early days of motherhood are demanding — physically, emotionally, and nutritionally. You’re healing, feeding, holding, rocking, multitasking — often with one hand free and very little sleep.

Milk it cookies were made to meet that moment.

• They’re freshly baked each week in small batches

• They’re backed by tradition and nutritional science

• They’re created by a doula, certified pregnancy and postpartum nutrition consultant, and breastfeeding support counsellor

• They’re rooted in care, not just calories

✨ Feels Good. Does Good.

You deserve food that makes you feel supported. You deserve food that honours what your body is doing. You deserve snacks that meet you where you are — exhausted, incredible, and doing your absolute best.

So yes, they’re cookies. But they’re cookies with purpose.

And that purpose is you.

Ready to try some for yourself?

Explore our cookie flavours here or join the Milk it Drop List below for first dibs on weekly deliveries. 

Order your Milk it cookie box for our next bake day now

Written by Mel Brittner: doula and postpartum nutrition consultant