Parent Paraphernalia: Boobie Bars
In my post on breastfeeding, I discussed that with the pain being so unbearable, I have been exclusively pumping. It has recently been discovered by a lactation consultant, that our son has a tongue-tie (more on this later!), so breastfeeding is not an option.
To ensure my supply stays constant, the lactation consultant recommended that I pump every hour-and-a-half to two hours, for 30 minutes at a time. Even with these frequent pumping sessions, I felt like my supply should have been higher. I should note that my supply is not low, by any means. After the 30 minutes, I am producing about two ounces from each breast, which I was told is pretty average. I only just wanted to make sure the supply stays up, since I’m not breastfeeding.
Prior to becoming pregnant, I had never heard of a galactagogue, which is basically a supplement that supports the increase of breast milk. The herb, Fenugreek, is one example of a galactagogue. I did some research, and saw there were a plethora of teas and pills to choose from. When I saw Boobie Bars, however, I was beyond intrigued.
These bars were created in 2011 by lactation consultant Wendy Colson, after her clients would constantly ask what foods would help to increase milk supply. There are only a few ingredients in the bars (all things I can pronounce), so I decided to give them a try. They include Moringa, Shatavari, Turmeric, Fenugreek, various spices, coconut oil and oats. I’m always looking for an on-the-go snack, too, so these sounded perfect. I purchased the peanut butter and oatmeal chocolate chip flavor. The peanut butter bars were pretty yuck, truthfully. They were extremely dry, but the oatmeal chocolate chip ones were very tasty!
It is advertised to allow about three to five days to really see an increase in supply, which could be by about an ounce. I had a bar every day, as directed, and allowed the given timeframe to pass.
I did notice a slight increase, but I cannot know for sure if I attribute this to the bars or that I pump frequently. I do not feel like the increase lasts. I am still getting about two ounces from each breast, so I cannot confidently say that they really made a difference. Since they taste pretty good, it certainly doesn’t hurt to treat them like a granola bar, and enjoy for a quick snack. If you are providing breastmilk to your baby, it is always a good idea to speak to your pediatrician before using, but the ingredients are noted as safe for baby. My baby has not had any reaction when I was eating them.
At this point, I have discontinued the bars, for now. Since I am pumping so frequently, I am not having any issues with production. I only chose the bars for the simplicity of them, since I did not want to have to constantly brew tea or take unnecessary pills. Again, for the taste, I would really just recommend them as a good snack, not necessarily as a way to increase your supply.
Have you ever tried galactagogues? If so, what have you used? Did it work for you? Have you or anyone you know tried Boobie Bars? If so, did you or they see an increase in their supply? What galactagogue would you recommend to other women that are trying to increase their supply?
