During my first pregnancy I did a ton of reading and research into unmedicated labor, the ins and outs of cloth diapering, and optimal breastfeeding positions. I listened to pregnancy meditations, did guided imagery to prepare myself (as much as I could) for delivery, and cooked freezer meals in preparation for sleepless nights and exhaustion. Even though I still felt pretty unprepared, I was fairly confident that I was doing what I could to have as smooth a postpartum as possible.
And then I gave birth.
And then the hospital sent my baby home with me! To be honest, I’m not sure what they were thinking….
But, as hard as it was, my husband and I managed to muddle our way through and before long we had a roly-poly, smiley boy with thunder thighs and mystifyingly large amounts of lint in every neck and wrist crease and between fingers and toes. While things were still tough, it felt like we had found a groove and were kinda getting the hang of things.
In the midst of all this acclimation, it became clear to me there were a ton of things I was not prepared for and didn’t even know enough about to have done much research in advance. Generally speaking, preparation for childbirth and parenting tends to focus primarily on the health and well-being of the baby with very little focus on mom (or parents). As a result, new moms everywhere are continually surprised (and often, dismayed) by all the ways pregnancy and labor have affected their bodies. Moreover, they learn all of this in the middle of the crisis of infant parenting, meaning they typically don’t have the time and mental wherewithal to pay much attention to their own needs. I was no exception, I mostly ignored my body’s new quirks and chalked them up to the sacrifices one is required to make as a result of bringing a baby into the world.
Two more pregnancies and a professional deep-dive into the world of perinatal health, both emotional and otherwise, later, I’m older and wiser. I understand now that it’s imperative to pay attention to mom’s mental and physical health, just as you do the baby’s health. It’s also vitally important to pay attention to partner’s mental and physical health as well as the baby’s parent’s relationship health. A lot goes into insuring a healthy baby. and that includes healthy parents.
During my most recent pregnancy, I was acutely aware of the need to pay attention to the health of my pelvic floor and core, both to aid in efficient pushing during delivery and to prevent/treat any dysfunction postpartum. Too many women suffer from urinary incontinence while laughing, sneezing, coughing, or exercising after giving birth. To be clear, there is a degree to which vaginal delivery will inevitably result in a weakened pelvic floor no matter how many kegels you do while pregnant. So, while exercising your pelvic floor while pregnant is important, it becomes even more important afterwards. In planning for your postpartum, I highly recommend finding a pelvic floor physical therapist that you feel comfortable with and take advantage of that connection after you’ve given birth, especially if you’re experiencing any pain, discomfort, abdominal doming, or leakage (including pain while having sex.). You do not have to suffer in silence assuming that this is just the price you pay for giving birth. Choosing to prioritize your health is part of being a good mom.
Seeking out the professional help of a pelvic floor physical therapist is important but I’ll also add that you can do plenty of pelvic floor/core exercises in the comfort of your own home. Following are a few resources that I can recommend both online and in Washington, DC.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy:
Body Connect Health and Wellness www.bodyconnethw.com
Pre/Postnatal Fitness Specialist:
Becky Burgess - www.goodfortheswole.com
Nikki Bergen - www.thebellemethod.com
And finally, what the heck does all of this have to do with cookies, you ask?
Nothing. I just had to share a really great lactation cookie recipe I’ve been baking! I have no idea how effective it really is at increasing your milk supply but I do know it tastes amazing, ha! Whether you’re breastfeeding or not, make these cookies right now!
I found this recipe from Jessica of How Sweet Eats and adapted as follows. The largest adaptation I made was to make it a one-bowl recipe.
YIELD: 20 TO 22 COOKIES, DEPENDING ON YOUR SCOOP
LACTATION COOKIES
INGREDIENTS
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 1/2 cups unbleached organic all-purpose flour (I use 1 cup AP, 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour)
5 tablespoons brewers yeast (I used 6 tbls)
3 tablespoons ground flaxseed
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 tablespoons unrefined organic virgin coconut oil
1 1/2 cups organic cane sugar (I used 1/2 cup cane sugar, 1/2 cup truvia baking blend)
1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips/chunks (I used a combo of mini chocolate chips and Guittard baking wafers, the different sized bits of chocolate are so key!)
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Melt the butter in the microwave (I never remember to take butter out of the fridge in advance of baking), combine with the coconut oil and add to a mixer using the paddle attachment. Beat until creamy. Add in the sugar and beat on medium to high speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl if needed. Add in the egg and egg yolk, beating until combined. Add in the vanilla extract and beat until combined again.
Mixing until combined with each addition, add baking powder, soda, cinnamon, salt, and yeast. Mix thoroughly one more time.
Add the flour, beat until just combined, and finally add the oats. Mix in the chocolate chips until evenly dispersed. You will have an exceptionally thick dough but don’t worry, it’s right!
Scoop the dough into 1-inch rounds (I used a muffin scoop - my muffin and cookie baking life has changed ever since I got an ice cream scoop type thing!) and place on a baking sheet about 2 inches apart. The cookies won’t spread too much with all the hearty oats but don’t worry, they’ll come out perfectly chewy. Bake for 10 to 14 minutes, or until the bottoms are just golden. Let cool completely before storing in a sealed container. You can also freeze the batter to bake straight from the freezer if you’d like. Just add a few minutes to the bake time.
Enjoy!
Contact me if you’re needing some more support with your Pregnancy and Postpartum!