lactation smoothies

Seeing as I am due with baby boy #2 in just about five weeks (gasp!), postpartum life is in the forefront of my mind.  In fact, it consumes me a majority of the time.  I am already a mother to my handsome, loving, easy, baby boy, Benson.  He is 18 months old.  We are well adjusted to life with one boy, who, did I mention is SO EASY? I am not saying that there aren't days when I want to strangle him (not seriously), but for the majority of the time, I have nothing to complain about.  Needless to say, bringing home baby will be a big adjustment for all of us, as is to be expected.

I have spent the past three months trying to prepare, the best that I can, for this baby's arrival.  Let's be honest though, how much can you really prepare?  The list of the things I have "prepped" is endless. But, today, I wanted to share with you a recipe that will hopefully make postpartum life, just a little bit easier.

When Benson was born, he had jaundice very badly.  In fact, it was the worst our pediatrician had ever seen.  I was unable to breastfeed him for the first five days in the hospital, because I was unable to hold him as he was receiving constant photo therapy.  Instead, he was fed through a catheter, which broke my little heart.  ANYWAYS, before I get all sappy over here (thank you hormones), that was just the beginning of my breastfeeding "troubles".  I hung on to nursing for six months, but it was a roller coaster of a journey.  I'm praying that with this baby, nursing will be super easy and my body will cooperate.  Just in case things don't go as planned, I have prepped Lactation Smoothies, which are supposed to help boost breast milk supply.  Below is the recipe and directions.

Lactation Smoothies 

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon almond milk (you can use vanilla or plain)
• 1 container old fashioned oats
• 10 bananas
•  5 cups frozen strawberries
•  Flax/chia blend (ground flaxseed works too)
•  Nut butter of your choice
•  Honey (optional for sweetener)
•  Quart size freezer bags

Yields: 10 smoothies

Directions:

• Label and date freezer bags
• Place 1 banana, 1/2 c strawberries, 1/4 c oats, 1 tbsp flax/chia blend, 1 tbsp nut butter, 1 tbsp honey and 1 c almond milk into freezer bag. 
• Close bag and freeze up to 4 months.
• When ready to blend, simply put contents into blender and blend.  You may need to add 1/4 water to help blend.  

 

All of the ingredients in these smoothies are beneficial to nursing mamas.  Here's why...

• oats - high in iron
• bananas - potassium 
• strawberries - iron, potassium, calcium and magnesium (win!)
• flax seed - omega-3 fatty acids
• chia seed - fiber and omega-3 fatty acids
• nut butter - protein 
• almond milk - calcium, vitamins E & D

 Not only are these smoothies healthy for you, but they taste delicious too! That's a win-win in my book.


Comment below if you have tried any lactation smoothies that have helped you! I always love new ideas!

Thanks for reading!