Name: Cashew and Blueberry Surprise
Prep time: 10 min
Ingredients: 400 ml Almond Milk; 30 grams Cashew Nuts; 1/2 Cup Frozen Blueberries; 1 Frozen Banana; 1 tbsp Flax-Seed; 1 tbsp Rolled Oats

Love love love it when the sun is shining and as tomorrow marks the first day of summer ( no more rain please!!!!!) its only right to get some smoothie love going on.

Plus closing my eyes and sipping a cooling smoothie in the garden helps me to visualise being on holiday.

The smoothie recipes below however, pack a little more punch in the sense that they contain some special ingredients which are said to boost your milk supply.

All women differ during pregnancy but the breasts may start to produce milk weeks or even months before you are due to have your baby. ( TMI alert ) The leaky stuff that happens when you squeeze your nipples, (come on ladies – you know you’ve tried it just to see how far it’ll shoot across the room) no…… just me? Okay then – well that stuff is usually colostrum which is the first milk your breasts make in preparation and the first milk your little bubba will get in the days following their birth. It literally is liquid gold to your little ones.

It normally takes around three days for your milk to come in and your breasts will start to feel full, and if you’re anything like I was post birth, you’ll cry and then cry some more, then you’ll stop crying, then you’ll start crying again and so on and so on for the next five years. Only kidding.

I wish I had known about these smoothies when I was madly expressing my pitiful supply of milk and I would love to hear your feedback for those that do try these recipes to see what effect it has.

Oh and interesting FACT – apparently the right breast supplies more milk than the left. Didn’t know that until yesterday but as my hubby always tells me

” everyday’s a school day “

I’ve read a lot of information on the benefits of fenugreek and there seems to be many differing claims of its benefits with some women declaring it drastically increased their milk supply whilst others saying its only anecdotal evidence that support those claims.

Fenugreek – one of the best and strongest herbs for increasing milk production. When taken in very large amounts, Fenugreek is also used for lowering blood sugar levels, and is, therefore, not recommended for use by diabetics or those who are on strict insulin regimens to regulate their blood sugar levels. It also works on the digestive system, and in a small percentage of people, it may cause gas in either the mother or baby. Many mothers of adopted babies have successfully used this herb to help establish a breastmilk supply to feed their adopted babies. Fenugreek is not recommended for use during pregnancy as it can cause uterine activity. Fenugreek must be used with consistency for best results, otherwise it can negatively affect or decrease milk production.

If you’re concerned speak with a professional before hand, remember every pregnancy and every woman is different. What might work and be acceptable for one may not be right for the mama next door.If you have serious concerns about your milk supply once baby arrives or feel unsure about anything, please speak to your midwife, nurse, doctor or lactation consultant to get a professional opinion.

Please don’t struggle in silence.

Also remember these smoothies aren’t going to work in boosting that milk supply until you’re close to delivery and/ or in the days following birth but they will be great at boosting your energy during pregnancy and definitely will help you following the birth to keep your energy levels up, keep your digestive tract moving and to generally make you feel a little bit better, which can only be a win win.

The following smoothies can all be modified to suit and if you feel happy to add fenugreek to the smoothies after birth please add 1/4 tsp of ground seeds to each serving.

The following are all amazing ingredients that can easily be added to your smoothies and that have been known to help in increasing your milk supply.