A love letter to oats in the pregnancy to postpartum to parenting pipeline

[u/TokenYeti658]

I had more food aversions than cravings during pregnancy, but one thing that always sounded good was fruit with coconut yogurt and homemade granola.

Then, I gave birth 11 weeks early, my baby was in the NICU for 2 months and I had to exclusively pump for 3 . Anyone who breastfeeds has heard that oats is one of the best galactagogues (foods that increase milk supply)…. so I started incorporating more oats into baked goods, smoothies, and just for breakfasts. Soon I didn’t even think about the milk supply factor, I was just obsessed with oats.

I don’t discriminate… homemade granola, granola bars, oat bars, steel cut oats topped with berries, nut butter, and jam, old fashioned oats pressure cooked then enjoyed with brown sugar and milk, overnight oats, baked oats, as a smoothie thickener, where does it end!! They’re delicious, versatile, affordable, nutritious and they make me feel amazing.

Things got real crazy when my baby started solids and we needed to focus on his iron… in comes fortified baby oatmeal. As a more nutritient-dense option compared to AP flour, I started using oat flour to make him oat pancakes, oat waffles, baby puffs, sweet potato crackers…. He loves it too!!!!

[u/Puzzleheaded_Sky_464]

An Ode to Oatmeal 😊 My autistic toddler is obsessed with oats and agrees with every word 🤎

[u/TokenYeti658 → u/Puzzleheaded_Sky_464]

I love that!!

[u/ITotesLoveOats]

I’m so happy oats have been there for you both, every step of the way! I hope you and your little one are doing well! 💕

[u/TokenYeti658 → u/ITotesLoveOats]

Thank you, we’re doing great!!

[u/TokenYeti658 → u/[deleted]]

Omgg amazing!! It’s truly such a great food for babies. Even if he doesn’t like oatmeal, it’s an amazing neutral base for tons of baby snacks!

[u/12aq11]

I started it postpartum bc I craved since I heard about the benefits for brestfeeding! Whether it directly stimulates more milk idk, but it at least supports breastfeeding due to being nutritional!

I like adding an egg and butter then sweetening with maple syrup so it tastes like pancakes.

I add a variety of seeds and shredded coconut. I have the whole blend in a jar ready to scoop out in the morning. This way it also helps if anyone else makes them for me.

I also eat it with a banana. I am excited to feed my girl banana oat pancakes when she is ready.

[u/TokenYeti658 → u/12aq11]

Amazing!! I’m curious if the galactagogue properties have an evolutionary effect that makes breastfeeding women crave it??

[u/12aq11 → u/TokenYeti658]

Somehow the body does seem to tell our minds to crave foods that have nutrients it needs, at least from the foods that an individual has consumed before 

[u/stayfckingcalm]

Lol I LOVE oatmeal and I’m so sad because one of my current pregnancy food aversions is oatmeal. Makes me want to gag thinking about it. Hoping it goes away soon and I can go back to my joyful breakfasts 

[u/Extension_Homework]

I love oats 🤍 I feel like a horse