Milk Isn’t the Only Battle When You’re Nursing
Low milk supply can feel like a secret challenge that nobody mentions in the hospital hand‑off. It’s not just about a poor latch or a sore nipple – age, lack of “milk‑making ducts,” messy feeding schedules, or even what you’re eating can all knock your production down.
Think Your Diet Is Missing a Beat?
You’ve probably heard about galactagogues – these are ingredients that promise to fire up the milk glands. A diet tweak can sometimes give your milk pump a fresh boost. But if your hands are full of a tiny human and your kitchen is a chaos zone, wading through recipes is extra work to be honest.
Enter the Lactation Cookie Revolution
- Carry them in your bag – no extra shopping needed.
- Easy to munch on the fly.
- Built with healthful, milk‑boosting ingredients.
Gooberr’s Story: From Adversity to Appetite
Gooberr, the brain behind these “Boobkies,” was launched by 30‑year‑old Chin Rui Shan in 2019 after her mom got hit with stage‑four adenocarcinoma. With a mission to help other mothers ease their suckling struggles, she put her own hands (and culinary heart) to the task.
Their cookies come in flavors that taste as good as they sound: “Lemon Blueberries,” “Dark Chocolate Decaf,” “Earl Grey,” and “Matcha.” And the buzz? Orders are pouring in from every corner of the globe. They also serve a line of lactation teas named Boob Juice, a sweet combo for the cookie fanatics.
Why These Cookies Matter for Nursing Moms
- Convenient: No extra cuisine prep. Grab a cookie, go.
- Nutritious: Packed with ingredients that have been linked to increased milk production.
- Comfort: A sweet treat you’ll actually look forward to when it’s time for a break.
Entrepreneurial Wisdom from Gooberr’s Founder
Chin shares a few pearls:
- Start with a story that resonates—your own struggle can be the best marketing.
- Keep your supply chain simple; handheld products mean fewer logistics headaches.
- Offer a living, breathing product line; add teas, so customers stay in the loop.
- Use honest marketing: don’t promise miracles. Show evidence and trust builds.
So next time you’re in the nursing slump, remember: a biscuit (and perhaps a brewed tea) can be your new best friend. These Boobkies might just be the boost you need to keep that milk flow smooth—and maybe even put a smile back on your face.
How do lactation cookies and tea help nursing mothers? What ingredients help increase breast milk supply?
Rui Shan (RS): We hope to take some stress off mums when it comes to producing liquid gold for their babies, since the process can become a negative feedback cycle when new mums face supply issues while struggling to cope with a new addition to the family.
The idea behind lactation cookies and tea lies with the ingredients — consuming galactagogues provides the body with the right building blocks of nutrients and vitamins to help stimulate more breast milk supply.
That is why I always say lactation cookies are great for the whole family to consume, as they are normal cookies with healthy superfood ingredients.
Some natural foods and herbs, also known as galactagogues, that can help boost breast milk supply include oats, flaxseed, fenugreek, banana blossom, fennel, ginger, and leafy greens.
ALSO READ: Lactation bubble tea for breastfeeding mummies said to help boost milk supply now selling at Ang Mo Kio
Is there a time frame that customers will see results after consuming the cookies?
RS: For Gooberr’s cookies, customers usually see results within two to three hours of eating eight to 10 cookies together with our lactation teas (Boob Juice). Alternatively, moms can also have the cookies with a tall glass of milk or Milo at least three times a day!
Depending on their response to the cookies, one can then reduce or increase their intake of cookies accordingly.
What were the challenges faced in creating your products, and when did you know you had the winning recipe?
RS: It took months of baking almost every other day to come up with a flavour that works within my specifications. At the core of the cookie is a lot of healthy ingredients like oats, flaxseed and Brewer’s yeast which has a certain flavour profile.
I tried many types of fruit like lychee, strawberries, banana, and even kaya but the flavours never seemed to come through. However, I refuse to use extracts or additives to enhance the flavour or texture of the cookies.
A lot of people don’t know this but vanilla extract isn’t derived purely from vanilla beans. Instead, it’s created by steeping vanilla beans in solvents like propylene glycol (which doubles as car antifreeze!). I’m not in favour of consuming this, even if it’s just a drop of it.
I hope to spread the word for consumers to know what they’re eating, and to look out for hidden ingredients like extracts!
Eventually, I knew I was on the right track when I gave samples to new mums and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive; that they helped to boost supply and while tasting yummy.
What inspires you and keeps you going?
RS: A mother’s unconditional love. Witnessing what my mother went through, being poked and prodded every day, gave me my company ethos.
I want to put mothers’ health at the forefront of my brand. When mothers write in to share about how much Gooberr’s Boobkies have helped to increase and sometimes double their supply, or how Gooberr’s skincare has helped control eczema flare-ups and clear up a bad rash, it serves as a good reminder that I’m doing something right.
ALSO READ: From banker to baker: How this SG mum helps other breastfeeding mothers
What would you advise budding entrepreneurs embarking on a business or industry they are new to?
RS: Do your research! You may have a product or a service, but are consumers willing to adopt your solution? Is there a need and desire in the current landscape for it?
If you intend to start a business with high capital start-up costs and require constant capital injections to keep the company afloat, always ensure you have enough to cover yourself and your staff.
Ask yourself how long you can stay in the business with minimal sales. Otherwise, expect complications to arise as soon as you run out of funds.
What are some things you wish you knew before started the business? Is there anything you would have done differently?
When it came to making decisions, I know I did my best at that given moment with all the information that was available to me — I don’t think I should have lost sleep over it. I remember having signed contracts and then staying up late into the night pondering if I made the right call. So I’d definitely try to sleep better at night if I could do it again!
Visit Gooberr’s website for more information.
This article was first published in The Singapore Women’s Weekly.
LifestylePregnancy & Parentingbreastfeedingsnacks
