How Soon Before Having My Baby Can I Start Trying a Lactation Product?

It's one of the most practical questions pregnant mothers ask in those final weeks: should I get my lactation support sorted before my baby arrives, or wait until after? If you've been packing your hospital bag, thinking ahead to feeding, and wondering whether to throw a packet of lactation cookies in now — you're in good company. Planning ahead is a sign of how seriously you're taking your breastfeeding journey, and it makes complete sense to want to be prepared.

This article is part of Nella Vosk's Pregnancy Nutrition: Complete Guide for Australian Mothers. It answers one specific question within that resource: when is the right time to start using lactation products — before birth, immediately after, or once your milk has come in?

At Nella Vosk, supporting the transition into breastfeeding sits at the heart of our Milk & Feeding Support pathway — because the weeks before and after birth are when the right nutritional foundations can make a genuine difference to how your feeding journey begins.

There is no single official medical guideline on exactly when to start eating lactation cookies, but the consensus among lactation consultants and nutrition professionals is consistent: the most effective time is after your baby is born, ideally from days 3–5 postpartum when your mature milk is coming in.

That said, there are some nuanced situations where beginning in late pregnancy — typically around 35–36 weeks — may be appropriate, particularly if you have had supply challenges before or are preparing nutritionally for a demanding postpartum recovery. We'll walk through each scenario clearly below.

Yes, the standard ingredients found in most lactation cookies — oats, flaxseed, brewer's yeast, and wholefood-based binders — are safe to consume during pregnancy. There is nothing in a well-formulated lactation cookie that is contraindicated in a typical pregnancy.

However, it's important to understand what eating them during pregnancy will and won't do:

They will not trigger early milk production or induce lactation before birth. Lactation is initiated by the hormonal shift that follows the delivery of the placenta — no food can replicate that process

They will provide nutritional support during the final trimester, including nutrients like iron, B vitamins, magnesium, and fibre that support both pregnancy and postpartum recovery

They may help you establish a habit and routine around nourishing yourself — something that is genuinely hard to maintain when you're in the thick of newborn care

For some mothers — particularly those who have experienced low milk supply in a previous pregnancy, or who have conditions that may affect supply — some practitioners suggest beginning around 35–36 weeks as a way to build up nutritional reserves. This is a reasonable approach, though it should ideally be discussed with your midwife or lactation consultant.

If nausea has made eating well in the first or second trimester difficult, it's worth reading about foods that help settle morning sickness and evening nausea and how to manage it — because your nutritional state going into the final weeks of pregnancy matters for what comes after.

Days 1–2: The Colostrum Phase

In the first 48 hours after birth, your body is producing colostrum — a concentrated, nutrient-dense first milk that is perfectly calibrated for your newborn's needs. Colostrum is produced in small volumes by design; your newborn's stomach is the size of a marble and doesn't need or want large quantities.

Starting lactation cookies in these first days isn't harmful, and the nutritional content will support your recovery from birth. However, don't expect a measurable effect on supply at this stage — your body is running on a different hormonal programme right now, and the galactagogue ingredients won't have their full effect until mature milk production is underway.

Days 3–5: When Your Milk Comes In

This is the window that most lactation professionals identify as the optimal starting point. When your milk "comes in" — marked by a feeling of fullness, heaviness, or sometimes engorgement — your body has made the hormonal transition from colostrum to mature milk. This is when ingredients like oats, brewer's yeast, and fenugreek (if present) can work alongside your body's natural processes to support supply establishment.

If you want to have lactation cookies ready without the effort of sourcing them postpartum, packing them in your hospital bag is a practical approach. Many Australian mothers include them as part of their early postpartum nutrition alongside hydrating foods and snacks.

Beyond the First Week: Ongoing and Responsive Use

Lactation cookies don't need to be a fixed daily ritual from day five onwards. Many mothers find them most useful at specific moments:

During growth spurts, when your baby's increased feeding frequency may temporarily feel like your supply can't keep up
When returning to work and managing a pumping schedule alongside reduced feeding frequency
If you notice a dip in supply associated with illness, stress, or disrupted sleep
As part of a broader nutritional recovery strategy in the weeks after birth

No lactation product works in isolation. The most consistent factor in supporting milk supply is frequent, effective milk removal — through nursing, pumping, or both. Lactation cookies are a nutritional complement to this, not a substitute.

During the final weeks of pregnancy, building good nutritional habits is worthwhile. Incorporating hydrating foods and drinks can support this.

chia seeds during pregnancy offer a gentle, nutrient-dense way to support hydration and fibre intake as you approach your due date. Similarly, 

coconut water during pregnancy is a natural electrolyte source that many mothers find easy to stomach in late pregnancy and continue into the postpartum period.

Lactation teas follow similar timing principles to cookies. Herbal teas containing fenugreek, fennel, blessed thistle, and other galactagogue herbs are generally most effective once mature milk has arrived — typically from days 3–5 postpartum.

There are, however, some pregnancy-safe herbal teas that are suitable to drink in the third trimester for general wellbeing and comfort. Before consuming any herbal tea in pregnancy, check that the specific ingredients are safe for your stage. Our guide to the best teas during pregnancy for nausea and wellness covers which ingredients are considered safe during different stages.

Nella Vosk's Pregnancy & Lactation Tea is formulated to be suitable from the third trimester through to the breastfeeding period — making it one product you can genuinely start before birth and continue using after.

Starting too early with unrealistic expectations: Eating lactation cookies at 20 weeks and expecting them to build milk supply is like training for a race before you know the date. The timing of lactation is hormonally governed, not nutritionally triggered

Waiting too long: Some mothers delay starting because they're unsure, then find themselves in the thick of supply challenges without having established a nutritional routine. Starting around days 3–5 or packing them for the hospital removes this hesitation

Treating cookies as the primary intervention: If supply is genuinely low, the priority is improving feeding technique, latch, and frequency. Lactation cookies support this — they don't replace it

Ignoring overall nutritional context: Eating one cookie and otherwise skipping meals or fluids won't move the needle. Consistent, nourishing eating patterns matter more than any single food

Not checking ingredients: Some lactation products contain herbs that are not recommended during pregnancy. Always check the ingredient list and, if in doubt, speak with your midwife or GP before starting anything in the third trimester