Are you currently breastfeeding? Sign up to test Munchkin’s Milkmakers Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Breastfeeding Cookie Bites

[GraceEMumsnet]

We are looking for UK Mumsnet users who are currently breastfeeding to test out Munchkin’s Milkmakers Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Breastfeeding Cookie bites.

Here’s what Munchkin has to say: “Munchkin’s no.1 bestselling breastfeeding cookie in the US is now coming to the UK! Recommended by lactation consultants and with over 16,500 positive reviews on Amazon US, the Munchkin Milkmakers® Breastfeeding Cookie Bites conveniently fit into your busy breastfeeding life.

Available in delicious Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, Milkmakers® -Breastfeeding Cookie Bites are preservative-free, and made with natural organic ingredients traditionally used to support breast milk supply. Delicious AND nutritious – what’s not to love?

Fenugreek: the most popular, well-known and researched ingredient to boost milk supply.
Oats: a delicious comfort food and a nutritional powerhouse, providing whole grains, fibre, iron, and lots of healthy vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Brewer’s Yeast: a traditional ingredient used to increase milk supply, rich in B-vitamins, proteins, and minerals essential for nursing mums.
Flaxseed: provides omega-3 fatty acids necessary for baby’s brain development which can be passed from mother to baby through breast milk.

We hope you enjoy these cookies, and we can’t wait to hear what you think!’’


Selected testers will be sent 3 x 6 packs of the cookies and will be asked to test the product over the course of two weeks.

Following testing the product, selected testers will need to give their feedback via a thread on Mumsnet and a short survey.

All testers who give the required feedback will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

If you’re interested in taking part, please sign up here

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

[SummerHouse]

"My production improved so much that I pump less often but make more milk" claim made on the website. I honestly think that endorsement of this product needs s rethink.

[ShrinkingViolet9]

There are already a number of brands selling "lactation cookies", including the nauseous, "Mommy Knows Best" brand. Also bags of cookie mix (they are all very expensive).

[Aalvarino]

The name is awful. Twee and nauseating.

[ShrinkingViolet9]

And then there's "Boobbix"...

"What Our Mamas Say"

"Seriously, my milk won't stop flowing when I pump, I'm like a never ending milk tap."


Overview here of the lactation supplements industry:

www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/12/20/18149182/do-breastfeeding-supplements-to-increase-milk-supply-work

Inside the mommy-friendly, scientifically sketchy world of breastfeeding supplements

E.J. Dickson, Dec 20, 2018,

"...As a result, the breastfeeding accessory market has exploded. Though it still pales in comparison to the $70 billion formula industry, as of 2016, the nursing accessories market, which comprises everything from pumps to nipple balms to nursing pillows to supplements, was worth an estimated $1.4 billion. Brands like Milkmakers make lactation cookies intended to boost milk supply, which cost more than $20 per bag at Target..."

[Bimblesalong]

Seriously? So glad there’s been some good work on this thread. Another product we don’t need to undermine the confidence of parents. Good food and hydration, support from others is what a breastfeeding mum needs. I was fortunate to have no issue with milk supply with out this. Friends who had issues with breastfeeding would probably have been guilted into purchasing these regardless.
Do better, mumsnet.

[CloudFormations]

@borntobequiet

This has made me remember how ravenous I got when breastfeeding in the 80s, little money so ate bread, butter and jam. It was delicious. I actually used to look forward to night feeds all cosy and snuggly with the baby suckling away and me eating away, and a good book to read. I got through the whole Poldark series like this. It was one of the happiest times of my life.

I was the same - read the entirety of ‘A Little Life’ (which was a TERRIBLE choice for a hormonal new mother, don’t know what I was thinking!) and ate piles of buttery toast while rocking my baby back to sleep in my lap. It was the dead of winter and it snowed endlessly in the first two weeks of his life. It was such a peaceful time and the whole world felt like it was mine at night.

[ShrinkingViolet9]

borntobequiet "...It was the dead of winter and it snowed endlessly in the first two weeks of his life. It was such a peaceful time and the whole world felt like it was mine at night."

What a lovely image.

[borntobequiet]

What a lovely image.
It belongs to @CloudFormations, not to me - but I’m happy to have helped prompt the memory!

Being mother to a young child has always and will always have its challenges, but I’m glad I wasn’t subject to the relentless marketing and monetisation that comes with every aspect of maternity today.

[ShrinkingViolet9]

@borntobequiet

What a lovely image.
It belongs to *@CloudFormations*, not to me - but I’m happy to have helped prompt the memory!

Being mother to a young child has always and will always have its challenges, but I’m glad I wasn’t subject to the relentless marketing and monetisation that comes with every aspect of maternity today.

Indeed.

Apologies to *@CloudFormations* for quote misattribution.

[Random789]

Bloody hell, Mumsnet. I know you have to make money from advertising, (and I have seen in the past that this requires you to set the bar very low for the products you advertise) but I thought you were a little bit more conscientious than this.
Surely it wipes out whatever value the Mumsnet seal of approval has if you are prepared to squander it on snake oil?

[HastingsIsSuckingDiesel]

Like your current Ann Summers promotion (getting postpartum women back into 'sexy' undies- ooh I wonder who that benefits?) this is a disgrace.

You are promoting very expensive biscuits to vulnerable new mothers who may be struggling to BF - biscuits that include testimonies like the one attached- for which there is no proper scientific basis.

There's enough pressure and expense for new mums already without MN pushing this useless crap on them too.

[MabelPines]

I’m really surprised that MNHQ would partner with this company and advertise this product.

Everyone has their price i guess ?

[bluebutterfly1]

I've heard many positive things about those from some bloggers, and always wanted to give it a try, but haven't come across any in the shops.

[butwhatcanwedo]

I agree with the posts above.
I don’t think this contravenes the legislation which enacts the international marketing code because that covers breast milk substitutes. I do think however that this may be relevant:

www.asa.org.uk/type/non_broadcast/code_section/15.html

Aside from whether there is a legal issue, ethically this is terrible.

[Nsmum14]

Agree with everyone else, just feed your baby! Eat what you like, make sure you get some nutrients, offer the breast whenever baby is interested, end of story! Breastfeeding biscuits. Hilarious idea 🤣

[Atalantea]

@GraceEMumsnet

Hello. Thanks for your views - we understand not all products are going to be attractive to everyone but we think some of our users would like to give these a go. This thread is for users who'd like to sign up for the product test, but you're very welcome to start a thread about MNHQ's commercial policy in Site Stuff and we'd be very happy to talk to you about this there.

31 grams of sugar per 100 grams???

[LadyIsabellaWrotham]

For context the sugar content in grammes per 100g of other similar snacks:
McVities Digestives 15g
Chocolate Digestives 28.5g
HobNobs 23g
M&S All Butter Flapjack bites 35.5g

[RidingMyBike]

This is ridiculous and dangerous. I had low milk supply. It was caused by, a haemorrhage during the birth, PCOS and diabetes. It wasn't something that could be solved with expensive sugar-laden cookies.

[Galvantula]

I read all the Harry Potter books for the first time while bfing one of my DCand ate a lot of chocolate. (probably with all 3 😄)

My biggest helps were Tiktok (and many others) on the Infant Feeding board (at the time called breast and bottle feeding).

I was given great advice and directed to other helpful resources. I was also advised of all the myths... Like having to eat special food/an unrealistically healthy diet/lots of cheese or steak (?!) to make milk. 🤔

Nope - keep well hydrated, eat to your own hunger (and don't forget to have snacks and a drink ready in case you're pinned down by a hungry baby for hours) plus cake 🍰 .

Good advice Thanks Mumsnetters

[AthelstaneTheUnready]

Allowing companies to flog stuff to a captive market is understood to be part of commercial policy, if not exactly desirable.

Some users may actually be interested, in which case everyone's happy.

But amplifying this shitty attempt to monetise the fears of breastfeeding mothers, who are already bombarded with moral judgments about their choices, is just... nasty.

And hardly backs up the claim that Mumsnet supports parents. unless someone bungs them a few quid to undermine them instead

[SnowAllSpring]

@AthelstaneTheUnready

Yes. There is a difference between promoting unnecessary, money-making tat that is essentially harmless (if pointless), and products/messaging that actually has a tangible, harmful impact on new mothers.

This is in the second category.

[ShrinkingViolet9]

I note that the link to this thread which was appearing on the Talk landing page under "Mumsnet Insight" along with a link for:

Do you have questions about pregnancy or your new baby? Ask midwife Hannah Harvey

has been removed.

[espressoontap]

@borntobequiet

This has made me remember how ravenous I got when breastfeeding in the 80s, little money so ate bread, butter and jam. It was delicious. I actually used to look forward to night feeds all cosy and snuggly with the baby suckling away and me eating away, and a good book to read. I got through the whole Poldark series like this. It was one of the happiest times of my life.

This has made me smile. I'm feeding my second baby and am like this with DD, was the same with DS, too