nasi halba

A very simple way to increase breastmilk supply is using fenugreek. Some breastfeeding mothers use the pill form, others drink them as tea. I find drinking them as tea too bitter so I used this modified nasi dagang recipe to incorporate fenugreek seamlessly into my diet. A word of caution - taken too much/often - it tends to make your sweat smell, so just take it moderately and you will be fine. Please read the wikipedia page carefully and don't use it if you have the conditions mentioned.

Since returning home from the hospital, I make this rice once a week and you can see the increase in milk supply between 24-72 hours. You should also do the exercise recommended by your lactation specialist - mine recommended to pump the breasts every 2 hours - for the first 3 days of lactating. But after a while, my son needs a liter of milk a day now, I find the exercise no longer helps to ensure adequate supply so I use the fenugreek rice and supplement the milk with formula.

This recipe is a doddle to make and can be enjoyed by the entire family accompanied by other dishes.

Nasi Halba (Fenugreek Rice)
ingredients:
2 cups of rice - I use thai Jasmine rice
2 cm of ginger
1 tsp fenugreek
1 1/2 cup water - you can use a mixture of half a cup of coconut milk + 1 cup of water to make it richer
salt to taste
optional : some people add onion/shallot and garlic but you have to avoid this if your baby is colicky.

Method:
1. Heat pan and dry fry the fenugreek. Set aside.
2. Scrub and crush the ginger - you don't have to peel it.
3. Wash the rice three times and add water.
4. Add salt, fenugreek and ginger.
5. Cook the rice as you usually do - I use rice cooker so I usually forget about it until it is ready.