No matter your intentions, certain gifts come with romantic "baggage" that's hard to ignore, so you'll definitely want to avoid them. As a very general rule, anything you might consider giving your sweetheart on Valentine's day should be off-limits for platonic friends. The consequences for breaking this rule can be dire (especially if your friend has an S.O.), so beware! Below are a few examples of gifts considered "romantic" that you should avoid:  Cologne or personal fragrances Flowers Cufflinks or other jewelry Fancy chocolates or other fine sweets (especially those in stylish, elegant boxes) Expensive accessories (e.g., Rolex watches, fine pens, etc.) Provocative clothing (Funny T-shirts are fine, but silk boxers, terrycloth robes, stylish jackets, and so on are too personal for platonic friends) Event tickets for just you and him Often, it's not the gift itself that makes a guy think that you're sending him signals, but the message included with it. It can be easy to mistake friendly tenderness and affection for something more serious, so you may want to avoid this entirely by keeping things very non-serious in your card. Some overeager guys may see romantic signals in even the goofiest of cards, but the risk is much smaller than with a genuine, heartfelt message. Below are just a few sample ideas for making your gift message pleasantly irreverent:  Write in SMS-speak (e.g., "H0p U had gd bday. Thx fr b-in a gd fri3nd.") Be condescending in a funny way (e.g., "I don't  know if you know this, but it was really hard to pick out this card. I was actually hoping I could  have it back so I could re-gift it for Amy's birthday next week. Oh yeah, happy birthday.") Include a dopey acrostic of his name (e.g., for a friend named David: D — Daring / A — Amazing / V — Very cool / etc.) Draw crude or bizarre doodles in the margins. It's not all about what you give your guy friend — it's also about how you give him the gift. Gushing over your friend's reaction to your gift can raise awkward questions even if the gift is something casual, like a new phone case. On the other hand, coolly and casually giving your friend his gift as if it's not terribly important to you what he thinks of it will allow you to escape unscathed. There's a tricky balance you want to maintain here, however — being too impersonal can come across as rude. For example, leaving an unmarked package containing his present on his porch and not mentioning it to him for a week might make it appear like you don't care about your friend very much. You know your friend better than almost anyone else, so try to keep his sensitivities in mind. Teaming up with a few other people to cover the cost for a gift isn't just one way to save cash on an expensive gift — it's also the perfect method to avoid "sending the wrong signal." It's very hard to make a group gift come across as a personal, romantic gift from you to your friend. After all, there's a good chance you didn't even pick it out! Best of all, a simple, polite message on the card is the only personal touch a group gift needs, so you don't need to risk the pitfalls of a longer, more personalized message. If you're seriously worried about your gift being taken the wrong way, use your card as an opportunity to define your relationship in purely platonic terms. Go out of your way to refer to yourself and your guy friend as just that — friends. Use words like "buds," "pals," "homies," "dudes," and so on. Avoid terms that can be construed as romantic, like calling yourself his "special friend" or ending your letter with "Yours,".  Unfortunately, for some guys, not even this will be enough. In these cases, you may need to simply ignore your friend's puppy love until he loses interest. If he's becoming too distracting to ignore, most relationship guides will recommend being blunt — in other words, telling him directly that you don't want to ruin your friendship with romance. See our article on the subject for more information.

Summary: Steer away from "lover's" gifts. Be goofy or crude in your card. Be a little impersonal about giving him the gift. When in doubt, consider chipping in for a group gift. If all else fails, drop copious hints that you're just friends.


Oats may help you lactate, and they are easy to take! You don't need to talk to an expert before introducing oats to your diet. Just have oatmeal for breakfast.  The most traditional approach is to start the day with a bowl of oatmeal. However, some nursing parents find that oats in other forms, such as granola, cookies, and oat bran also help. You can buy most supplements at health stores, or order them online. Visit a lactation consultant before you buy any supplements, or talk to your doctor to make sure the supplements you are interested in won't interfere with any of your existing medications.  Fenugreek is a traditional galactagogue (prolactin stimulator). Its effectiveness has not been scientifically proven, but some people report success using it to increase milk supply.  Blessed thistle and alfalfa may help on their own or paired with fenugreek. Drink water, juice, and milk to stay hydrated. Aim to drink about 8 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) glasses of liquid a day.  It's fine to have some coffee and caffeinated tea, but cut down on it if you feel it's interfering with your child's sleep. If you have an alcoholic drink, wait two hours before nursing. . Eat fruits and vegetables, protein, and plenty of whole grains. Eat produce in a variety of colors, such as dark greens and bright citrus fruits. So long as your child is not exhibiting allergic reactions, you can eat what you would ordinarily—just aim for healthy, whole foods whenever you can.  Look out for adverse reactions to cow's milk. If you eat a lot of dairies and your child shows signs of allergy, such as rash, vomiting, or bloating. stop consuming it. Talk to your doctor about taking calcium or Vitamin D supplements instead. Ask your doctor or dietician about vitamins and supplements. If you are a vegan or are likely to be missing vitamins for another reason, talk to your doctor about introducing B12 or a multivitamin into your diet. If you take a medicine that contains pseudoephedrine, such as Sudafed or Zyrtec D, it may decrease your milk supply. Some kinds of hormonal contraception may also interfere with your ability to lactate. Talk to your doctor if you are on hormonal contraception. Read the label on any medication you take. If there is a warning for nursing mothers, consult your doctor.
Summary: Eat some oats. Consider taking herbal supplements. Stay hydrated.  Eat a healthy diet Limit your use of medications that interfere with milk production.