View Full Version : Fenugreek pills
Lknight2010
May 10, 2010, 09:03 AM
Just wanting to know if there is a certein time you have to take the pill before you feed or pump to have your supply increase? Also is there a certain amount of pills that u can take in one day?
justcurious55
May 10, 2010, 09:43 AM
Breastfeeding Online (http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/fenugreek.shtml)
Here's a site that looks like it has some good information
thisisit
May 10, 2010, 10:02 AM
Herbs and Breastfeeding (http://www.breastfeeding.com/reading_room/herbs.html)
There are pros and cons... I wouldn't risk it.
There are other completely safe ways to increase your milk. Drinking extra fluids and relaxation techniques are safe and effective methods of increasing your milk supply.
LearningAsIGo
May 11, 2010, 12:41 PM
I tried fenugreek through capsule form (fluids, oatmeal, etc were not enough to help)
Per bottle instructions, I took 2/day.
What I recently learned was it does increase supply (helped me by an extra oz. per pumping session when taken regularly) but it increases FOREMILK only. This means it could cause more gas for baby because not enough hindmilk is there to balance the foremilk, making it harder to digest. Sure enough, my little one was having horrible gas pains so I had to quit.
Bear in mind, all herbs have potential side effects, just as drugs do.
DoulaLC
May 12, 2010, 03:52 AM
Just wanting to know if there is a certein time you have to take the pill before you feed or pump to have your supply increase? Also is there a certain amount of pills that u can take in one day?
Is there a definite decrease? Is there a reason you feel you need to boost your supply or that there is not as much as before? Are you trying to increase results from pumping?
It is best to split the fenugreek up in the day... some in the morning, some in the evening for example. You do not need to take before pumping or feeding. The number you take will depend on the mg in each tablet or capsule. What dosage do you have? Often it is recommended to start with a couple in the morning and a couple in the evening and increase if necessary.
Keep in mind the best way to increase supply is to feed frequently so it may be simply a matter of adding a couple of extra feeds for a few days. Baby may be going through a growth spurt. Frequent feeds, and switching a few times between breasts during a feed, can often give you a boost.
Do check with your doctor prior to its use as some people need to be careful and alternatives may be preferred. There are other supplements that may work well too, such as alfalfa. But again, frequency is key even when you add additional means.. If possible, you may even have a nurse-in. Take a couple of days, where you don't need to do much else, and just nurse very often.