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March 2014 Moms
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Fenugreek Users

desertmouse39desertmouse39 member
in March 2014 Moms
I started Fenugreek capsules last week, and am now starting to see a small increase in my milk/pumping production.  I mean, like an extra ounce or two a day, but still happy with that - I have very low production, milk duct issues, blah-blah-blah, but I pump what I can (6 -7 x day) and we supplement with formula.

I read up on it on Kellymom, but I wonder if you continue to take the herb once your supply has increased, or stop?  Also, did any of you notice weight gain while taking this?  I have seriously gained close to 10 lbs in the past week and this is the only thing that has changed in my routine.  I did read that it is sometimes used as an appetite stimulant, but I don't know if I really have been hungrier/eating more.  Maybe I am just retaining fluids differently or something.  My PP fat clothes still fit, which would be unusual if I gained 10 lbs of actual weight I think, I don't know.

Anyways, I'm sticking with it for now because it seems to be helping.  My goal is trying to keep 50% of LO's food intake to be BM and then the other half formula, it but I suspect as she grows and eats more the BM will become a smaller percentage.  
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Re: Fenugreek Users

  • kstar83kstar83 member
    im sorry if this has been answered earlier, but can you nurse at all? I get more when I pump/nurse.

    Also, when I stop taking fenugreek my supply goes back down a bit, but not all the way back. I only take mine occasionally, it works really well for me. I didn't notice weight gain, but now that you mention it there were about 4 pounds that came and went around that time...
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  • desertmouse39desertmouse39 member
    @kstar83 -  When you say occasionally, how often do you take it?

    Unfortunately, we stopped nursing at about 6 weeks.  I knew from weighted feeds that she was only ever taking about half an ounce total from the boobs and she was always very frustrated with my nipples (we had to introduce the bottle very early) and developed her preference for the bottle.  I tried to comfort nurse for a while to help with supply but she wasn't in to it  [-(  So I pump.  With steady pumping, oatmeal, etc... I can get about 10 - 12 oz a day and this is more than twice what I got for DD #1 (but who happily went back and forth from boob to bottle), so I have adjusted my expectations. 


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  • angelsnightangelsnight member

    No experience with fenugreek, but I can assure you, you did not gain 10 pounds of fat in one week.  If you eat an average of 2000 calories a day, you eat about 14,000 for the week.  To gain 10 pounds of fat you would have to eat an extra 35,000 calories on top of the 14,000.  I'm sure you'd notice if you almost tripled the amount of food you ate in a week

    ;)
    Lilypie - (fm2j)

    Lilypie - (YesX)

     My Pregnancy/Parenting BLOG TTC since 5/2011, BFP #1 12/3/11, M/C 12/7/11 @ 4wks 2d. Began seeing RE Sep 2012. October 2012 Metformin 1500 mg= ovulation on CD34 BFP#2 11/14/12 9DPO, EDD 7/26/13, DX Gestational Diabetes @14 wks, our angel born sleeping 3/24/13 @ 22wks 2d. BFP #3 7/4/13 8DPO EDD 3/22/14, DX Gestational Diabetes @14 wks. started insulin @16 wks.  Our rainbow, born 3/19/14 @ 39wks 6d., we're so in love!

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  • bananna4bananna4 member
    I've been taking Fenugreek for 3 months now and also noticed a decrease in my already low supply if I miss taking it for a day or two (like if I forget to re-order and run out). I also agree with the other poster that nursing once per day also helps increase my pumping output especially for the next pumping session after I nursed LO.
    How much Fenugreek does everyone take? I usually take 1500 mg three times per day, so a total of 4500 mg, but I think I heard that up to 6000 mg per day is ok. Does anyone take that much?
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  • AlikiAliki member
    I took Fenugreek to increase milk supply, but I also took Goat's Rue and Shatavari with it, as per my LC's recommendation. 

    Keep taking the Fenugreek for a while, and taper off if you think your supply has increased and stabilized. If you stop too soon, it will go back down.
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    TTC #1 since 2007. Dx: Unexplained infertility. 4 IUIs in 2008 = BFN. IVF #1 07/09. DD #1 born April 2010 (40w5d).
    TTC #2 since 2011. Dx: Endometriosis and hypothyroidism. 2 FETs in 2012, BFP 6/12 but m/c @ 7 weeks. IVF #2 06/13. DD #2  born March 2014 (40w1d).
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  • sopranoalisopranoali member
    I started fenugreek bc when I started working out again my supply tanked. It has helped me with supply. I haven't had any issues w weight gain.
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  • MeggsMMeggsM member
    Yes keep taking it! I'm also on three capsules 3x a day along with blessed thistle to increase hunger/thirst. Haven't noticed weight gain but my supply tanks if I forget it and when I started weight watchers.
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  • AlikiAliki member
    @CaseAndDave Yes Shatavari (and Goat's Rue) both come in capsule form. I buy it off Amazon.com. 
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    TTC #1 since 2007. Dx: Unexplained infertility. 4 IUIs in 2008 = BFN. IVF #1 07/09. DD #1 born April 2010 (40w5d).
    TTC #2 since 2011. Dx: Endometriosis and hypothyroidism. 2 FETs in 2012, BFP 6/12 but m/c @ 7 weeks. IVF #2 06/13. DD #2  born March 2014 (40w1d).
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