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May 2015 Moms
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Fenugreek problems

flutterby120flutterby120 member
in May 2015 Moms
I have been taking fenugreek now for almost 3 weeks. And I thought it was working when I was pumping more but this week I have noticed a decrease in the amount I pump. Has anyone else tried fenugreek and see a decrease in milk supply. I am now having to supplement with formula after I breast feed my son.
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Re: Fenugreek problems

  • kat0217kat0217 member
    Fenugreek can negatively affect letdown. You should see an LC to determine if it would be beneficial or not.

    But also, the amount you pump is not an accurate indication of the amount baby gets directly from you. Supplementing with formula will hurt your supply more. It's a vicious cycle.
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  • flutterby120flutterby120 member
    I had to supplement because he wasn't gaining enough that's what an LC said.
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  • flutterby120flutterby120 member
    I am still breast feeding but I just don't think he's getting enough plus he favors one side more. And gets frustrated on the other side. Should I stop taking the fenugreek for a while?
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  • CanadaMom17CanadaMom17 member
    I would follow the advice of the lactation consultant.  Ask her if Mother's Love is available there - it has fenugreek as well as blessed thistle and goat's rue.  Those two ingredients also help with lactation.
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  • flutterby120flutterby120 member
    Thank you @CanadaMom17 I have tried the mother milk tea and couldn't drink it. I tried honey in it and I dumped it out. I am going to try to make the lactation cookies. I just have noticed since I take to fenugreek my supply seems a little low. But maybe I am over thinking this all.
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  • ldmwldmw member
    Stop the fenugreek. It can decrease supply in some women and if you have a thyroid condition it can adversely affect that.

    Supplementing does not have to hurt your supply, if you pump after your nursing/bottle feeding sessions.
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  • CanadaMom17CanadaMom17 member
    flutterby120 said:
    Thank you @CanadaMom17 I have tried the mother milk tea and couldn't drink it. I tried honey in it and I dumped it out. I am going to try to make the lactation cookies. I just have noticed since I take to fenugreek my supply seems a little low. But maybe I am over thinking this all.
    I've been doing morning oatmeal + brewer's yeast & flax seed, and just making chocolate haystacks with 3tbs of flax, 1tbs of brewer's yeast too (since they're oats too).
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  • kat0217kat0217 member
    flutterby120 said:

    I had to supplement because he wasn't gaining enough that's what an LC said.

    Did the LC try anything else or just jump straight to supplementing? We're having to supplement but our LC didn't recommend that until weeks of trying other things didn't help enough, and even then she set us up with a supplemental nursing system to keep baby at the breast and has been helping me get breastmilk donations. It just seems weird for an LC to jump to supplementing before trying other things.

    But as a PP said, supplementing doesn't have to mean that your supply decreases, but there are extra steps you have to take to prevent a decrease. I also agree that you should stop fenugreek. It isn't beneficial for everyone.
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  • flutterby120flutterby120 member
    It decided by both the DR and the LC. I tried everything the LC suggested before and it seemed like everything was going well with breastfeeding. But he still seemed small and wasn't gaining and was still jaundice. So my sister went with me to a weight check and that's when I found out he wasn't gaining what he needed. The LC said to do fenugreek and the Lactation cookies and the smoothie. But the ingredients seem really expensive and I don't have the money right now. I stopped taking the fenugreek yesterday and this morning my breasts seemed to be engorged. I know I am going to have to supplement beca sue my supply isn't what my son needs. I am still BF my son too. He seems happier and full after the formula. Because before he wasn't getting enough.
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  • CanadaMom17CanadaMom17 member
    edited July 2015
    Try a bulk food store for the flax seed & brewer's yeast for lactation cookies - I paid $2.80 for enough to add to several batches of morning oatmeal (3 cups milk, 1 cup rolled oats, 3tbs flax, 1 tbs yeast), and 2 batches of 'lactation' chocolate haystacks.  Boughten lactation cookies are expensive for sure.

    Something I just got suggested to try today from my lactation consultant was 'panela'.  It has different names.  Basically, it's a hard-packed raw puck of palm cane sugar.  Take one, pound it into bits with a hammer, and boil it about 1.5 litres of water.  Drink the water each day (works out to be a litre after boiling roughly).  Can be drank hot or cold, flavour it as you like, etc.  I used some of it boiling to make my lactation tea.  She suggested you could use milk too - maybe add a bit of cocoa too in order to make hot chocolate?  I can't comment on how it works yet, but she learned about this from a Colombian client, and it really worked for some people.  I got some of the sugar in an Asian grocer (Thai sugar - but she said pure Colombian was better, ha ha).  It tastes just like brown sugar in water.  (and don't do it if you're diabetic!)

    Note:  Also cheap - 8 little pucks were $2.25 - I'll check the weight of each puck later.
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  • flutterby120flutterby120 member
    Thank you @CanadaMom17 I will look into a bulk store for the supplies. I will check out that sugar stuff.
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  • flutterby120flutterby120 member
    Should I start taking the fenugreek again? I am not getting anything pumped again like I was...
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