Fenugreek product recommendations?

jjroxtx · February 2016

Like many of us as we get closer to our baby being here, I am trying to get ahead in things I will need to buy. Trying to get them now so I don't have to worry about it later.
My Dr recommends I get fenugreek but there are a lot of products to
choose from. Any one have recommendations? I don't care if it's a pill or mix in for drinks, just want the most effective product with the least side effects.

kbrands7 · February 2016

I loved the Yogi brand Women's Nursing Tea last time post-partum. It contains fenugreek and other supply boosting herbs.

lionstigersbears · February 2016

Earth mama angel baby has it too, milkmaid tea. I totally recommend red Gatorade as well. I don't know why but it works.

kbrands7 · February 2016

Yes! I agree with @lionstigersbears. Gatorade definitely works-- and it doesn't make you smell like syrup like fenugreek does.

laurenmdrn16 · February 2016

The syrup smell is so real! I took a fenugreek supplement last time and MH would always say he was craving pancakes. I thought it was weird until I realized I smelled like a Waffle Haus!

ETA: I would recommend a tea vs. pill for the above reason and because the teas have other galactalogues so you get a bigger boost.

gamommyx3 · February 2016

FTM & Google is not loading....what is fenugreek?

JennyS86 · February 2016

Fenugreek is a supplement to boost milk supply.

jjroxtx May I ask why you are assuming that you will have a low supply? I only ask because fenugreek can cause GI upset in some newborns.

I did try the Mother's Milk Tea. I liked it, but then again I was so thirsty while nursing/pumping!! I also found whole grains like oats, ground flax seed, and brewer's yeast to be helpful - great for cookies or muffins! and drink, drink, drink!

osmama456 · March 2016

I had a low supply with my first, and used fenugreek - pill supplement and mother's milk tea. It definitely worked, I was able to continue for 6 mths, and build a freezer supply. I definitely felt the tea worked better.

jjroxtx · March 2016

When I wrote this it was assumed I would deliver early and I actually did. I had the baby last night at 29 weeks so my body isn't quite ready to produce milk yet

gamommyx3 · March 2016

Wow, congrats! How is your LO? How are you feeling?

kbrands7 · March 2016

@jjroxtx Wow! How are you and baby doing? And congratulations! If you want to try to coax your body towards breastfeeding, do as much skin to skin as possible/whenever it is possible and try power pumping in addition to supplements. Power pumping is pumping 10 min, rest 10 minutes, repeat for an hour. It's good at signaling to the breast that there's a high demand for milk and gets oxytocin flowing. To take advantage of the body's naturally high breastfeeding hormones time, do it early, early in the morning like 4am if possible. Good luck!

Bltbear82 · March 2016

Congrats @jjroxtx !

@kbrands7, and other successful breast feeding moms, would you be interested in starting a thread with tips like the above? I struggled so much last time and I feel like I've learned a lot just from the one off comments from some of you. I know it's all on kellymom, but sometimes it's easier to absorb anecdotes from people that have worked for them personally. Gearing myself up for a second attempt that's longer than 3 months, so selfishly I could personally use all the advice I can get!

LadySamLady · March 2016

Congratulations @jjroxtx - how are you feeling? how is baby doing?

kbrands7 · March 2016

@Bltbear82 Absolutely! I think @araecasey either started one a while back, or talked about starting one. If there's one, I'll dig it up; if not, we can start a q&a/tips thread.

yogahh · March 2016

Congrats!! Hope lo is doing ok?? Please share pics and birth story as you can as I know I speak for several of us when I say we are addicted to them

Bluejay3030 · March 2016

@jjroxtx Congrats! I hope you and baby are doing well.

JennyS86 · March 2016

jjroxtx How are you doing? How did you know you were going to deliver preterm? I am a big believer in mama intuition. Many prayers for a speedy recovery for you and an uneventful nicu course for your baby.
Here are some tips for nicu pumping:
-Start pumping as soon as possible after delivery with a hospital grade pump, such as a medela symphony. Pump in your hospital room and by your baby's bedside.
-Pump at least 8 times in 24 hrs, and as kbrands suggests, power pump to simulate cluster feeding.
-I got conflicting advice on whether to sleep or pump through the night. I pumped if I woke up at 3 or 4am (generally because I was engorged or leaking), but I slept til 6am some days, and just pumped first thing when I woke up. Prolactin is highest in the wee morning hrs, but sleep also helps milk production. (and nicu mama sanity)
-Check with the nicu to see if you are allowed to drink water at baby's bedside. I was so incredibly thirsty while pumping and in the warm, dry nicu rooms. You also must eat to maintain your milk supply. I found myself skipping lunch on the days that I felt I couldn't leave the bedside.
-use lanolin or coconut oil for sore nipples.
-Please don't get upset if you only pump drops for the first few days. If your baby needs more than you are producing, ask about donor milk.

ok - I have to run, but I will be thinking of you and add more tips later on. God Bless you and your tiny one. Preemies are so strong, and so are their parents!

araecasey · March 2016

@jjroxtx Oh mama, what a ride you're on! Congratulations on the birth of your little one :-) I personally have no experience nursing a preemie, and I have no training in it yet, so I don't feel qualified to give advice beyond my own nursing journey, but I'm sending and your babe all my love. Whatever amount of breastmilk you can give your baby is a gift. I will say that keeping close contact with a LC and breastfeeding support group is often crucial for nursing moms of preemies. I can help you get in contact with a support group/person near you if your hospital staff hasn't already done so.

@kbrands7 I haven't started a thread yet, was thinking of having weekly bfing discussion threads starting at the end of the month. Learning about breastfeeding can be overwhelming, I was thinking it would be easier to digest if we break it up over a few weeks instead of dumping all of it into one thread. What do you think?

araecasey · March 2016

Bltbear82 said:

Congrats @jjroxtx !

@kbrands7, and other successful breast feeding moms, would you be interested in starting a thread with tips like the above? I struggled so much last time and I feel like I've learned a lot just from the one off comments from some of you. I know it's all on kellymom, but sometimes it's easier to absorb anecdotes from people that have worked for them personally. Gearing myself up for a second attempt that's longer than 3 months, so selfishly I could personally use all the advice I can get!

Not selfish at all! Turns out mammals learn to breastfeed from each other, not from texts and websites. Those are helpful resources, but they're not a replacement for shared experiences. Three months of breast milk is nothing to pooh pooh; that's something to be proud of.

jjroxtx · March 2016

I knew I was going to have her early because of my preeclampsia, just was hoping she would hang on for a few more weeks. Tuesday morning she was showing signs of stress so my Dr started me on magnesium. After 12 hours of that and some contractions Dr felt vaginal birth would put too much of a strain on baby so I had a c-section. She came out crying which by all accounts is a good sign even though she is tiny. Still have a lot of worries but she is doing good so far!

Thanks for for the breastfeeding tips. I've found some fenugreek pills and tea and am getting on a three hour schedule for pumping. I'll ask
about the power pumping.

kbrands7 · March 2016

@kbrands7 I haven't started a thread yet, was thinking of having weekly bfing discussion threads starting at the end of the month. Learning about breastfeeding can be overwhelming, I was thinking it would be easier to digest if we break it up over a few weeks instead of dumping all of it into one thread. What do you think?

I agree that it's a good idea to pace the information, I'm wondering though if we should still keep it in one thread for ease of searching/possible pinning.

kbrands7 · March 2016

@jjroxtx That's good to hear. FX for an uneventful/productive nicu stay and a swift recovery!

Bltbear82 · March 2016

Thanks @araecasey! My goal was 6 months but we struggled so much that I was happy with 3 months. I feel like I'm much better prepared this time, so fingers crossed I can do it!

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