Trying to get my production up after a mastitis infection. I took fenugrek with my first but it was bc I was exclusively pumping and had reached 9 months and was pushing my body's limits. This time she's only 4 weeks old and I had a wicked infection and my production isn't keeping up w/ her.
I know the bottle says 1-2 a day but I remember taking more last time. My OB is out of town right now and I don't want wait any longer. I'm finally healthy post delivery and just want to get everything ready.
I took fenugreek with my first and it did nothing at all for my supply. With my second I ate oatmeal every day and it made a huge difference. Just a thought in case the fenugreek doesn't help as much as needed.
The lady at our breastfeeding support group used to tell us to take enough to make you smell like maple syrup. If you don't smell like syrup, you need to take more.
Kellymom.com is a great resource for nursing moms, here is what she had to say.
http://kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/fenugreek.html
my lactation consultant said 1-2pills up to 3X/day. That you could take it until you started to smell like syrup.
I took 3 capsules 2 times a day...but I think for some it can take as much as 3 capsules 3 times a day to get good results. I took capsules I bought at GNC. Also you need to take enough till you smell like maple syrup....I did at 3 capsules 2 times a day. Also since you already had mastitis, consider buying lecithin granules to add to juice or water 1 time a day- they sell apple flavored ones at GNC- or used to. They help to protect against plugged ducts by making the fats in the milk more slippery...also avoid high fat foods and high fat dairy to decrease chance of plugged ducts! I am currently nursing my 5 week old; nursed my last a year, pumping 3 times a day after returning to work. Best of luck!
I took 3 pills, 3 times a day.
They all pretty much already said it, I used fenugreek with my first child and even though I smelled like maple syrup, it didn't really seem to help my milk supply. This time around with my second, my lactation consultant recommended More Milk Plus Special Blend from Motherlove, that has a mix of different products including fenugreek, but this one also has goat's rue or something like that, that specifically addresses the decreased production. There's also More Milk Plus, but that one doesn't have the goats rue. I ordered it from Amazon, was actually cheaper there than at Motherlove's website. It comes in liquid, which is very bitter, as well as capsules, which is what I'm taking right now, and so far so good, and I don;t have to endure the maple smell that was driving me crazy . I looked it up and a lot of people were recommending it, a lot of them with PCOS, a condition which not only can make it really hard for you to get pregnant, but apparently to be able to produce enough milk as well.
Yes, you take more like 6-8 a day - of course if you bought a hiugher dosage, then you would take about 4-5 a day. Try also Blessed Thistle - they work catalytically and increase the benefits of BOTH compounds.
Also, as long as you are breastfeeding on demand, I'd not worry about a lack of supply - especially since around this time is cluster feeding/growth spurt time for your infant.
Keep hydrated, rested (try to recline or nap when you nurse together) and eat good whole foods.
I took 3 pills 3X a day when my supply "dipped". Try eating oatmeal for breakfast and drinking a beer before bed. I know it sounds weird but it got my supply back up and over-flowing within days... Good luck!
