Any input on Fenugreek for increasing breast milk supply?

I have a 10 week old who is strictly breastfed but I returned to work and when I pump, I only produce 3 oz each pumping session. Well, when my husband is home with baby when I am at work, he states she drinks about 4-5 oz each feeding. We have almost ran out of breast milk and I don’t want to supplement with formula. I was given the suggestion of Fenugreek capsules from GNC and was wondering if anyone else has used this. Does it work like they say it works?

Does Fenugreek really work to increase breast milk supply?

Any advice on using fenugreek or any other ways to increase my milk supply?

Does Fenugreek work to increase breast milk supply?

Do you have to keep taking fenugreek once your milk supply has increased?

What is the dosage of the fenugreek tea for increasing breast milk?

when does the fenugreek start working for increasing the breastmilk?

Another question for the breast feeding mothers that take Fenugreek?

Will Fenugreek work if my milk supply has almost stopped?

Use of fenugreek to increase milk supply?

How long will it take my milk supply go up? I’m taking Fenugreek and eating oatmeal nearly every day?

Have you taken fenugreek to increase your milk supply? What dosage did you take and did it work?

Is it bad to use fenugreek only if you want to increase breast size and not for breast feeding purposes?

7 comments a “Any input on Fenugreek for increasing breast milk supply?”

I am using Fenugreek to try and relactate. It’s working really good and has helped my supply go up. I take 3 pills 3x a day. You will start to smell like maple syrup & that’s when you know it’s starting to work. I got mine from GNC. I got 200 capsules for $12.99. The only bad thing I’ve noticed since taking them is that I have swollen up like I have a lot of water in me.

My supply was almost nonexistent and I took 3 fenugreek capsules, 3 x a day and it worked to increase it. I had virtually no supply at all, and since you’re only experiencing a slight dip, it really should work. Take 3 a day, 3 x a day, for a total of 9 capsules each day. You’ll begin to smell a little like maple syrup. Keep up with the pumping and drink plenty of fluids. Also eat oatmeal in the mornings. It’s about $13 a bottle for several hundred of them. You could also try Mother’s Milk Tea, but the capsules are actually stronger.

It definitely can. I have issues with supply in general and have to resort to major measures to keep up with my baby. But, fenugreek helps. You have to take enough of it a day to make your potty trips smell like maple syrup, (yeah, weird, but that’s when you know you’ve got the right dosage). You should notice a difference in 24-48 hours. It’s worth a shot. In your case it would probably work pretty well. Sometimes combining it with Blessed Thistle helps it to work better.

Good luck!

It does for MOST women.

2 or 3 capsules 3 times daily.

I only did 2 caps 3xday, since was just trying to increase my supply to put some extra in the freezer for a weekend getaway – which never happened!! I went from pumping only 2 oz a day (on top of what she was normally nursing from me all day), to 6 oz by the end of a week. I was also eating the oatmeal packets w/ the maple flavoring, fenugreek is what is used to make that natural maple “flavor” when no real maple is used.

there are other herbs you can use, some in combination too.
details for that here:

you already have good answers about the fenugreek.i just want to add that you need to make sure your breastshield fits you correctly.if its too small you wont get as much milk as you should.also pump more often and do both breasts at the same time.

i used a pump for a few months and as time passed i noticed less milk each time i finally found that my breastshield was to small once i moved up a size i started getting more milk.

I am taking them right now. My OB started me on estrogen birth control at three months(which almost sabotaged my supply!) and I noticed a huge dip in milk production. I started fenugreek one week ago with pumping and I am now producing 4-6 oz. at one breast. It was so low before that I had to go 8 hours without pumping or feeding and I only produced 3 oz. each. Not sure if it’s really the extra pumping because you are now doing everything you can to increase it or if this stuff really works. Doesn’t really matter to me because I am relieved I am back to my old self.

Fenugreek can help increase milk supply. It’s readily available through drug stores and natural food stores. You’ll need to take 3 capsules, 3 times a day. It will likely make your sweat, your urine, and your breastmilk smell like maple syrup. If it’s going to help you, you should see an effect in 1-3 days. Use caution if you’re diabetic, because it can lower blood sugar. Some mothers with asthma or allergies report worsening symptoms when taking fenugreek.

You’re actually pumping a good amount. How frequently are you pumping? You’ll want to pump at work at least as often as your baby would nurse, probably every 2-3 hours. If you have time at work, try to sneak in an extra pumping session in the afternoon. Even if you pump right before going home, you’ll still have plenty of milk for your baby, because your baby is more effective than any breast pump.

How much milk is your baby getting (total) while you’re at work? A breastfed baby needs about 28 ounces, total, every 24 hours. Your baby is getting most of that directly from you when you’re at home. You can decrease the amount your baby will need while you’re away by breastfeeding more frequently while you’re together. Try to nurse the very last thing before you leave for work, and then again immediately upon returning home. Let your husband know about an hour before you’ll be home, so he doesn’t give a bottle right before you’re due back. If you have a sling, you can wear your baby in the evenings so she can nurse freely.

A breastfed baby can be expected to take 2-4 ounces every 2-3 hours, so it might be that your baby is getting more milk than she needs when Daddy gives her a bottle. It’s easy to overfeed with a bottle. Are you using slow-flow nipples? To test, hold the filled bottle upside down. The milk should drip slowly from the nipple. If it’s dripping quickly or flowing in a stream, throw that nipple out. Follow baby’s cues when bottle feeding – lay the nipple across her lips, let her draw the nipple into her mouth herself, hold her somewhat upright so she can better control the flow. Take advantage of her natural sucking pauses and tilt the nipple up so the milk flow stops briefly. Try offering 3-4 ounces instead, and using soothing techniques like rocking or cuddling instead of feeding.

It can be hard to pump enough milk. No pump is as effective as your baby. Are you using a double-electric pump, and double pumping? That will help. You might want to pump once a day at home as well. You can breastfeed your baby on one side while you pump on the other, then switch baby and pump (there will still be enough milk for baby!). This will give you a little extra milk for the day, plus it will help to boost your supply. If you do this at about the same time every day, your supply will gradually increase at that time. Some moms also keep up their pumping routine over the weekend, in addition to breastfeeding on cue, which can also help boost supply.

Any input on Fenugreek for increasing breast milk supply?

7 comments a “Any input on Fenugreek for increasing breast milk supply?”

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