How much fenugreek do I take to increase breastmilk supply?

This organization has been around forever and they have a really good support system for breast feeding.
Try asking them about your problem as breast feeding should come naturally and it seems you are nervous about it. The baby can sense your nervousness and be fussy about feeding. You should be talking to your Doctor instead of people on Yahoo Answers for professional advice.

Here’s some good info from KellyMom:

“Effect on milk production

“Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) appears to be the herb that is most often used to increase milk supply. It is an excellent galactagogue, and has been used as such for centuries. In one study of ten women, “the use of fenugreek significantly increased volume of breastmilk” [Swafford 2000].

“Mothers generally notice an increase in production 24-72 hours after starting the herb, but it can take two weeks for others to see a change.

“Dosages of less than 6 capsules/day (approx 3500 mg/day) produce no effect in many women. One way to determine if you’re taking the correct dosage is to slowly increase the amount of fenugreek until your sweat and urine begin to smell like maple syrup. If you’re having problems with any side effects, discontinue use and consider alternative methods of increasing milk supply.

“Fenugreek can be used either short-term to boost milk supply or long-term to augment supply and/or pumping yields. There are no studies indicating problems with long-term usage. Per Kathleen Huggins “Most mothers have found that the herb can be discontinued once milk production is stimulated to an appropriate level. Adequate production is usually maintained as long as sufficient breast stimulation and emptying continues” [Huggins].

“Suggested dosage
capsules
(580-610 mg) 2-4 capsules, 3 times per day
6-12 capsules (total) per day
~1200-2400 mg, 3 times per day (3.5-7.3 grams/day)
German Commission E recommends a daily intake of 6 grams

capsules
(500 mg) 7-14 capsules (total) per day

powder or seeds 1/2 – 1 teaspoon, 3 times per day
1 capsule = 1/4 teaspoon
can be mixed with a little water or juice

tincture 1-2 mL, 3 times per day (or see package directions)
tea one cup of tea, 2-3 times per day

“Safety
Fenugreek is used to flavor artificial maple syrup, and is used as a common food ingredient (curries, chutneys, etc.) and traditional medicine in many parts of the world, including India, Greece, China, north Africa and the Middle East. It is a basic ingredient of curry powder (often used in Indian cooking) and the Five Spice mixtures (used in Asian cooking). It is also eaten as a salad and sprouted.

“Fenugreek is considered safe for nursing moms when used in moderation and is on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s GRAS list (Generally Recognized As Safe). As with most medications and herbs, various side effects have been noted; see the side effects and safety information below.

“Per Hale [Hale 2002], “The transfer of fenugreek into milk is unknown, but untoward effects have not been reported.” Hale classifies it in Lactation Risk Category L3 (moderately safe).

“Possible side effects and cautions
Sweat and urine smells like maple syrup; milk and/or breastfed baby may smell like maple syrup.
Occasionally causes loose stools, which go away when fenugreek is discontinued.
Use of more than 100 grams of fenugreek seeds daily can cause intestinal distress and nausea (recommended dose is less than 8 grams per day).
Repeated external applications can result in undesirable skin reactions [Wichtl 1994].
Ingestion of fenugreek seeds or tea in infants or late-term pregnant women can lead to false diagnosis of maple syrup urine disease in the infant due to presence of sotolone in the urine. See [Korman 2001] and other studies on fenugreek and maple syrup urine smell.
Use with caution or avoid if you have a history of:

“Peanut or chickpea allergy: Fenugreek is in the same family with peanuts and chickpeas, and may cause an allergic reaction in moms who are allergic to these things. Two cases of fenugreek allergy have been reported in the literature. [Patil 1997, Ohnuma 1998, Lawrence 1999]
Diabetes or hypoglycemia: Fenugreek reduces blood glucose levels, and in the few studies using it as a hypoglycemic, also reduces blood cholesterol. Dosages higher than the recommended one (given above) may result in hypoglycemia in some mothers [Heller]. If you’re diabetic (IDDM), use fenugreek only if you have good control of your blood glucose levels. While taking this, closely monitor your fasting levels and post-prandial (after meals) levels. Mothers with hypoglycemia should also use fenugreek with caution. For more on fenugreek and glucose levels, see the references below.
Asthma: Fenugreek is often cited as a natural remedy for asthma. However, inhalation of the powder can cause asthma and allergic symptoms. Some mothers have reported that it worsened their asthma symptoms. [Dugue 1993, Huggins, Lawrence 1999].
Abnormal menstrual cycles: Fenugreek is considered to be an emmenagogue (promotes menstrual flow). Per [White], it may cause breakthrough menstrual bleeding; this source recommends using fenugreek with caution if you have a history of abnormal menstrual cycles.
Migraines: Fenugreek is often cited as a natural remedy for migraines. However, [White] indicates that it may trigger a migraine and/or contribute to the duration and severity of a migraine.
Blood pressure problems or heart disease: Fenugreek is commonly reported to lower blood pressure and LDL blood cholesterol levels. [White] indicates, however, that it may cause or contribute to hypertension (high blood pressure) – this source recommends avoiding this herb if you have a history of hypertension, or if there is a strong family history of hypertension or heart disease. ”

Hope this helps

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When I needed to boost my supply I took More Milk Plus pills by MotherLove which contain Fenugreek, Fennel Seed, Nettle Leaf, and Blessed Thistle – all believed to increase milk supply. These are more expensive than just the plain fenugreek, but I had good results with them. The only side effect I noticed was that I was very gassy, it didn’t seem to affect my daughter other than her stools smelled sort of like vinegar, not sure if this was related to the pills or not.

The best way to increase your supply is to pump/nurse OFTEN. And you can still nurse/pump while you are sick, you may not feel like doing it, but it will help maintain your supply.

Good luck!