OK, this is my first time considering fenugreek. I am on my third child and I want to increase my supply. For some reason my left breast gave out on me. It happened w/ my first one, but not until about 11 months, 6 months w/ my second and 4 weeks with my third.
My question is how do you take fenugreek. Everything I read mentions capsules and tea. I went to my local "granola" grocery store and they had it in bulk; both powder and the seeds. Has anyone used it this way and if so how much do you take? I read not to take more than 6 grams per day, but how do you measure it if it isn't in capsule form?
Someone out there has to be a pro with this. Thanks
Thanks to everyone for their advice. I used the seeds to make tea and it wasn't bad, but I don't think it was concentrated enough. I used the powder (man, does it taste nasty) for a couple days and it was great. I only needed to use it for a couple days. I think my milk supply was low because I was sick. Thanks again.
Here's a link to a Web site that goes into a ton of detail on Fenugreek. I ended up taking it in capsule form and it did help.
http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/fenugreek.html
A.
I have been using fenugreek to increase my supply and it was working but was causing tummy ache in my baby, so I changed it with Healthy nursing tea. Now, successfully breastfeeding my baby with no tummy related issues.
I'm not sure exactly how much fenugreek is recommended to take, but I wanted to let you know that my supply seemed to be slowing down a bit last week so I started to drink the Mother's Milk tea, by Traditional Medicinals and by the next day it seemed like my supply had increased. Good luck!
I've just recently seen fenugreek capsules, I think it was at Walgreen's.
You will find fenugreek capsules in GNC stores.Its reccomended that we take 3 capsules twice a day to increase the supply. Its hard to take the seeds and the powder .It has a yucky gagging taste so I was not able to swallow it. Capsules are the best. It definitely does make a difference in supply. All the best!
Hi R.,
I drank Fenugreek tea - and it did help some. I had to drink a 6 oz serving after every nursing, so I did have to drink it quite a bit but it did make an impact by the next feeding. I sweetened it with honey cause it tastes like black licorice (sp?) and I can't stand black licorice. My boys didn't seem to mind any flavor changes that they may have experienced.
I would recommend drinking it in a tea over a pill because it's hard to take smaller doses throughout the day - and this way your milk is increased throughout the day. It seems like one of those things where "you have to keep using it in order for it to work," so taking a pill once a day/twice a day will increase 1 or 2 feedings but won't help you for the other feedings. Then again, the tea was the only form I used and that worked fine.
Good luck! I had huge problems with supply, so I feel your pain!
I had supply issued with both of my boys and took the Fenugreek capsules. I took 3 capsules 3 times a day. It was also recommended to me that I drink mothers milk tea but I never tried it. Good luck.
I took Fenugreek with my second child a few times and would take about 3-4 capsules 2 or 3x's per day and for me, my supply increased about 50%. I took more than is instructed and loved the results. I never had to do it for very long as it would inc. supply my son would eat more and then my supply would naturally increase. Be warned that you start to smell like syrup....
Hi R.,
I used Mother's Milk tea when my supply seemed to be low and it really seemed to help. I drank 2-3 cups a day and that seemed to be plenty to give my supply a boost. I didn't add sweetener to it because I found that it made it taste even more like black licorice than it already did. I just drank it plain or added a little lemon juice. It's not very tasty, but you get used to it really quickly.
I found that increasing the amount of water I drink helps more than anything. I aim for ten 8-oz glasses a day.
I'd contact a local hospital and ask to speak with their lactation consultant. I took it in pill form and the bottle didn't supply me with information on how to increase supply. In '07 I tried to remember when the lactation lady told me in '04 and I went with 3 pills 3 times a day and slowly decrease it after a month or two. Double check my data just to make sure that's the recommended dose. You know how things change:) Your urine will get an odor shortly after starting it so don't be alarmed.
