Does fenugreek help with milk supply?

[MacMomo]

Still trying to get my leftie to work properly; it got off to a slow start as DD didn't ever latch to it and i didn't realise quickly enough that i had to express it or lose it.

Have read fenugreek can help - anyone any experience? Apart from that, I'm expressing every four hrs but supply not increasing, I'm lucky to get a quarter of an ounce each time.

DD now 2.5 weeks old. Left boob b cup, right boob e cup...

I tried it but it didn't seem too. Redbush tea did though- a couple of cups a day made a big difference. Most supermarkets have it. Good luck.

MacMama sorry to hear you are having difficulties, have you read this on Kellymom yet?

Can't remember your previous posts. Have you spoken to a Bfing Counsellor?

yes it helped me with DS1.... but i took a LOT.
can't remember dosage. search internet.
but i reeked of the stuff for weeks
was worth it, though. fed him for about 14 months in the end
good luck :)

Every 4 hours isn't much when you need to increase supply, unless you're also nursing lots on that side?

Also, massage can really help with output when pumping.

didn't work for me but beer does! had to use domperidone for a month to get my supply up, worked a treat.

JJJ thanks for the link; yes I have seen a BF counsellor to ensure latch was correct but even though we sorted out the latch problems remain. I'm hoping to see the counsellor again later this week. The problem is only in the left breast as it was under-stimulated for the second week: dd refused it even with the BF counsellor's best efforts, and I only pumped it once a day (thinking that would be enough).

Now my right breast is making enough milk to feed dd, but it was badly damaged that even with a week of using nipple shields it still has a 'hole' in the side and is too painful to feed from, even with really perfect latch technique. Nipple shields it is, unfortunately, and I know they're not a good thing but without them I would have had to give up bf altogether.

So, I'm trying to increase milk supply in the left breast in order to be able to pump from it and give the right one a bit of a break once a day - and also because I have one giant boob (E cup) and one tiny floppy boob (B cup at a push).

Ideally, I want to get to being able to bf from both breasts without nipple shields, but to be honest I can't see that far yet. I'm at the '17 days survived' stage.

I will try the fenugreek (thanks picc) and try to pump the left one more frequently during the day at least (thanks for the advice japhrimel).

i also had a hole in my nipple last time. made it agony at first, but could feed on that side just ok.
then it got less painful (but the hole remained)

it wasn't there when i went to feed DS2, so it must've healed up at one point!!

hang in there.... :)

fenugreek worked for me but once you get that flow established keep up to the pumping as it seemed to work like a kick start but not a long term solution. I took the max dose, think i was taking three capsules about three times a day, google doses though. Had a funny after taste but I didn't smell of curry or maple syrup as some people said they did!

picc thanks for the encouragement - lansinoh every half an hour...

newbielisa thanks - can you remember how long it took for you to feel the difference with the fenugreek?

The other thing that really works is fennel seeds. You just simmer about half a teaspoon in water for about ten minutes, then strain the seeds out and drink. I had about two mugs a day I guess. It brought on my milk really quickly and I had to stop drinking it in the end as it massively increased the milk supply.

Hope it's not just me it worked for but I would really recommend it. My friend's mum is Indian and she said that in India it's standard for pregnant and nursing women to drink it to bring on the milk. Good luck, would love to know if it helps you.