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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Any advice on fenugeek please? (If that's spelt right)

23 replies

NumNumMum · 20/10/2006 23:57

Today dp bought me some fenugeek because am badly in need of building up my supply and I'd heard it can help. However, rather than being in capsule form with dosage instructions as hoped- I seem to have some little seedy things in a bag. Does anyone know how much to take and how to take it? If anyone's given it a go, how well did it work? Any advice gratefully received!

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hunkermunker · 20/10/2006 23:59

Why do you think you need to build up your supply?

How old is your baby?

What have you tried to build your supply so far?

Took fenugreek myself with DS1 - made my wee smell weird and did little else.

AlfredAitchcock · 21/10/2006 00:05

i got it in liquid form from a herbalist, i think it worked a bit (gave me very weird BO, though) but then the lactation counsellor i was seeing later told me that it was dangerous for the baby and i shouldn't be taking it.
i phoned her back for further info and spoke to her colleague who said that she would recommend fenugreek but i should only get it from a proper herbalist... sigh, it's all so confusing, isn't it? (i did keep taking it by the way)>

Original poster
NumNumMum · 21/10/2006 00:10

Mine is a sorry and long tale! Briefly, formula top-ups have diminished my supply and now ds has been reluctant, at best, to feed from me. It's all in the thread "he doesn't want me any more". He's four months and I really want to continue feeding him in part, at least. So far I've been feeding him as much as he'll allow and I can give, and I'm doing my best at expressing. I need all the help I can get so wanted to give this stuff a go.

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Original poster
NumNumMum · 21/10/2006 00:12

Oh no,, dangerous in what way? That's a worry.

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AlfredAitchcock · 21/10/2006 00:14

i'm so sorry, i just can't remember. i looked into it at the time and was satisfied that she was being too cautious, if that's any help. and as i say, her equally well-qualified colleague disagreed with her.

hunkermunker · 21/10/2006 00:17

I looked into it at the time I took mine and was satisfied that it was safe to take while bfeeding. I was expressing for DS1 to have while I was at work and didn't build up a store before I went back so I made it v hard for myself - hence wanting to up production.

I've just seen your other thread and it would seem that things are heading in the right direction. How often are you managing to express?

Original poster
NumNumMum · 21/10/2006 00:28

so far only a couple of times per day, been hard because dd's been off school for a couple of days. Mind you, now it's half term. I'll have to find more time somehow! If ds has fed recently though, I don't have much luck.

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threelittlepumpkins · 21/10/2006 00:37

It made me smell of curry all the time. It didn't seem to have any effect on supply, but upping feeding to at least 2 hourly in the day did (dd was 14 wks at the time)

Don't want to put words in her mouth, but seem to remember tiktok telling me fenugreek wouldn't really help me

hth

Original poster
NumNumMum · 21/10/2006 01:02

How much did you take, pumpkins? Ds extreemly skeptical about feeding, he needs to know it'll be worth the effort for him to bother! Stressful feeds may have put him off too, so frequent feeding difficult. He's only up for it first thing and when he's sleepy. I'm rejected a lot, but don't want to push it and put him off more.

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Original poster
NumNumMum · 21/10/2006 01:12

Pumpsins really has slunk off! Would somebody who took it please tell me how much they took?

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threelittlepumpkins · 21/10/2006 01:15

Sorry I really can't remember but they were big tablets and you took them as required.

Have you an electric pump? That might help, and was my next step if I had needed it, though I really found increasing and feeding on demand (which I hadn't really been doing) worked for me.

Really hope you work it out. Try bumping this thread in the morning and one of the breastfeeding counsellors that post might see it and have offical advice (as opposed to my ramblings) although hunker has posted, and she knows her stuff

Original poster
NumNumMum · 21/10/2006 01:15

Pumpkins. Not Pumpsins,. It's late, I'm off.

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Original poster
NumNumMum · 21/10/2006 01:19

There you are! Wouldn't mind trying an electric pump. Something to look into, definately.

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cryptmonkey · 21/10/2006 01:41

Domperidone(sp?) aka Motilium is supposed to work wonders.

lemonAIIEEE · 21/10/2006 08:42

I took fenugreek capsules and they gave both me and DS really terrible wind and a bad case of the squits, which are possible (though unusual) side-effects. TBH if your DH has brought you just fenugreek seeds rather than the capsules or the liquid I'd just start adding it to your cooking. Another thing that "old wives'" wisdom claims is useful is oatmeal -- a big bowl for breakfast every morning.

Could you ask your GP about Domperidone?

FrannyandZooey · 21/10/2006 08:49

NumNum I tried fenugreek in a powder form and it gave ds awful wind

You can get Mothers Milk tea or something like that from Boots - I would try that if I was needing a boost. I think mostly it will help you psychologically so you might as well be taking something that is designed not to do harm. I think feeding very frequently is going to do more good than anything else, though - I remember your thread and good on you for keeping on with it - what else did tiktok advise?

FrannyandZooey · 21/10/2006 08:52

Oh there are lots of useful and well-researched ideas here (the Sears have a BIG family - don't follow advice of gurus who have not even given birth let alone breastfed)

yellowrose · 21/10/2006 09:25

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
NumNumMum · 21/10/2006 11:07

Thanks, everyone! Doesn't seem to be much good to say about it, I'm very wary if there's the risk of it giving ds wind- he's only recently outgrown the worst of his windy troubles and those that remain are part of the problem. Think I'll give it a miss. I'll carry on with the expressing and frequent feeds. I can see some slow improvement, I'll bear the domperidone in mind as a possible back up for the future just in case. Like the fennel tea idea from the sears page- thanks, FrannyandZooey- that's supposed to aid digestion for the baby too, isn't it? I've read it suggested for colic before.
I'll persevere.

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Original poster
NumNumMum · 21/10/2006 11:29

Cryptmonkey- isn't domperidone used to treat symptoms of reflux? Ds has this and I believe it to be part of the problem. Tell me more!? I will return to the doctors to discuss this as ds has been on infant gaviscon but stopped due to constipation.

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Original poster
NumNumMum · 21/10/2006 13:20

No,sorry, scratch that, I've just googled. I got it all wrong.. Never mind!

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mears · 21/10/2006 15:58

this link may be helpful

Kif · 22/10/2006 09:15

I used it briefly at about the same point as you are. It did do something, but wasn't the magic bullet. Dd seemed OK on it, but did have some 'interesting' nappies - a little as though she's been eating curry!

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