Fenugreek question re supply

[mollycuddles]

Dd2 is 18 days old and exclusively breast fed. She is gaining weight well along 75th centile which is the weight she was born at and both ds and dd1 were similar sizes. Earlier this week she was clearly having a growth spurt as she was feeding every 30 mins and my nipples especially the left one were getting sore even with liberal use of lansinoh. I had big problems with cracked nipple on left with ds and dd1 - with ds I got mastitis and gave up breast feeding at 3 weeks because he was losing weight, with dd1 I managed to feed through but it was hard and as the left nipple hasn't cracked yet I am hoping it will stay that way. My left breast is bigger and more difficult to latch onto - all three dcs have had that problem although dd2 mostly gets it right - she opens her mouth really wide and I think I'm more experienced in recognising a good latch this time round. But it is less consistent when she's in feeding frenzy mode. I thought it might help to take some fenugreek alongside her increased feeding to up my supply so I did 2 days ago. I'm rubbish at remembering so have only managed 2 a day instead if the 6 suggested by kellymom. My supply is up really well so I don't think I'd risk 6 - dh says I already smell of curry so it is having an impact.

Questions

Should I keep using low dose fenugreek to help stay up with dd2's demands?

What are the downsides?

My milk is up but is it both fore and hind milk that is upped by fenugreek?

Hmm, I'm no expert on fenugreek. But your cracked nipple sounds like a latch issue. Have you had any help? Changing position slightly, just changing how you hold the baby, can make a huge difference.

molly - sorry to hear of these issues and sore nipples are horrible

Not sure why you are taking the fenugreek, though?

Most women have a perfectly ok supply as long as they respond to the baby's needs, and you're doing that.

The breasts make only one type of milk. 'Foremilk' and 'hindmilk' are labels which confuse. The more watery components of the milk, in a full breast, are available first to the baby; then as the feed progresses and milk is removed the milk becomes progressively creamier. In a less full breast the milk may be creamier from the start.

Fat content of the milk varies with the fullness of the breast, so a baby feeding very frequently on breasts which have not had much time to fill between times will have creamier milk.

On what you've said here, I can't see anything wrong with ditching the fenugreek and just feeding - and of course getting some decent help with the soreness and its causes.

Hope this helps.

Thanks tiktok. I'll stop the fenugreek then. I'm just anxious about problems that haven't happened yet. Mostly the nipples are ok but I think we both get a bit lazy with middle of the night feeds on the awkward side when she's having a feeding frenzy day. I find it a little difficult to spot a good latch on the left because it is a little bit sore at the start of every feed but it is getting clearer now. I have a painful let down sensation which confuses the issue - with dd1 the let down hurt until about 6 weeks. I just press the boob she's not feeding on which hurts more than the feeding and count down from 5 and usually the rest of the feed feels fine but there have been a couple of left boob feeds that seemed ok but the nipple comes out afterwards a bit lipsticky. These now only happen on days where she's feeding a LOT whereas in week one it was every third feed or so on the left so we're getting better at latching. I do use different positions. I think mainly I'm stressed because of the disaster that was feeding ds that led to me getting PND.

Have you tried lying down to feed on the left side?

I have found that through the day (sitting up) feeding on the left breast is more comfortable as this frees up my right hand. Whereas for the early morning and evening and night feeds the right breast is more comfortable as I prefer to lie on my right side, I seem to get a better latch sitting up on left and lying down on right.

They get roughly the same use and we are both much happier (this also nicely gives me the excuse to go have a lie down in the middle of the day!).

Thanks Morloth - yes the latch is better when I lie down on the left but with all the running around with DD1 and DS I have to feed on the left sometimes sitting up. The latch is still inconsistent but she's fed a bit less the past two days so the left nipple is less uncomfortable again. Think my left boob is just too big for her just yet. I'm being careful and she's doing well so I'll KBO.

As a fellow dodgy-left-latcher, my only advice is to try every hold. I had success with the rugby hold