Fenugreek and breastfeeding

[hubbahubster]

With DC1 I had an ELCS due to low placenta. It was also anterior, so incision was through the placenta and I lost loads of blood, had pretty much zero milk supply despite constant feeding/pumping and eventually ended up FF.

I'm now 35 weeks with DC2 and in exactly the same position with placenta, so it looks like another ELCS and more massive blood loss. I asked my midwife about taking fenugreek supplements to increase milk supply in anticipation, but she was clueless. Has anyone had success with this? Do you need to wait until you've had baby to start taking it?

I took it, but didn't start until my dd was about 10 weeks old so I didn't feel it made much difference.

It did however, make my body odour really bad, I smelt like curry for a long time even after I stopped taking it.

Definitely try it but bear in mind it could make u a bit smelly.

I tried these but didn't notice any difference, sorry. I remember smelling a bit like maple syrup though!

My milk was also delayed after an EMCS. I tried a fennel tea (I think it was by Neuners and was called something like nursing tea, I got it on amazon but later found it in my local health food shop) and it seemed to make a real difference to supply. Potentially coincidental, maybe my supply was boosted by other things, but I will definitely use it again. I ended up quite liking the taste, too!

I took it when DS was struggling with a tongue tie. It did make me smell a bit of curry but it was great at increasing my supply. I got capsules from Holland and Barrett.

I've taken it with both DS1 and 2. I didn't have much success with it but did have the odd body odour problem. It also gave me dreadful stomach problems and I spent an awful lot of time in the loo.

DS2 had a lip tie which caused us massive problems, plus I had a haemorrhage. I was lucky enough to find a GP who prescribed me domperidone - that definitely worked for me.

I took the capsules from Holland and Barrett, it did increase my supply a bit but not as much as I'd hoped. It made me smell like a curry after a week or so though.