Fenugreek is used to increase milk supply.
When I was exclusively pumping and about 4 weeks post-partum, I used Fenugreek to boost my supply.I was able to get my supply up from 24oz per day to 35oz in a week or so by taking it and consistently pumping for two hours a day.
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Fenugreek is a plant.Its main uses are in Indian and Persian cuisine and as a galactagogue for breastfeeding mothers.
A galactagogue increases the amount of milk produced by a mammal.It would increase your milk supply.
Not much clinical research has been done on how and why different galactagogues work.They work by increasing prolactin levels.
Domperidone is a drug that works by blocking dopamine and thus helps increase milk supply.
You can get it online from a number of places.It can be found in the vitamins section of most grocery stores.
Most of the time, the capsule comes in 610mg.For a total of six capsule per day, the consultants recommend taking 2 capsule 3 times a day with food.If you don't have any side effects at this amount, you can gradually increase the dosage up to 4 capsule, 3 times per day.There is more information here.
It is possible to smell maple syrup and know that it is working.It will smell like you went on a pancake bender.Your baby may begin to smell that way as well.
Most of the time the fenugreek won't do anything for you if you smell like maple syrup.You won't smell like maple syrup and nothing will happen if you take 6 610mg a day, but you need 9.You have to get the dose all the way to where you need it to be to benefit from the 6 capsules.
If you consistently take fenugreek and continue with a good pumping schedule, you should see an increase in your pumping output in 24 to 72 hours.
No.It works for many women, but not all, and not much clinical research has been done about its effectiveness.
About a third of the people who tried it thought it worked.
Once your milk supply has leveled out, you can stop taking fenugreek.
To maintain your newly increased milk supply, you need to keep removing this amount of breastmilk from your breasts.You should be okay if you stick to your pumping schedule.
There is always risk when taking supplements.The opposite effect of what they wanted has been noticed by some women.If you want to increase supply first, you should try other methods.
Some mothers have noticed that their babies become picky after they start taking fenugreek.It is worth stopping and seeing if it is causing an upset stomach for your baby.