Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle Breastfeeding Questions

Mandy - posted on 03/04/2012

I see a lot of people saying that they smell like maple syrup after only a few days of taking fenugreek… does your skin or milk smell like it?? Is that what they mean??

Kathy - posted on 07/16/2011

The main thing is to keep breastfeeding LOTS while you're taking these galactogogues.

Michelle - posted on 07/15/2011

Also try Goat's Rue, made a big difference for me! I've been taking Motherlove Special Blend (bought it on Amazon) and went from making
16 oz a day to 24 oz per day in just a few days.

Kathy - posted on 12/19/2010

Just a comment - there is little scientific evidence that galactogogues (substances believed to increase milk supply)such as fenugreek and blessed thistle actually work: however, many mums have found them useful. Your lactation consultant should be able to give specific dosages for you. I would suggest, however, that whatever you take, you should also feed more frequently, as this is the best way to increase your milk supply - the more your baby feeds, the more breast milk will be produced. You need to make sure that your supply really is low - if your baby has 6-8 wet nappies per day, your supply is probably fine. Please don't judge your supply on what you can pump, as baby's sucking is far more efficient.

Here is a table of comments about various herbal galactogogues
http://www.ilca.org/files/resources/Heal...

Jennifer - posted on 12/19/2010

when i needed use fenugreek, i had to take 3, 610 mg capsules, 3 times a day. after 3 days is when i noticed the increase in my supply and the smell. because i exclusively pump, i had supply troubles about a month or 2 later and found that the fenugreek no longer worked for me, as though i built up a tolerance for it. there is a product called "more milk plus" by the motherlove company. i highly recommend it, it worked really really well for me.



if you are actually nursing, and not exclusively pumping, then your best bet is to stop all supplementation and only put baby to breast. your breasts will only make as much as they are told to make and giving bottles tells your body to make less milk. your milk production should be based on diaper counts, not weight gain. as long as baby is not losing weight, your milk is fine. all babies will gain weight at different rates, some babies just naturally gain slower than others and there is nothing wrong with that. as long as you are able to produce any milk, you can produce enough for your baby. have faith in your body and put that baby to breast!

Jessica - posted on 12/19/2010

I have breastfeed my son for 6 months and havent given him formula or anything and my milk supply just started going down. I smell like maple syrup so I guess its working its just not to the flow I would like it to be. Since I am smelling like maple syrup should I just stick to the 3 pills twice a day? Should I try Blessed Thistle to help breastfeeding?

Teri - posted on 12/19/2010

I'd ask a lactation consultant -- I took 3 caps twice a day of fenugreek, and took 2 of bleesed thislte while breastfeeding. The lactation consultant told me that I have to smell like maple syrup (exude the fenugreek) to have it work. but again I'd check.



i also ate oatmeal every day with flax seed meal mixed in (also milk boosters) you can also do power feeding or pumping sessions. the pump power session is 20 min on pump, 20 mins off, 20 mins on again, 20 min on, and repeat one more time.



Good luck - I found it was harder to boost my supply after 5 mos pp... but it is possible.

Jessica - posted on 12/18/2010

I am taking Fenugreek and I take 3 pills twice a day and I am about to start taking 4 pills twice a day since I am not seeing much of a difference. I heard about Blessed Thistle for breastfeeding and wanted to know can you take them both together and just some basic info on Blessed Thistle breastfeeding interactions. Also where would I get it at?

Stefanie - posted on 01/15/2010

Well, it wasn't meant to be. I notice no difference in my milksupply. I am still supplementing. I quess it just don't work with me. But I am proud to still breastfeed even though he needs the bottle. My personal record. So just one question left. Since it don't seem to work, would it effect my current Milksupply if I stop taking fenugreek and blessed thistle? I just don't wanna stop and then my milk will vanish.

April - posted on 01/12/2010

I smelled like maple syrup within 2 days.

Amy - posted on 01/08/2010

what worked best for me was mother's milk tea by traditional medicinals and blessed thistle. for some reason, my son snubbed the "flavor" my milk got with plain fenugreek. no idea why he did, but i sure had extra milk!

Stefanie - posted on 01/08/2010

Thanks for your answers on fenugreek and blessed thistle for breastfeeding. Currently I am taking 2 x fenugreek and 1 blessed thistle 3 times a day. I really can't tell if I smell like maple syrup yet. After how many days should the smell come?

Rebecca - posted on 01/06/2010

To know whether or not you are taking enough Fenugreek is: You need to take enough so that you and your sweat and urine smell like maple syrup. If you dont smell like it you are not taking enough and can up your dosage.

April - posted on 01/06/2010

My lactation consultant recommended 3 100mg tablets three times a day for a total of 9 caplets each day. She said that the dosage is the same for both Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle.

In order to make sure your supply isn't affected by supplementing, pump each time that you supplement. Otherwise your breasts may get the message that you don't really need that extra milk.

Stefanie - posted on 01/01/2010

Dear Naomi

My son is 13 weeks old. I started supplementing him when He was like 7 weeks. Only at night before he goes to bed. Then I started to give him some after some feeding, because he wasn't really gaining that much. He was born 7 lbs 11 oz and at his 2 month check up he was 9 lbs 6 oz. Then I gave him after ever feed, which turned into every 6 hours nurse, 6 hours bottle. My milk started to decrease. SO I went back to nurse everytime and then bottle, which helped me to get some milk back, at least I think/hope so. BTW doctor recommended Supplementing and I could tell myself he wasn't happy. May I ask you how long it took to go back to EBF? I mean, I don't really now if those pills help or not. I really like BF and it is an adventure and it is new to BF a BIG baby as he is. My older girls I only BF 1 month or so. THis is my personal record so far. I mean even if it not works I am happy to continue the way it is now. I did go to a BF clinic in the beginning. SHould I try to head back there and see what they say? Idk. Oh, happy new Year. ;)

Naomi - posted on 12/31/2009

in answer to your second question, we had to supplement at the beginning for 5 weeks, under the supervision of a specialist, and what we did was always nurse first, 15 mins each side, or till done (if your babies really young like a week or two old a longer nursing session may cause him get tired of trying to get the milk out and fall asleep before he's really had what he needs. older babies not such a big deal, they'll stay awake till full ;P) then we supplemented just until he was satisfied. all the while taking all the herbs and stuff. I had tinctures so I can't really comment about the amount of tablets to take. we had a chart where we wrote down how much formula he took each day, and every day he took less and less as my milk supply increased until one day he just stopped taking the bottle!! If you have been told by a lactation specialist that your child needs the supplements, then keep doing this, always nursing first, while taking the herbs. since you dont' need the bottle in the night, it sounds like you're already on track! Good luck! Its hard but so worth it to graduate to EBF!

Stefanie - posted on 12/31/2009

Thanks for your answers. Since I am taking both Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle for breastfeeding I started on 1 pill 3 times a day each. Will see if that works. But I still have a stupid question. Do I have to stop supplementing to make it work or will those pills increase it (if it works) no matter what? SO far I am still giving him during the day 3 oz after nursing to make him satisfied. At night I breast feed.

Huda - posted on 12/30/2009

for me I am taking only Fenugreek capsules but not in a regular basis since even before starting on it the milksupply was not the same every day depend on fluid intake your physical and psychological status ,so I started taking 1capsule 2times daily but incase I feel that my milk is not enough or my breasts are softer than it should be I take 1-2 or 3more capsules,and I can feel the milk increase after two days, the one Iam using recommended 2caps x3.
dont forget the importance of fluid intake 2 to 3 letters daily, rest well and enjoy feeding your angel.

Nicole - posted on 12/30/2009

I think different suppliers pack different concentrations into their tablets. If the bottles are giving you a range, I'd start at the low end, personally. I took Blessed Thistle while breastfeeding and I took one tablet 3 times a day as listed on the bottle I had. I did notice an improvement within 2 days.

Jessica - posted on 12/19/2010

I have breastfeed my son for 6 months and havent given him formula or anything and my milk supply just started going down. I smell like maple syrup so I guess its working its just not to the flow I would like it to be. Since I am smelling like maple syrup should I just stick to the 3 pills twice a day? Should I try Blessed Thistle to help breastfeeding?

Teri - posted on 12/19/2010

I'd ask a lactation consultant -- I took 3 caps twice a day of fenugreek, and took 2 of bleesed thislte while breastfeeding. The lactation consultant told me that I have to smell like maple syrup (exude the fenugreek) to have it work. but again I'd check.



i also ate oatmeal every day with flax seed meal mixed in (also milk boosters) you can also do power feeding or pumping sessions. the pump power session is 20 min on pump, 20 mins off, 20 mins on again, 20 min on, and repeat one more time.



Good luck - I found it was harder to boost my supply after 5 mos pp... but it is possible.

Jessica - posted on 12/18/2010

I am taking Fenugreek and I take 3 pills twice a day and I am about to start taking 4 pills twice a day since I am not seeing much of a difference. I heard about Blessed Thistle for breastfeeding and wanted to know can you take them both together and just some basic info on Blessed Thistle breastfeeding interactions. Also where would I get it at?

Stefanie - posted on 01/15/2010

Well, it wasn't meant to be. I notice no difference in my milksupply. I am still supplementing. I quess it just don't work with me. But I am proud to still breastfeed even though he needs the bottle. My personal record. So just one question left. Since it don't seem to work, would it effect my current Milksupply if I stop taking fenugreek and blessed thistle? I just don't wanna stop and then my milk will vanish.

Stefanie - posted on 01/08/2010

Thanks for your answers on fenugreek and blessed thistle for breastfeeding. Currently I am taking 2 x fenugreek and 1 blessed thistle 3 times a day. I really can't tell if I smell like maple syrup yet. After how many days should the smell come?

Stefanie - posted on 12/31/2009

Thanks for your answers. Since I am taking both Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle for breastfeeding I started on 1 pill 3 times a day each. Will see if that works. But I still have a stupid question. Do I have to stop supplementing to make it work or will those pills increase it (if it works) no matter what? SO far I am still giving him during the day 3 oz after nursing to make him satisfied. At night I breast feed.

Nicole - posted on 12/30/2009

I think different suppliers pack different concentrations into their tablets. If the bottles are giving you a range, I'd start at the low end, personally. I took Blessed Thistle while breastfeeding and I took one tablet 3 times a day as listed on the bottle I had. I did notice an improvement within 2 days.