But do supplements to increase milk supply actually work? And more importantly, are they safe? Fenugreek is an herb that might have a hormonal effect on the body , leading to higher milk production. Both fenugreek and blessed thistle are anecdotally said to be galactagogues, which are any substances that increase milk supply. You might have heard this about oatmeal and dark beer, too. There are also prescription medications, like domperidone, that are also used to increase milk supply.
Its extract is used to flavor maple syrup, so ingesting fenugreek in higher doses can make you smell like maple syrup, too. As far as milk production goes, paediatrician Jack Newman, chairman of the Canadian Breastfeeding Foundation , and founder of a well-known breastfeeding support centre, notes that when fenugreek works, it works quickly, increasing your supply within hours.
It can be taken as a capsule, or sometimes as a tea or tincture. But the quantities are lower, so you would have to drink a lot of tea to get the same effect as the concentrated capsules. Women drink anywhere from one to five cups per day, and results are pretty mixed. Is domperidone really a magic breastfeeding pill? The short answer: maybe. Plenty of moms have tried them and found their supply increased; plenty others saw no difference whatsoever.
According to the Drugs and Lactation Database often referred to as LactMed , there have been a handful of studies about the effects of fenugreek on breastfeeding, but no statistically significant data seems to have been found.
In most of the studies, no greater volume of breastmilk was noted after the participants took it. And as Borton notes, even the studies that found an increase were insufficient: the sample sizes were small the majority had less than 50 participants ; best practices around breastfeeding were missing like receiving lactation support and breastfeeding on demand ; and basic standards like randomization, blinding, and placebo control were not performed.
Baby may experience the same side effects. For a comprehensive list, click here. For more help giving your supply a boost, check out 8 ways to increase your breastmilk supply. Lansinoh Moms' Club Fenugreek and milk supply. What is it and does it work? What is Fenugreek? How much should I take? How do I take it?
Capsules are most popular, but fenugreek is also available as a powder, seeds, tincture or tea. What's the connection to maple syrup? What about allergies? Does it interact with medicine? Are there side effects for me? I only recommend products I love!
More info here. Fenugreek is an herb. Its primary uses are as an herb or spice in Indian and Persian cuisine and as a galactagogue for breastfeeding mothers. A galactagogue is a substance food or drug that increases the amount of milk produced by a mammal. Thus, you would take it to increase your milk supply.
Not much clinical research has been done as far as how and why different galactagogues work — especially herbal galactogogues like fenugreek and blessed thistle. Generally, they work by increasing prolactin levels. Domperidone, for example, is a drug galactagogue that works by blocking dopamine receptors , which prevents inhibition of prolactin release and thus helps increase milk supply.
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