reastfeeding her baby is the best satisfying moment for every mother. Some mothers will breastfeed their children for a long time, while some will stop within a few months. The main reason why young mothers stop breastfeeding earlier is the feeling of not producing enough milk to satisfy the baby. Although most of these cases are just their thought, some women will seriously lack enough milk supply due to any maternal illness or any breast surgeries. There are some natural and pharmaceutical medications available to help such women produce more milk. Fenugreek Herb is one of those natural herbs that can help increase the milk supply. It has many other health benefits also. The different forms a mother can take Fenugreek are listed below.

Forms of Fenugreek intake

• Tea– Tea made using Fenugreek leaves or powder two to three times a day

• Powder or Seeds– Fenugreek is also available as powder and seeds that you can mix with water

• Capsules– Fenugreek is available as capsules with dosages of 500 mg, 580 mg, and 610 mg; 610 mg capsules are most common

Fenugreek increases breast milk supply

Mainly concentrated in Asia and the Middle East, millions of women use Fenugreek to improve the milk supply. Although only a few conclusive results were provided based on the small extent research done, most mothers consider Fenugreek as their first choice. It is found that taking 600 mg capsules three times a day can increase a mother’s milk supply by 20 percentages on average. The stimulation of lactic glands by the Fenugreek seeds or powder increases the supply of milk. 

Duration and Dosages 

Every human body is different. Some can produce more milk with minimum use of the herb for a short period, while some may take a long time to experience improvement. To see a change, it may take a minimum of 2 to 3 days to a maximum of 2 to 3 weeks. But there will be a definite change in production. 

A minimum of 3500 mg per day is required to feel the improvement as women who took less dose did not show any results. Taking Fenugreek will make your sweat and urine smell like maple. If you don’t get the maple smell, it can be because you didn’t take enough of the herb to improve the milk supply.

Side effects of taking Fenugreek

Although Fenugreek consumption can create a noticeable increase in the milk supply in most women, there are some side effects. Some of them are listed here.

• You should avoid Fenugreek if you have peanut or chickpea allergy since Fenugreek is also from the same family

• Fenugreek can produce some difficulties with the people having asthma

• A doctor’s consultation is essential for mother’s having hyperthyroidism
• Fenugreek will reduce insulin levels in the blood, so diabetic patients will have to look for insulin dosages before using the herb

• Fenugreek also lowers glucose levels causing hypoglycemia in some mothers

Conclusion

There is no sufficient clinical proof for the benefits of using Fenugreek to increase the breast milk supply in women. However, a majority of mothers in the Central World and Asia are using the herb for ages and getting benefits from that. Unless you are not having any issues in the body that can be interacted with Fenugreek, you can have it without any side effects. It is always recommended to seek advice from a lactation consultant to know your supply levels and how the herb can help you produce more milk for your baby.

https://www.healthline.com/health/breastfeeding/fenugreek-breastfeeding#alternativeshttps://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/herbs/fenugreek/

https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/breastfeeding/fenugreek-breastfeeding/

https://utswmed.org/medblog/fenugreek-breast-milk-supply/#:~:text=Fenugreek%2C%20a%20type%20of%20seed,way%20to%20boost%20your%20production.