Comments

1. Stephanie D says:

   January 9, 2010 at 9:59 pm

   Dosages of fewer than 6 capsules/day (approx 3500 mg/day) produce no effect in many women. One way to determine if you’re taking the correct dosage is to slowly increase the amount of fenugreek until your sweat and urine begin to smell like maple syrup.
   What mg capsules are you taking? You should begin by taking two capsules three times a day, and can gradually increase the dosage up to four capsules three times a day if needed.
   More dosage info here: http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksuppl…
   Possibly even more important is to determine the cause of your supposed low supply. What makes you believe you need to increase your production? Is your baby making enough wet/dirty diapers? Meeting milestones? Seeming content between feedings?
   More information on determining whether or not your supply is actually low: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-su…
   Good luck and congrats on making the wonderful decision to breastfeed your baby!
2. Ethel says:

   January 10, 2010 at 1:15 am

   So, you can take as many as you want as fenugreek has a precursor for prolactin but doesn’t contain prolactin. What this means is your body will metabolize as much as it needs into prolactin to stimulate milk production, it does somewhat push the molecular equation but not by much.
   However, it is possible to overproduce – although I have never experience that, and some brands are higher potency then others. You need to experiment, for me 2 tablets three times a day was sufficient to produce enough to satisfy my babies and I only used it initially since they were large (9lbs+) babies. Basically you have more then enough when your breath, urine and sweat smells like maple syrup (fenugreek is used as artificial maple syrup flavor).
3. parental unit says:

   January 10, 2010 at 4:54 am

   I take 12 of the 600mg pills a day. It sounds like a lot, but it takes that much for me to see a difference in milk production. I’d start with 6 a day and see if it has an effect, and increase by 2 pills a day if needed.
4. cryssi16 says:

   January 10, 2010 at 6:10 am

   3 tablets 3 times a day
5. stephani says:

   January 10, 2010 at 11:52 am

   2 capsules three times a day
6. mystic_e says:

   January 10, 2010 at 3:19 pm

   http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksuppl…
   Dosages of less than 6 capsules/day (approx 3500 mg/day) produce no effect in many women. One way to determine if you’re taking the correct dosage is to slowly increase the amount of fenugreek until your sweat and urine begin to smell like maple syrup. If you’re having problems with any side effects, discontinue use and consider alternative methods of increasing milk supply.
   Fenugreek can be used either short-term to boost milk supply or long-term to augment supply and/or pumping yields. There are no studies indicating problems with long-term usage. Per Kathleen Huggins “Most mothers have found that the herb can be discontinued once milk production is stimulated to an appropriate level. Adequate production is usually maintained as long as sufficient breast stimulation and emptying continues” [Huggins].
   [...]
   Safety
   Fenugreek is used to flavor artificial maple syrup, and is used as a common food ingredient (curries, chutneys, etc.) and traditional medicine in many parts of the world, including India, Greece, China, north Africa and the Middle East. It is a basic ingredient of curry powder (often used in Indian cooking) and the Five Spice mixtures (used in Asian cooking). It is also eaten as a salad and sprouted.
   Fenugreek is considered safe for nursing moms when used in moderation and is on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s GRAS list (Generally Recognized As Safe). As with most medications and herbs, various side effects have been noted; see the side effects and safety information below.
   Per Hale [Hale 2002], “The transfer of fenugreek into milk is unknown, but untoward effects have not been reported.” Hale classifies it in Lactation Risk Category L3 (moderately safe).
   Possible side effects and cautions
   * Sweat and urine smells like maple syrup; milk and/or breastfed baby may smell like maple syrup.
   * Occasionally causes loose stools, which go away when fenugreek is discontinued.
   * Use of more than 100 grams of fenugreek seeds daily can cause intestinal distress and nausea (recommended dose is less than 8 grams per day).
   * Repeated external applications can result in undesirable skin reactions [Wichtl 1994].
   * Ingestion of fenugreek seeds or tea in infants or late-term pregnant women can lead to false diagnosis of maple syrup urine disease in the infant due to presence of sotolone in the urine. See [Korman 2001] and other studies on fenugreek and maple syrup urine smell.