Long-term effects of Fenugreek? I have no milk without it!

[TheDivineMrsM]

My supply was low, so I started taking fenugreek (as per the lactation consultant I hired to help me). But now it seems like I have no supply w/o it. When I take it, I feel my breasts refilling after DD nurses. She's filling diapers, naps well, and is generally happy. When I try to wean myself off, my breasts feel empty constantly. She barely poops, is fussy, and chronically cries after feedings that she's hungry. 

Can I stay on it? Will it hurt her? Help!

[chfriend]

Here's kellymom on fenugreek: http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/fenugreek.html

I used it for 1.5 years with no obvious ill effects. I also drank non-alcoholic dark beer (O'Doul's Amber) and ate oatmeal each morning. Also, adequate water and sleeping as much as I could manage. Co-sleeping so night nursing kept up supply.

Very very worth it.

[TheDivineMrsM]

Originally Posted by chfriend 

Here's kellymom on fenugreek: http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/fenugreek.html

I used it for 1.5 years with no obvious ill effects. I also drank non-alcoholic dark beer (O'Doul's Amber) and ate oatmeal each morning. Also, adequate water and sleeping as much as I could manage. Co-sleeping so night nursing kept up supply.

Very very worth it.

Other than the beer, I'm doing the same things. I didn't realize co-sleeping was good for supply; I thought that was only skin-to-skin contact that helped. I'll mention it to my ILs the next time they give me a hard time about putting the baby in bed with DH and I!
 

[dewey2]

I loved fenugreek too, it worked great!  I last took it when my son was 3 months old (now he's 6 months) but I stopped because he would get fussier and gassier with it.  But I'm having supply problems again so I might need to start again.  Does anyone by chance know if maybe he'll handle it better now that he's older?