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?

[Adey]

I know this thread is old, but I want to get off the fenugreek too and fear i'll have to be on it all year. To CHFRIEND, do you see any effects of your son or daughter from EBF with the fenugreek that long? It really works!