[kudzuqueen]

Has anyone had particularly good success with saw palmetto? I've now pumped 3 oz at one session and 2.5 at the next (probably would have been three if I hadn't had to end the pumping session early!!), when an extremely good session for me is 2 oz, and that almost never happens during the work day. I'm literally in shock! And the only difference I can think of the past couple of days is that I started saw palmetto a few days ago...I'd actually even run out of more milk special and was waiting on my refill supply, lol!

Though I did change the type of flange today (the all-in-one shield/connector/valve one from medela) from what i usually use, I've used this one before and did not see any particular change.

I'm just hesistant to attribute the success to an herb because i've had so little luck with all the ones I've tried before. My supply has gradually increased while taking MMSpecial, but nothing like this. I saw somewhere that it's particularly helpful for PCOS gals...I don't have that to my knowledge, but maybe this is an indication..anyone else had this herb make a big difference?

 

[jeminijad]

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[Cory]

Can you tell me where you found info on saw palmetto for breastfeeding? Everything I'm finding is saying to stay away from it while breastfeeding.

 

[kudzuqueen]

I came across it in the Making More Milk book...also on a website that had referenced the MMM book and recommended for IGT first goat's rue, followed by saw palmetto and chasteberry.

I think I'd also seen someone mention it on here as being helpful. The concerns (which mainly seem to be from mainstream medical sites, that i can tell) seem to be that it effects hormones, but reading into it seems to indicate that it mostly raises prolactin, which of course helps with BM production.

 

[chicagorachel]

Hi -- I've had pretty good luck with Saw Palmetto. I've got IGT, and started Saw Palmetto a few months ago (after reading Making More Milk...). It seems to have decreased the amt of supplement my little guy takes from 16 oz to 12 oz or so. Not bad!

 

[sattygirl99]

I think I'd like to try this but I'm scared... More Milk Special Blend made me sick (I can't take Goat's Rue).

Where can I find this stuff? Will somewhere local have it, like Target? How much do I take?

Right now, I'm taking domperidone (30mgs 3 times a day and 40mgs once a day, in the middle of the day to help with that low evening supply) but that's it. I tried fenugreek with no result.

We are using donor milk and a lact-aid and I'd love to decrease what she's taking in. Right now it's been about 15 to 18 oz in supplement, I'd love to get it down to like 10 or 12 oz if I can.

 

[thepeach80]

I saw great results w/ it and fast. I took it w/ Milk Thistle b/c I could get both of those from Target and I was sick of having to go all over town or order things for milk supply. I don't take it anymore b/c I've overcome my issues, yay, but I totally reccomend it. I have mild IGT I think and sx of PCOS. SPB is reccomended for both of those.

 

[sattygirl99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thepeach80 I saw great results w/ it and fast. I took it w/ Milk Thistle b/c I could get both of those from Target and I was sick of having to go all over town or order things for milk supply. I don't take it anymore b/c I've overcome my issues, yay, but I totally reccomend it. I have mild IGT I think and sx of PCOS. SPB is reccomended for both of those.

How much should I take? Will taking it with fenugreek work or should I get Milk Thistle as well?

 

[thepeach80]

I used the Milk Thistle b/c I had just taken all of my Fenugreek (rotating herbs can help) so I got something new. I took 2 pills of the SPB 3x a day. The ones at Target are 450mg each I think. I had to take like 18 of the MT pills b/c they're only 175mg each.

 

[sattygirl99]

I've been off the fenugreek for a bit now ... I was taking 12 of those a day... Maybe I'll try 12 fenugreek and 6 SPB. I'd love to get away from supplements!

 

[thepeach80]

It's nice to not have to take 20+ pills a day and to be ebf for once! Best wishes for that.

 

[kudzuqueen]

Oddly enough, my supply has ramped back down a bit after those two "monster" sessions! I seriously pumped about double my usual workday output that day - and unless it WAS the saw palmetto, i have no idea why!! though i realized the ONLY other thing i did differently was have some Mug root beer on Monday afternoon - i'd heard some anectdotal evidence that root beer can help, though not the commercial varieties. But i didn't see an increase till almost 24 hrs later...so who knows. It certainly will be more pleasant to try that again than all these pills, lol

I got mine from a local health food store. I would so love to get my supply up to a level where I'm not stressing all the time. it takes SO much work to get 14 oz or so a day - though i'm so grateful i can make that much!

 

[sattygirl99]

Thanks peach. She IS EBF just with the help of donor milk... I don't anticipate ever being able to stop supplementing but I'd at least like to get the amount of supplement down... I can find donors to supply us with 10 oz a day but closer to 20 is a lot harder, kwim?

I got some SPB and came home and took 2 of them along with my evening domperidone. How long before I should see a difference? I don't pump (I should, I know but with a 3 yr old and a 3 month old, it's nearly impossible) so I'll have to use her as my judge...

 

[thepeach80]

Pumping would really help if you could find some time. Don't use the kid excuse card on me, just read my siggy, lol. I'm down to pumping 2x a day just for a freezer stash, but I was pumping a good 8+ x a day at one point. Galactagogues really work best if you get that extra stimulation in there as well. I saw an increase in just a few days I think.

 

[naturalmom08]

hmm, this is interesting info on saw palmetto. I've read about it in regards to its benefits for other things, but had not come across anything that said it was beneficial for breastfeeding. I will definitely have to consider trying it the next time around (I'm currently weaning dd). It would be nice to have more things to try, as the fenugreek and mother's milk tea didn't help enough for me. Have you tried oatmeal as well? That can really help. Well, I will file away this new info on saw palmetto.

 

[leigh09]

i find saw palmetto is easy to find if you look in the men's health section oddly enough -- it seems to be recommended for prostrate problems