Fenugreek & Blessed thistle - Help Im struggling.

[goddess25]

I am already on DOmperidone to increase my milk supply but want to come off it as its giving me lots of gas pains and cramps.. have been taking it for about 9 weeks. I started taking fenugreek and blessed thistle yesterday in the hope that this will keep up my supply, I have real problems swallowing large pills and at the moment am torturing myself 3 times a day for 3 caps each. I dont mind as long as it works. HAs anyone else tried this, was it effective? Did it increase your supply by much? DO you still have to breast pump along with feeding? This whole situation is starting to get to me now. My supply is not great and I have to supplement during the day and esp in the evening... I dont want to give up bf hoping to get to 6 months. I feel like such a failure as a mother and trying my best but no matter what I am doing nothing so far seems to work very well.

 

[princessellie]

fenugreek worked for me at first but my supply is really lagging now as im having to supplement with formula so my boobs think their job is over lol, but yes, fenugreek works, it makes me STINK though lol

x

 

[Mervs Mum]

What makes you think your supply isnt good?? When did you start supplimenting??

 

[goddess25]

When he was born he latched on really well but fell asleep very quickly so my supply was never really established. I have been bf maybe 70% of the day supplementing once in the day and once at night. my mw prescribed me domperidone when he was 3 weeks old, my boobs feel empty, he cries and fusses after each feed, still frantically trying to latch on, while he is on the boob he makes frustrated noises and moves around alot trying to find more milk and at this point there is none when i try to express

 

[Mervs Mum]

When did you start to suppliment??

 

[goddess25]

i cant quite remember but it was around 3-4 weeks of age after a discussion with midwife. so 7-8 weeks ago roughly. does this make a big difference?

 

[Aussie Jen]

You could try a nursing tea similar to Weleda Nursing Tea. Info:

Weleda Nursing Tea for breastfeeding mothers is a traditional, nourishing tonic that helps support healthy breast milk production and is beneficial for the digestive system of both mother and baby.

Pleasant tasting with an aromatic fragrance.

Easy & convinient to prepare.

- Carum carvi (Caraway): Supports the absorption of iron in the breast feeding mother. Carminative and antispasmodic action supports the digestive system by helping to relieve indigestion, colic, flatulence (gas), bloating and fullness.

- Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel seed): Used as a galactagogue to promote the secretion of milk in nursing mothers. Carminative and antispasmodic actions help to relieve indigestion, colic, fullness and flatulence.

- Pimpinella anisum (Aniseed): Used as a galactagogue' to promote the secretion of milk in nursing mothers and supports the absorption of iron. Carminative and anti-inflammatory actions help to relieve indigestion, colic, fullness, flatulence.

- Lemon verbena : used to add a lemony flavour. In addition, it has anti-Candida albicans activity

HTH. Other than that, you could see a lactation consultant who will work with you one-on-one in your specific situation.

All the best, hun.

 

[Mervs Mum]

I just wondered how hard a habit to break it would be. What made her think you had supply issues hun?? x

 

[goddess25]

i told her that he was crying after most feeds, getting very frustrated when feeding wriggling, making noises generally getting upset after about 5 mins he is suckling hard but no swallowing follows, and i cant express anything at this point so midwife told me i had a poor supply.

I bought a breast pump and started bpumping after every feed and between for about a week to try to increase it, it didnt make any difference at this point i started taking domperidone which has not made much of a difference either so i discussed it with midwife and i started supplementing.

Started fenugreek a few days ago as i really want to just bf but dont know what else i can do to try to increase the supply, doing everything oatmeal, fennel tea, breast pumping, fenugreek and domperidone....i think i may just have to accept i have a low supply and thats it.

my son latches on very well and does his job fine.

 

[Mervs Mum]

So you do sound to be trying everything possible hun.

If you really want to exclusively BF, the only way is to stop the top up. I appreciate that this probably feels like an impossible thing to do. The only way to get your supply to match his demand is to keep doing all the things you are doing ( I wouldnt bother pumping TBH though) and to keep putting him to the breast but not give the suppliment. When I had been topping up early on this is what I had to do. It's incredibly hard though honey. I did get to the point where I yelled at my husband to 'GET ME A BOTTLE' because I couldnt listen to her cry anymore. But then we turned a corner and we got to exclusive BFing, which was important to me also.

It's doable but you will need support and an iron will. But if you dont want to and your current arrangement is working then that's ok too.

Dont feel like a failure honey - from what I've read you have done everything right

 

[Mervs Mum]

Oh and another part of it for me and I think this goes right though BFing, is the belief in yourself. And with everything that you've been trying and that the MW is telling you to suppliment, I imagine it's very hard to believe in your own abilities