Side Effects of Fenugreek?

[Lu28]

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced side effects while using Fenugreek?

I took my normal dose for 2 days about 5 days ago and started feeling pretty awful - extremely bloated, cramps, back pain and nausea. The one thing I didn't get was the maple syrup smell which I had previously managed to get after one day of use and it didn't affect my milk production at all even though it has worked when I took it before. I stopped taking it and gradually started feeling better although I still had a couple of bad days. Because I had felt bad once while not taking it, I gave it another go today. Took my morning dose and within a few hours I felt dreadful to the extent that DH wanted me to go to the doc. I've just slept for a couple of hours and feel alot better although it's building up again.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar? Almost feels as though I have a certain amount built up in my system now and adding to it pushes me over the edge....

Also is there anything else I can take to try to increase milk supply?

Thanks!

 

[Mervs Mum]

I was fine but I didnt use it for long. I suppose you can have a reaction to anything cant you.



Are you eating porridge for breakie?? Thats a good one

 

[Lu28]

Ooh, I didn't know about porridge, I'll give that a shot, yum!

 

[massacubano]

My husband went out to buy it and never could find some. So, glad to know it has side effects if I do buy some.

hope you sort it out hun!

 

[asacia]

What is making you think you need to boost your supply? What have you already tried?

 

[Lu28]

Just because I generally express 3 times a day to build up a stock for the freezer and to let Aisling have a bottle of EBM at night so DH can help out and to get the bedtime routine over as soon as possible. I used to express at least 260ml or so a day and now it's down to 180ml max. She's getting enough when she feeds from me, it's just to boost the amount I express really.

 

[asacia]

Just because I generally express 3 times a day to build up a stock for the freezer and to let Aisling have a bottle of EBM at night so DH can help out and to get the bedtime routine over as soon as possible. I used to express at least 260ml or so a day and now it's down to 180ml max. She's getting enough when she feeds from me, it's just to boost the amount I express really.

Ah right!

When you express, how long are you expressing for? Are you double pumping?

To boost supply it is usually recommended to pump for 15-20 minutes (each side), and until a few minutes after the last drop of milk.

Could you add another pumping session?

There is a good guide to increasing supply here:
https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/pumping_decrease.html

 

[elm]

hope you're totally over it tomorrow xxx

I didn't have any side effects when I took it for a few days. Think I need to try it again though as I need to start building a milk stash - last time I hardly pumped any x

eta. kellymom says - 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).

x

 

[sam#3]

the only side effect i had was that EVERYTHING stank of maple syrup...... my sweat, my wee, my clothes...prob even my breath in the end!!!!
Hope the others suggestions help sort your supply problems xx

 

[Hope22]

For us the only side effect is that Darwin positively reeks of maple syrup. My pee smells awful, but people tell me I don't smell like syrup (or anything else strange). I haven't notice anything unpleasant, but I'm not sure it's helping with my supply any more either.

 

[Lu28]

I've been pumping for about 15 minutes on both sides but alot of the time the milk stops after about 5 minutes... I'll try building it up again without the fenugreek - can't be sure it was a side effect but I'm not taking the risk of trying again!