Fenugreek, Miracle or Not?

For those who don't know, I exclusively pump to feed my baby. Starting out, I made more than enough milk. I even was able to stock some in my freezer because I was producing more than what my baby needed every day. It was incredible, knowing that even though breastfeeding didn't work out, I could still provide nourishment for my little one.

Well, after Christmas time, I noticed a decrease in my supply. I'm not sure how it all happened honestly.  I think I had a bad day or so when I wasn't able to keep up with the demands of pumping around the clock. Maybe it's because I dropped one or two pumping sessions a day. But since then, I haven't been able to keep up. I was forced to buy formula to supplement that extra bottle or so my baby needed at the end of the day to go to sleep.

Lately though, after going through several cans of formula, (which are in no way cheap), I've been looking for different ways to boost my supply! I miss having a stock of milk in my freezer for back up! So instead of first trying to pump more often, I decided to turn to fenugreek.

I had heard so many great things about it; how it boosts milk supply. I even heard of a woman who tripled her supply by taking it! So I had to try it out!

Well, I've been taking it for a little over a week now, and I have been hopeful... But even taking the max dose, (3 capsules, 3 times a day) I haven't seen my supply increase. Maybe by an ounce or so a day, but not enough to be worth buying this again. I will continue to take it and finish what I have though. I heard sometimes it can take 2 weeks for it to have an effect, but by golly I smell like maple syrup! It's a normal side effect, but it means I'm taking enough.

In the meantime, I think I will just have to resort to pumping more. These last few days, I've embraced my pump, and I've now managed to squeeze in two extra sessions a day. I do pump more than I did before, but I still have to give my baby formula. She's a growing girl!

I hope this fenugreek does end up working for me. I could really use a break. I want to have enough supply so I can store enough to feed her to her 1st birthday and beyond. I'd like to quit pumping before she hits that turning point, but I might not be so lucky.

Until next time. I'll post an update with my results when I figure out if it works for me or not!

Lesly