The ABC’s of Breastfeeding: Fenugreek
Fenugreek is one of the most common herbs recommended for mothers to take for boosting a mother's milk supply. Although I'll address some of its efficacy shortly, I'd like to emphasize that if you are worried about your milk supply or having difficulties nursing, please reach out to in-person help first! Attend a La Leche League meeting, find a lactation educator in your area, contact your local hospital and ask if they have a breastfeeding support group... so many mothers struggle with concerns about nursing that can be addressed with better breastfeeding practices, not with additional supplements.
Soooo... what is Fenugreek? It's an herb with origins in the near east. It's still used to flavor many dishes the world over: India, Iran, Turkey, Egypt. And because I'm a geeky historian doula, I also must share that its name derives from a Latin -> middle French phrase meaning "Greek hay." Somehow fenugreek sounds better....
The research on its efficacy for milk production is mixed. Some studies seem to indicate that it works well, some studies show no difference whatsoever on supply. As one review put it: "... mothers of healthy neonates treated with a fenugreek tea 3 times daily produced significantly more breast milk than mothers in the placebo group, while in another study, mothers of full-term neonates who were treated with 600-mg capsules of fenugreek seeds 3 times daily for 1 month did not show a significant difference in milk production compared with the placebo group..."
Does this mean you should never take it? Not necessarily; especially when we still know so very little about breast milk production (although we learn more every day!), if you have exhausted all other resources, it seems like the study with tea consumption should not be ignored. It also certainly seems safer than Reglan, which is contraindicated for women with a history of depression. Kellymom, one of my favorite nursing resources, has a great article on how to figure out dosing.
These studies do underscore the importance of the opening paragraph, though: really, please talk to someone in person if there are concerns! Nursing is hard work and comes with a steep learning curve at the beginning, no matter how "natural" it is. It is something the vast majority of women *can* do, though; of course there are special cases, but working with a professional can help you establish where you might need to be someone who considers Fenugreek, if there are other ways you can help your nursing relationship, or if there are more fundamental concerns.