Thanks for this article. bit scared to read the links, as ive already taken it. On day one of taking it, i got my period, and it was horrific! the pain, the blood, i wondered if Fenugreek was to blame (as i have never vbeen one to have horric period pain, but ive not really been reg either) so very interesting.

I live by the following breast feeding guide.

Drink around 1 1/2 to 3L of fluid per day not tea or coffee.

Drink only 1-2 cups of coffee or tea as caffiene reduces your milk supply

Do not drink alcohol as it contaminates the breast milk and it reduces your supply.

Eat a healthy diet and take a multi vitamin pregnancy tablet, this helps enrich the breast milk.

Watch some food as it causes colic like garlic, onion, chives and anything from that group of foods, cabbage and some sauces like tomato, bbq and pasta sauces have a tendency to cause colic.

Don't take anything over the counter or herbal concotions/remedies without consulting your pharmcist. Suprisingly they love sharing there knowledge and helping you find suitable solutions to your problems. Mine are great and always take the time to help me whenever I've asked.

Proper breast care from around 5 mths using a breast cream and rolling the nipples around between your thumb and finger to toughen them up. Continue cream for at least 4mths after birth or longer if you get itchy nipples a sign of cracking. Wash breast daily with soap and water.

Never change your shower el or soap until baby is a month old and knows your smell.

After showering and cream, express a little milk and rubbed on nipples for the baby to smell.

Decide before birth if you'll use a nipple shield or not ..........not so affective when there older!!!!!!!

Feed in a quiet place with no distruption and relax!

Great advice Arna! Definately a warning, you should always ask a professional no matter the circumstances, people on Anti D's should avoid St Johns Wort and theres another which I can't remember but always be careful what you put in your bodies!

Cheers Raven

Thanks for the advice.  I would recommend seeking alternatives to medicinal substances first.  Pumping after feeds, drinking plenty of fluids, keeping up a healthy diet, and resting when possible will help to increase supply.  There are tested and controlled conventional medications such as metocloprimide (maxalon) and domperidone that can be used if the first line techniques are not successful.  Many people make the mistake of thinking that natural is safer, but natural is less tested, sometimes unproven, variable in its dosage and reaction and do have side effects.  If it works, then it is acting like a drug, then it is a drug- natural or otherwise.  I have added a link to my advice to explain further.  Ask advice from a lactation consultant or paediatrician.

Oh you poor things , I hope you are getting over it all now. 

  I had always thought   fenugreek as being healthy,  Thanks for leting us know

When I was feeding my son ,  the going recommendation was,  to drink three glasses a day of Guinness. I got quite a tast for it. I'm not sure whether it helped,  Maybe the idea was to relax the mom so that way creating more milk than if she was stressed?  I do know I slept well and so did Antony.   ( smile )

Oh wow thanks for sharing. I actaully used fenugreek myself while breastfeeding, I didnt actually find that it increased my supply much either but luckily it didnt adversly effect me either.
I was also told there were no side effects by both the chn and chemist!
My SIL used it and found that it increased her supply massivly though, random fact.

But thank you very much for sharing this advice, it is always good to know the facts and other peoples stories. Well done!

Great advice thank you for sharing

 Lexi xxx