Is fenugreek safe while breastfeeding?

What does the evidence say about fenugreek while breastfeeding?

1. The evidence is split: one meta-analysis found fenugreek to have a mild galactogogue effect while another found no good evidence that it is a galactogogue at all, and in a United States survey 43 percent thought it increased their supply while 5 percent thought it decreased it. 1
2. A well-designed randomized trial in mothers of preterm infants comparing fenugreek 1,725 mg three times daily against placebo over 21 days found no statistical differences in milk volumes or serum prolactin values. 1
3. No adverse effects have been reported in breastfed infants in the trials conducted, including no differences in digestive, respiratory, dermatological or other parent-reported events. 1
4. Maternal side effects are common, with 45 percent reporting some in one United States survey: diarrhea, flatulence, nausea and vomiting can occur, and fenugreek imparts a maple syrup odor to urine, sweat, feces and possibly breastmilk. 1
5. Herbal products including teas, tinctures and capsules are not required to be tested in humans before sale in the United States, and the FDA does not analyze the contents of dietary herbal supplements before they are marketed. 2

How fenugreek changes by nursing stage

• Early weeks. Early postpartum, the first six weeks. This is when most people reach for it, and it is also when frequent effective milk removal does the real work. Doses typically used to support supply are 1 to 6 grams daily. Before adding an herb, get a feed assessed in person, because a latch problem will not respond to a capsule.
• Established nursing. The months after. If you have been taking it for weeks without a clear change, that matches the trial picture: a randomized study of 1,725 mg three times daily against placebo over 21 days found no statistical difference in milk volumes or serum prolactin. Side effects are worth weighing against that, since 45 percent of users in one United States survey reported some.
• Weaning. Weaning and the long view. There is no reason to continue fenugreek as feeds taper. Note that the maple syrup odor it gives to urine, sweat and possibly breastmilk can persist while you take it, and that reactions have been reported in people who react to chickpeas, peanuts and other legumes.