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Fenugreek (Methi) and Breast Milk Supply - Does It Really Help?
Doctors recommend that newborns should be fed exclusively with breast milk for the first six months of their lives. Breast milk contains all the necessary nutrients your baby needs for proper growth and development. It also contains antibodies from the mother which help build the baby’s immunity and resistance to infections. Unfortunately, not all lactating moms are able to produce sufficient quantities of breast milk to feed their babies. Breast milk supply can be increased by taking natural foods that help the mother’s body produce greater quantities of breast milk. Fenugreek is one such food that helps increase breast milk production.
What is Fenugreek?
Fenugreek is a herb native to South and Western Asia. The scientific name of fenugreek is Trigonella foenum-graecum and India is the largest producer of fenugreek in the world. The seeds and leaves of fenugreek are commonly used ingredients in South Asian dishes. Fenugreek has several health benefits and contains several nutrients that are beneficial for lactating mothers. The leaves contain phosphorous, potassium, calcium, dietary fibre and iron. The seeds contain vitamins A, C, and B-complex vitamins like thiamine, riboflavin, folic acid, niacin, and pyridoxine.
Is Fenugreek Safe For A Breastfeeding Mother and Her Baby?
Fenugreek is completely safe for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. However, diabetic women, pregnant women, women who are allergic to peanuts and chickpeas, and women with hypothyroidism should check with their doctor before adding fenugreek to their diet.
Does Fenugreek Increase Breast Milk Supply?
Fenugreek is a well-known galactagogue, which means this herb increases breast milk production in lactating mothers. Seeds and leaves of fenugreek have been used by lactating mothers to boost breast milk supply for hundreds of years.
How does Fenugreek work for Increased Breast Milk Production?
Fenugreek contains several flavonoids and vitamins which are beneficial for lactating mothers. It also contains phytoestrogen which is similar to the female hormone oestrogen which stimulates the breast milk ducts to grow. Fenugreek contains a compound called diosgenin which increases milk flow in lactating women.
Consuming Fenugreek To Increase Breast Milk
Consuming fenugreek is a natural and safe way to boost breast milk production in breastfeeding moms. Here are various ways in which you can add fenugreek to your diet:
1. Chewing Seeds
You can chew or swallow a teaspoonful of fenugreek seeds daily.
2. Fenugreek Sprouts
Soak fenugreek seeds in water until they soften. Drain the water and keep in a cool, dark place until they sprout. Use the sprouts in salads.
3. Fenugreek Tea
Drinking fenugreek tea for breast milk production helps increase the milk flow in lactating women. To make the tea, add hot water to a teaspoon of seeds and allow it to steep. Drink this with honey.
4. Powder
Having fenugreek powder for breast milk production is another way of consuming fenugreek to boost lactation. Dry roast a handful of seeds and grind it to make a powder. Use this powder to flavour dals and curries.
5. Capsules
Fenugreek capsules for breastfeeding moms are sold in most pharmacies. You can buy the fenugreek capsules. However, make sure you consult your doctor to determine the correct dosage.
6. Fenugreek Rice Porridge
Pressure cook 2 tablespoons of fenugreek seeds with a cup of rice with water and salt until it turns soft. Consume this porridge to boost breast milk production.
7. Stir Fried Leaves
Thoroughly wash and de-stem fresh fenugreek leaves. Use this in a stir fry along with other vegetables or stir fry the leaves on their own and use it as a side dish.
8. Rotis
Fenugreek leaves are mixed with chappati dough to make rotis or parathas. This is a tasty way to consume fenugreek leaves.
9. Dosas
Fenugreek seeds are ground along with rice and lentils to make dosa batter. The dosas made from this batter contain fenugreek which boosts lactation.
10. Curries
Add fenugreek leaves to sambhar, curries, and dals to make them flavourful and to boost breast milk flow.
How Soon Does Fenugreek Increase Breast Milk Supply?
Breastfeeding moms find that their breast milk flow increases within one to three days of starting to consume fenugreek. It has been found that it could take up to 2 weeks to see an increase in breast milk production in some women.
How Long Do You Need To Take Fenugreek?
The fenugreek can be stopped once the breast milk flow has increased to the required level. The flow will be maintained if the baby is fed regularly. It can also be used long-term to increase breast milk supply for mothers who want to pump and store breast milk.
Suggested Fenugreek Dosage
Fenugreek should be consumed in the correct dosage to increase lactation. Make sure you ask your doctor to determine the correct dosage for you. Here are the appropriate dosages:
Item
Dosage
With Water
3-4 grams of fenugreek in warm water
Powdered Form
½ to 1 teaspoon or powder or seeds 3 times a day
Tea
One cup of tea twice or thrice a day
Capsules
6 capsules amounting to 3500mg
Other Health Benefits of Fenugreek Seeds
Apart from the fenugreek's benefits of breastfeeding, this herb has several other health benefits. Some of them are:
1. Reduces Menstrual Cramps
Fenugreek seeds help in reducing menstrual cramps. Consuming soaked seeds during painful periods can help reduce the pain.
2. Anti-ageing Properties
Fenugreek contains antioxidants that fight signs of ageing in the body.
3. Controls Diabetes
Fenugreek can lower blood sugar in the body and thus helps control diabetes.
4. Lowers Fevers
Fenugreek cools the body and can bring down a high temperature. It is used as a natural medicine to reduce fever.
5. For Sinus Problems
Fenugreek can treat sinus congestions and also soothe sore throats. Gargling with fenugreek tea can soothe the throat pain.
6. Increases Libido
Fenugreek seeds have been known to increase libido, especially in men.
7. Lowers Cholesterol
Consuming fenugreek extract can increase good cholesterols HDL and lower levels of bad cholesterols or LDL in the body.
8. Stimulates Appetite
Fenugreek has been found to increase appetite. It has been recommended as a natural appetite stimulant for people with eating disorders like Anorexia nervosa.
9. For Weight Loss
Fenugreek is good for people trying to lose weight. The cholesterol-reducing properties of fenugreek can also reduce abnormal levels of lipids in the body and thus fight obesity.
10. Helps in Digestion and Reduces Inflammation
Fenugreek can help in digestion and in combating gastrointestinal issues. Fenugreek is a herbal diuretic and is also used to treat dysentery, stomach ulcers and gastritis. Fenugreek also reduces inflammation in the body. It is therefore helpful to reduce inflammation in people suffering from mouth ulcers, boils, cough, tuberculosis, tissue infections, kidney problems, and even cancer.
Side Effects of Fenugreek
Though fenugreek has a great number of health benefits, excessive consumption can cause problems in both the mother and the baby.
1. For Breastfeeding Mother
The mother’s breast milk and urine may smell like maple syrup. People who are allergic to chickpeas and peanuts may be allergic to fenugreek also. It can cause allergic reactions like hives, swollen tongue and throat, and breathing problems. Diabetics should use it with caution as it can cause blood sugar levels to drop drastically. It could cause runny stools in some people. It is not safe for pregnant women as it can trigger uterine contractions and cause a miscarriage or preterm delivery. Eating more than 100 g of fenugreek seeds in a day can give you stomach cramps.
2. For Breastfed Baby
Some babies may have runny stools. It can cause some babies to be fussy because of the upset stomach and gas.
Precautions To Be Taken While Using Fenugreek To Increase Breast Milk Production
Here are the precautions to take while using fenugreek to boost breast milk production:
Avoid excessive consumption as it can cause stomach pain.
Women allergic to peanuts and chickpeas could also be allergic to fenugreek. So, check with your doctor before adding it to your diet.
Avoid fenugreek if you suffer from hypothyroidism.
Diabetic mothers should use it with caution as it can rapidly lower blood sugar levels and cause hypoglycaemia.
Does Fenugreek Work For Every Breastfeeding Woman?
Fenugreek has been found to increase breast milk production in most women and doctors regularly recommend fenugreek capsules for lactating moms. However, fenugreek may not work for every woman. There are some women who reported that they did not see a change in breast milk production levels after taking fenugreek capsules. However, low breast milk production in mom could be due to various reasons such as low nutrition, stress, hormonal imbalance, and improper latching of breastfeeding baby. If these problems are addressed, the breast milk supply could increase after taking fenugreek supplements.
Fenugreek has been used in Asian cultures for ages to improve breast milk production in lactating mothers. Fenugreek can cause the mother’s milk, sweat and urine to smell like maple syrup. It also passes through the breast milk into the baby and can make the baby’s sweat and urine also smell like maple syrup. However, fenugreek has a great number of health benefits apart from increasing lactation. It has been used both as a flavouring agent and as the main ingredient in many South-Asian cuisines. It is beneficial for lactating mothers to include fenugreek in their diet after checking with their doctor.
Also Read: Caffeine during Breastfeeding Read more
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Dispel 5 Common Myths of Miscarriage
Suffering a miscarriage is a distressing feeling for any woman. Bust away the common myths associated with miscarriage and prepare yourself for a full term and healthy pregnancy.
The thought of miscarriage itself is discomforting, but when a mother-to-be suffers a miscarriage, it turns out to be a heartbreaking experience for her. It is quite natural for expecting mothers to worry about a miscarriage. There are a lot of reasons responsible for a miscarriage. It can be due to your lifestyle, genetic conditions or any other reasons. Relieve yourself of any kind of fears and dispel some of the most common misconceptions about miscarriage.
Myth 1: If you had one miscarriage then you will have another
In case you suffered a miscarriage, then the risk of having a second miscarriage will increase only because of hormonal irregularities or autoimmune disorders. It can also happen because of some anatomical problems in the uterus or cervix. Otherwise, it is not mandatory that you will have a miscarriage again. With proper prenatal care, you can easily carry a successful pregnancy.
Myth 2: Light spotting or cramping indicates that miscarriage will happen
Such symptoms are common during the early days of pregnancy. So there is nothing to worry about it. When the uterus expands, some women experience mild cramps. Let your doctor know if bleeding, spotting, or cramping occurs.
Myth 3: If you feel sick in the first trimester, it will increase your risk of loss of pregnancy
It could be a cold, a sinus-infection or even a stomach virus that can make you fall sick, but it is not likely to affect your pregnancy. Certain antibiotics can help to combat bacterial infection during pregnancy. But a high fever of more than 103F can be very harmful to the developing foetus in the first eight weeks of pregnancy. Call your doctor in such a condition and take medicines after consultation to bring your fever down.
Myth 4: Carrying heavy weights causes miscarriage
Pregnant women are advised not to carry heavy things because it can cause miscarriage. This is not the fact. Carrying heavy weights can cause stress on the spine and abdomen and can, in turn cause muscle spasm or sever back pain or even placenta previa during the later months of the pregnancy. But during the earlier months of pregnancy, it hasn’t been linked to miscarriage.
Myth 5: Chances of Miscarriage increase if you exercise during pregnancy
Indulging in moderate exercise during pregnancy is important for normal delivery of your baby and also helps to control weight gain. Keep in mind to stay away from strenuous activities or the ones that involve the risk of falling. Avoid indulging in heavy exercises, as they can be damaging for your baby.
Thus, a little change in your lifestyle and proper precautions can prove to be the stepping stones for a successful pregnancy. There are many such myths and old wives tales a pregnant woman might come across. But before believing any of those do your research and consult your doctor.
Also Read: Best Ways to Have Natural Miscarriage Read more
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10 Tips You Should Try If Your Child Doesn't Sleep Well Through The Night!
Do light and noise affect your toddler’s sleep? If yes, read our tips on how to create effective sleep conditions so that your toddler sleeps peacefully through the night.
There are babies who sleep through ringing phones or thundering storms. And then there are babies who wake up at the slightest of sounds; cooking sounds in the kitchen or sun rays coming through the window in the morning. If your child is sensitive to light and noise in babyhood, chances are that he has the same sensitivity even as a toddler.
How to Create Effective Sleep Conditions for Your Toddler
Here are some tips on how to create effective sleep conditions so that your toddler sleeps peacefully through the night:
If you are breastfeeding your child, wean him off during the middle-of-the-night feeds. The same applies for bottle feeding. It will help your child to sleep without disruption. But take care your child is not hungry before he goes to sleep.
Encourage activity during the day. A toddler who is active during the day and has exposure to sunlight sleeps better at night.
Make your toddler used to light and normal household noises like cooking sounds in the kitchen, vacuum cleaner, lawn mowing, etc. Once he gets used to these sounds, he will be less bothered by them during his sleep.
Monitor your child’s naps. Most toddlers between the age of 1 and 2 years require 10–13 hours of sleep. Usually, this sleeping time is divided into afternoon nap(s) and nighttime sleeping. However, some toddlers might outgrow their two daytime naps and come down to one, while some might do away with daytime naps altogether. If you feel your child’s daytime nap is interfering with his night time sleep, you may want to reduce his afternoon sleep or do away with it. Also make sure his daytime nap gets over by 3 pm so that there is a sufficient time interval till his sleeping time in the night.
White noise helps. A fan whirring, wind chimes playing, sound from the bedroom clock or an actual white noise machine may help your toddler to sleep well.
Small kids find comfort in routine. Try following a consistent bedtime routine. Bathe your toddler in lukewarm water, change him into his night clothes, sing rhymes or read stories to him. Soon your child will associate these activities with sleep and get prepared to sleep.
Keep nighttime activity a low key. Try not to indulge your child in stimulating games or activities just before his sleeping time. An excited mind might keep him awake till late.
Prepare his room according to his preferences. Keep the lights dim, temperature comfortable and his favourite cuddly blanket/ soft toy by his side. If your baby is afraid of dark, put a soft night-light in his room. This will relax him enough to sleep.
For your light sleeper, you may want to invest in light-proofing his room and put thicker curtains to block the outside light.
If your toddler is scared of sleeping alone in the room, try to reassure him that you or other family members will be around and will come to his side as soon as he calls.
A light sleeper stays the same even when he grows up, but soon he learns to put himself back to sleep on waking up in the middle of the night. So, no need to fret! Read more
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In This Age of Modernisation, We Have Compromised Our Health
In this age of modernisation and globalisation where money meets priorities, I believe the concept of health has lost its definition. Where top brands claim to meet the surety and purity of products, there are myriad videos that try to prove their impurities. It has become hard to trust anything.
Advancement in medical science and the discovery of drugs have had a huge impact on health. My sister-in-law is a homoeopathic doctor and I was discussing with her about the subject (homoeopathic medicine), which she claims has no side-effects compared to pharmaceutical drugs. However, unfortunately, there have been several cases that show the side-effects of homoeopathic medicines when consumed over a long period of time. Both have their own place.
We all want to stay healthy. Nature has gifted us so many beneficial herbs that detoxify our systems and boost immunity. Here are a few of them.
GARLIC
Though it has been used as a flavouring agent in cooking, garlic has been used as a medicine in ancient history and modern history. It has anti-bacterial properties and helps in treating common cold and cough, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, and boosts digestion.
GINGER
Ginger is also used as a flavouring agent in cooking but is a well-known medicine as well. It helps in lowering blood sugar levels and cholesterol and improves heart health and brain function. It also prevents pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and ovarian cancer, reduces menstrual pain and nausea, treats cough and cold, reduces inflammation, etc. However, more research is needed.
TURMERIC
Turmeric contains a bioactive compound known as curcumin which has anti-inflammatory properties and is very useful in treating arthritis. Curcumin is one of the most powerful components - it fights free radicals that are linked to accelerated signs of ageing, oxidative stress, a weakened immune system, and poor cellular health.
I have listed three important natural foods and their benefits. Markets are flooded with adulterated food products, so make sure to buy only USDA-certified organic products.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions (including content in any form) expressed within this post are those of the author alone. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The responsibility for intellectual property rights of this content rests with the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with him/her.
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Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
4 hours ago
Q. ma lmp 28.9.2023 edd date 5.7.2024 ma age 25.7.1999 ma beby boy or girl plsss tell me mam
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
4 hours ago
A. be not possible to tell. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr. Minal Acharya has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 5 months
4 hours ago
Q. Hii...., Is it safe to eat jackfruit in 4th month of pregnancy, daily 2 ...
Dr. Minal Acharya
Nutritionist
4 hours ago
A. dear mam, you can eat jackfruit during the 4th month of pregnancy. there is no problem in having it. you can eat all types of seasonal vegetables and fruits even green leafy vegetables.
shahin has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
3 hours ago
Q. is that positive result??? my Due date is tommoro I am having vomitting and nausea and back pain etc please reply asap
shahin
Mom of a 6 m old boy
2 hours ago
A. yes
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. Hi I'm in 23weeks pregnancy
my afi is 26 I have no diabetes or any other issues
is that risky ? what to do for making normal delivery possible
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
2 hours ago
A. yes AFI level is very high and yes you need to be very careful to have regular follow up with your doctor take the precautions advised by your doctor and regularly keep a watch on baby movements
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. nasal congestion during 9th week pregnancy is normal or something serious?
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
1 hour ago
A. it's ok . take steam twice daily or you can use nasal drops
You should have proper consultation with your treating doctor , as some examination or investigations may be needful, so that proper medications can be given And the treatment can be done very properly.
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 5 months
32 mins ago
Q. Is there any issue with this test
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
31 mins ago
A. You have not given any details about us to what test are you talking about or anything associated with that for that matter can you please repost your question with all the necessary details required to understand your question as accordingly I can assist you on that
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