Possible Side Effects – Fenugreek does pass into the breast milk, but it’s believed to be safe for both mom and baby when used in moderation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has rated fenugreek as Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS). Still, always consult a doctor, lactation consultant, or herbal specialist before taking any herbal treatments.
Herbs are similar to medications. They can have side effects, and they can be dangerous for you and your baby. You should be aware that fenugreek can cause your breast milk, urine, and sweat to smell like maple syrup. And since it passes to the baby, it can also cause your baby’s urine and sweat to smell like maple syrup.
Be sure to tell your baby’s doctor that you’re taking fenugreek. There’s a serious illness that’s characterized by a maple syrup smell, and if your doctor doesn’t know that the maple syrup smell is from the fenugreek, he can misdiagnose your child with maple syrup urine disease.
The most common side effect of taking fenugreek is diarrhea. Diarrhea can affect both you and your child if you start high doses of fenugreek too quickly. But, you can usually avoid stomach issues if you start this herb at a low dose and gradually increase it. You shouldn’t use fenugreek if you’re pregnant.
This herb has been used to induce labor, and it can cause contractions, premature labor, and miscarriage. Fenugreek may act like estrogen in the body and be unsafe for women with hormone-sensitive cancers. Given that fenugreek can lower your blood sugar levels, use caution and speak with your doctor if you’re taking diabetes medications, such as insulin or drugs for hypoglycemia, as fenugreek may enhance their effects.
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Contents
- 1 How much fenugreek is safe per day?
- 2 Can fenugreek affect baby?
- 3 Does fenugreek cause uterine contractions?
- 4 Does fenugreek induce labor?
- 5 Who should not take fenugreek?
- 6 Is fenugreek good for your vag?
- 7 What can I drink to increase my breast milk while pregnant?
- 8 Does fenugreek cause period?
- 9 Should fenugreek be taken morning or night?
- 10 How much fenugreek is too much?
How much fenugreek is too much while pregnant?
Safe up to 1000 mg/kg/day
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When should I start taking fenugreek during pregnancy?
Fenugreek seeds – Fenugreek seeds have for ages been consumed by women to help induce contractions and relieve pain associated with labour, Women experiencing prolonged labour are often advised consumption of fenugreek seeds by naturopaths to help hasten the labour process.
- Women with gestational diabetes can benefit by consuming soaked fenugreek seeds which help stabilise blood sugar levels and act as a detoxifying agent.
- However, it is important to keep in mind that since consuming fenugreek seeds can induce contractions, one must consume those under the supervision of a naturopath.
Fenugreek seeds are usually consumed only after the 37th week of pregnancy. Fenugreek seeds are also an excellent herbal galactagogue or agent that helps improve milk supply in lactating women. Prepare a cup of tea with ground fenugreek seeds that can be taken several times a day.
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How much fenugreek is safe per day?
Dosing. Fenugreek seed powder has most often been used by adults in doses of 5-10 grams by mouth daily for up to 3 years. Fenugreek seed extract has most often been used in doses of 0.6-1.2 grams by mouth daily. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
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Can fenugreek affect baby?
Should you try fenugreek seeds if you’re breastfeeding? – If your lactation consultant recommends the supplement, it may be worth a try, but talk to your doctor first. Fenugreek is generally recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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Why is fenugreek not good during pregnancy?
Introduction – Fenugreek ( Trigonella foenum graecum ) is one of the oldest traditional medicinal plants, cultivated in India, the Mediterranean region, North Africa and Yemen ( Kassem et al., 2006 ). Fenugreek seeds are commonly used worldwide for its laxative and galactagogue properties but also to stimulate appetite and prevent stomach ache,
- More recently, immunostimulatory, antidiabetic, antihypertensive and cholesterol-lowering potentials have been described,
- However, consumption of fenugreek seeds during pregnancy has been associated with congenital malformations, neonatal and birth defects,
- Oral treatment with the fenugreek seeds aqueous extract (FSAE) also causes reproductive and developmental toxicity,
Furthermore, we previously demonstrated that prenatal exposure to fenugreek seeds produced neurobehavioral alteration at P21 including decreased locomotor activity, impaired motor coordination and spatial short term memory, Because of the widespread use of fenugreek seeds for its therapeutic actions during pregnancy, it is important to study the effects of FSAE on the development of neuronal networks such as the spinal locomotor network.
Our aim was to investigate short and long term effects of FSAE exposure during gestation on locomotor functions, by using both in vitro and in vivo experimental paradigms. During the first postnatal week, spontaneous locomotor activity consists of crawling movements, During this period, the hindlimbs remain passive.
These movements are gradually replaced by crawling with all four limbs and around postnatal day 10, by walking on all fours with the belly free from the floor, In spinal cord, a spontaneous bursting activity can be recorded in vitro from ventral roots during the perinatal period,
- In vitro, a fictive locomotor pattern can also be elicited following bath application of excitatory amino acid agonists and monoamines such as serotonin (5HT) or electrical stimulation of some brainstem areas,
- At early postnatal days (P0-P3), we investigated whether spontaneous and locomotor-like activities were altered after prenatal exposure to FSAE.
Then, at a later developmental period (P5-P12) we tested the pup‘s reflexes and swimming performance as indicators of the sensorimotor development. Finally, we assessed static and dynamic changes in juvenile (P21) and young adults (P41) using the CatWalk analysis.
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When should I stop taking fenugreek?
Do I need to keep taking fenugreek and smelling like maple syrup forever? When can I stop taking fenugreek? – No, you can stop taking fenugreek once your milk supply has increased and leveled out (meaning it’s gone up but then plateaued). However, to maintain your newly increased milk supply, you do need to keep removing this amount of breast milk from your breasts (via your breast pump).
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Does fenugreek cause uterine contractions?
Fenugreek is often used to increase milk flow, however can cause uterine contractions, so it’s advised that pregnant women avoid fenugreek in any form.
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How much fenugreek is too much?
Possible side effects and cautions –
- Sweat and urine smells like maple syrup; milk and/or breastfed baby may smell like maple syrup.
- Occasionally causes loose stools, which go away when fenugreek is discontinued.
- Use of more than 100 grams of fenugreek seeds daily can cause intestinal distress and nausea (recommended dose is less than 8 grams per day).
- Repeated external applications can result in undesirable skin reactions,
- Ingestion of fenugreek seeds or tea in infants or late-term pregnant women can lead to false diagnosis of maple syrup urine disease in the infant due to presence of sotolone in the urine. See and other studies on fenugreek and maple syrup urine smell,
Use with caution or avoid if you have a history of:
- Peanut or chickpea allergy: Fenugreek is in the same family with peanuts and chickpeas, and may cause an allergic reaction in moms who are allergic to these things. Two cases of fenugreek allergy have been reported in the literature.
- Diabetes or hypoglycemia: Fenugreek reduces blood glucose levels, and in the few studies using it as a hypoglycemic, also reduces blood cholesterol. Dosages higher than the recommended one (given above) may result in hypoglycemia in some mothers, If you’re diabetic (IDDM), use fenugreek only if you have good control of your blood glucose levels. While taking this, closely monitor your fasting levels and post-prandial (after meals) levels. Mothers with hypoglycemia should also use fenugreek with caution. For more on fenugreek and glucose levels, see the references below,
- Asthma: Fenugreek is often cited as a natural remedy for asthma. However, inhalation of the powder can cause asthma and allergic symptoms. Some mothers have reported that it worsened their asthma symptoms.,
How fast does fenugreek take to work?
Mothers generally notice an increase in production 24-72 hours after starting the herb, but it can take two weeks for others to see a change. Some mothers do not see a change in milk production when taking fenugreek. Dosages of less than 3500 mg per DAY have been reported to produce no effect in many women.
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Does fenugreek induce labor?
Fenugreek stimulates uterine causing contractions and fastens labor process.
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Who should not take fenugreek?
Fenugreek can affect blood-clotting and may increase your risk of bleeding. If you need surgery, dental work, or a medical procedure, stop taking fenugreek at least 2 weeks ahead of time.
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Is fenugreek good for your vag?
Conclusion: – Fenugreek vaginal cream was effective in treating vaginal atrophy; therefore, postmenopausal women are recommended to use this cream instead of synthetic estrogen to reduce the complications of this hormone. Keywords: Fenugreek vaginal cream, menopause, vaginal atrophy
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Does fenugreek lower fertility?
Study: Fenugreek supplement improves fertility and mental alertness in men
Fenugreek (aka Trigonella foenum-graecum ) has been demonstrated to contain a diverse number of phytochemicals including saponins, steroids, alkaloids like trigonelline, coumarins such as cinnamic acid, vitamins, polyphenols, flavonoids, lipids, amino acids, hydrocarbons, glycosides, fiber, iron, manganese, and magnesium.A number of preclinical and clinical investigations have established the of fenugreek seeds as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, , antihyperlipidemic, anti-obesity, anticancer, antifungal, antibacterial, and galactogogue, as well as for diverse medicinal and . indicated that fenugreek seed extract is a safe and efficacious therapy for reducing androgen deficiency, and boosting serum free and total testosterone levels, as well as sexual competence middle-aged and elderly subjects. has previously demonstrated the efficacy of Furosap (500 mg/kg/day) in boosting free testosterone, healthy sperm profile, mental alertness, mood alleviation, and reproductive well-being. The current longitudinal study aimed to evaluate the broad spectrum safety and efficacy of a unique, patented fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed extract fortified in 20% protodioscin (Furosap) to enhance free and total testosterone levels, sperm count, motility and abnormal sperm morphology, reproductive health, mood alleviation and mental alertness, in 100 male volunteers (aged 35–60 years).A total of 100 subjects were recruited and directed to take one Furosap capsule (500 mg/day) after breakfast everyday for 12 weeks.
Assessments were carried out at baseline, 4-, 8-, and 12 weeks of treatment, including: Body weight, BMI, blood pressure, free testosterone level, total testosterone level, haemoglobin level, fasting blood glucose (FBS) levels, sperm count, sperm motility and abnormal sperm morphology, mood alleviation, mental alertness, and reflex erection.
The resulting data suggests that free- and total testosterone levels escalated by approximately 1.73-fold (p value = 0.0004) and by 1.28-fold (p-value = 0.0003), respectively. Sperm count significantly increased at each time point, while sperm motility (%) significantly increased at 8- and 12-weeks post-treatment.
Simultaneously, abnormal sperm morphology (%) decreased at all time points, but significantly decreased at 12-weeks post-treatment, respectively. Overall scores of mental alertness, mood alleviation, and reflex erection increased. Moreover, time- and age-dependent increases (%) in all these three factors were observed.
Significant decreases were observed in the total cholesterol (mg/dl) levels at all time points. A decreasing trend was observed in LDL-C levels at all time points, while significant reduction was observed at week 12 of treatment. The report concludes that 12-weeks supplementation with Furosap (500mg/day) is effective on multiple parameters including enhanced production of free and total testosterone levels, sperm profile, sperm morphology, reproductive health, mood alleviation, mental alertness, reflex erection, and reproductive health.
Furthermore, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and DHEA-S significantly decreased at 12weeks of treatment. Source: Journal of the American College of Nutrition S.N. Sankhwar, Pawan Kumar, Manashi Bagchi, Mehul Rungta & Debasis Bagchi “Safety and Efficacy of Furosap, a Patented Trigonella foenum-graecum Seed Extract, in Boosting Testosterone Level, Reproductive Health and Mood Alleviation in Male Volunteers” : Study: Fenugreek supplement improves fertility and mental alertness in men
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What can I drink to increase my breast milk while pregnant?
Water – Drinking water is one of the simplest ways to ensure that your body can produce plenty of breast milk for your baby. While breastfeeding, you should drink even more water than the required amount. This is because breast milk is 87% water and during the postpartum period, your body is losing more water than usual. Aim for about eight cups of water each day.
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What happens if you take fenugreek everyday?
03 /9 Lowers cholesterol – Regular consumption of fenugreek seeds helps in lowering total cholesterol, LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglyceride levels in the blood while increasing beneficial HDL cholesterol levels. This is because these seeds contain steroidal saponins that slow down cholesterol absorption of the intestines. readmore
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Does fenugreek cause period?
Fenugreek, or methi, seeds are recommended by experts to induce period. How to use: Drink fenugreek seeds boiled in water. The juice of pomegranate seeds is also helpful in inducing periods.
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What happens if you take fenugreek while pregnant?
Possible Side Effects – Fenugreek does pass into the breast milk, but it’s believed to be safe for both mom and baby when used in moderation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has rated fenugreek as Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS). Still, always consult a doctor, lactation consultant, or herbal specialist before taking any herbal treatments.
Herbs are similar to medications. They can have side effects, and they can be dangerous for you and your baby. You should be aware that fenugreek can cause your breast milk, urine, and sweat to smell like maple syrup. And since it passes to the baby, it can also cause your baby’s urine and sweat to smell like maple syrup.
Be sure to tell your baby’s doctor that you’re taking fenugreek. There’s a serious illness that’s characterized by a maple syrup smell, and if your doctor doesn’t know that the maple syrup smell is from the fenugreek, he can misdiagnose your child with maple syrup urine disease.
- The most common side effect of taking fenugreek is diarrhea.
- Diarrhea can affect both you and your child if you start high doses of fenugreek too quickly.
- But, you can usually avoid stomach issues if you start this herb at a low dose and gradually increase it.
- You shouldn’t use fenugreek if you’re pregnant.
This herb has been used to induce labor, and it can cause contractions, premature labor, and miscarriage. Fenugreek may act like estrogen in the body and be unsafe for women with hormone-sensitive cancers. Given that fenugreek can lower your blood sugar levels, use caution and speak with your doctor if you’re taking diabetes medications, such as insulin or drugs for hypoglycemia, as fenugreek may enhance their effects.
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Should fenugreek be taken morning or night?
07 /7 The right way to have fenugreek seeds – A tablespoon of soaked fenugreek seeds should be consumed first thing in the morning empty stomach. If you do not like the taste, you can add them to your dals and curries. Do not consume more than a tablespoon of fenugreek seeds in a day. You should try having the seeds every day for 21 days to see visible results. readmore
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What is wrong with fenugreek?
WHEN NOT TO TAKE IT? – Just as a caution, if a mother has hypothyroidism or is insulin-dependent, then Motherlove would not recommend taking a product that has fenugreek in it. Fenugreek can lower the thyroid hormone, T3, and in large doses, can also lower blood sugar, It is also avoided when a mother has a sensitive stomach or sensitivity to the herb.
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How much fenugreek is too much?
Possible side effects and cautions –
- Sweat and urine smells like maple syrup; milk and/or breastfed baby may smell like maple syrup.
- Occasionally causes loose stools, which go away when fenugreek is discontinued.
- Use of more than 100 grams of fenugreek seeds daily can cause intestinal distress and nausea (recommended dose is less than 8 grams per day).
- Repeated external applications can result in undesirable skin reactions,
- Ingestion of fenugreek seeds or tea in infants or late-term pregnant women can lead to false diagnosis of maple syrup urine disease in the infant due to presence of sotolone in the urine. See and other studies on fenugreek and maple syrup urine smell,
Use with caution or avoid if you have a history of:
- Peanut or chickpea allergy: Fenugreek is in the same family with peanuts and chickpeas, and may cause an allergic reaction in moms who are allergic to these things. Two cases of fenugreek allergy have been reported in the literature.
- Diabetes or hypoglycemia: Fenugreek reduces blood glucose levels, and in the few studies using it as a hypoglycemic, also reduces blood cholesterol. Dosages higher than the recommended one (given above) may result in hypoglycemia in some mothers, If you’re diabetic (IDDM), use fenugreek only if you have good control of your blood glucose levels. While taking this, closely monitor your fasting levels and post-prandial (after meals) levels. Mothers with hypoglycemia should also use fenugreek with caution. For more on fenugreek and glucose levels, see the references below,
- Asthma: Fenugreek is often cited as a natural remedy for asthma. However, inhalation of the powder can cause asthma and allergic symptoms. Some mothers have reported that it worsened their asthma symptoms.,
What happens if you take a lot of fenugreek?
Potential side effects of fenugreek include diarrhea, nausea, and other digestive tract symptoms and rarely, dizziness and headaches. Large doses may cause a harmful drop in blood sugar. Fenugreek can cause allergic reactions in some people.
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Can too much fenugreek lower milk supply?
Nutrition Information: – This legume provides a high source of iron as well as magnesium, potassium, and calcium.1 tbsp of fenugreek, provides the following vitamins and nutrients:
Calories: 36 Protein: 2.55 grams Fat: 0.71 grams Carbohydrate 6.48 grams Fiber 2.7 grams Iron: 3.72 milligrams (41% of RDA*) Magnesium: 21 milligrams (7% of RDA*) Potassium: 85 milligrams (2% of RDA*) Calcium: 20 milligrams (2% of RDA*)
Thus far, fenugreek seems like a solid herbal. So, what’s not to love? While the potential to increase your milk supply is very attractive, there are a few critical points to be aware of before you try it. In one study, 85 moms using fenugreek were surveyed and 45% had negative side effects. These side effects include increased gassiness in mom or baby, the body emitting a maple syrup smell and an oversupply of milk. Some mothers also have stomach pain and diarrhea when using the tea form. With its hypoglycemic properties it can affect women with Type 1 or 2 diabetes. It is unclear if fenugreek lowers the baby’s blood sugar but this could be a potential risk. Thomas Hale categorizes fenugreek as an L3 drug. This means there is not enough data to truly know if it is transferred into breastmilk. The is due to fenugreek’s anticoagulant properties. There is one documented case of gastrointestinal bleeding in a premature infant after the mom started fenugreek as a galactagogue. There is limited research regarding the risk of bleeding in infants due to fenugreek, but it is another concern. The study suggests that fenugreek could affect women who have thyroid disease. In another study focusing on the Teratogenic properties of fenugreek, congenital malformations as well as death were reported in human, rodent, rabbit, and chick populations.
The study also showed anti-fertility effects in both men and women. The authors of this study write, ” Accumulating evidence suggest also that fenugreek may have neurodevelopmental, neurobehavioral and neuropathological side effects. ” Fenugreek has impaired the development of sensorimotor and coordination in neonate mice, causing greater concern as to how it effects human infants.
Fenugreek should not be taken during pregnancy as it can cause uterine contractions which can lead to premature labor and/or miscarriage as well as interfere with the healthy development of an unborn child. One low-supply parent went from pumping 4oz a day to just drops after taking fenugreek for several days. It took her a week after stopping fenugreek to regain her supply. The exact reasons are unknown, however there may be a linkage to hypothyroidism and these adverse effects of fenugreek.
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