I've been taking More Milk Plus and the price tag is killing me a little. Anyone see much of a difference between a blend and fenugreek on its own? I have been worried to try it on its own due to many reviews that fenugreek causes gas. So far my daughter has seemed fine with me taking MMP 4x a day so maybe straight up fenugreek wouldn't bother her?
On the other hand, is the Special Blend of MMP even better and thus worth the added expense? 
cherry / 188 posts
The Special Blend has goat's rue, which can be helpful if your low supply is due to insulin resistance or insufficient glandular tissue. Also, if you have thyroid issues contributing to low supply, you should avoid fenugreek entirely - it can actually lower supply in moms with thyroid issues.
ETA: Sorry, I must have hallucinated - I thought you said something about your thyroid but I re-read and saw that you didn't. So, please disregard that. And clearly I need some coffee.
kiwi / 556 posts
@KatieBklyn: no judgement here! so you've not taken any of them for thyroid issues I'm assuming?
persimmon / 1281 posts
I don't have experience with MMP BUT I started taking fenugreek until I learned about the thyroid thing. Then I stopped. I started taking a nursing tincture by herb lore. It completely increased my supply! I went from pumping 2-3 oz max to +4 oz in one session.
kiwi / 556 posts
@Portboston: how many ounces do you buy and how long does a bottle last for you?
ETA I see on Amazon it is offered with alcohol/alcohol free bases- which do you use?
persimmon / 1281 posts
I got the 4oz bottle. It didn't last very long...a week or 2 maybe. But I didn't refill because my supply is enough now!
Eta- I'll need to check my bottle about the alcohol thing...once this sleeping baby who is on my lap wakes up! 
pomelo / 5607 posts
I use the special blend, and it worked well. I get it at the shop at our children's hospital because it's a lot cheaper, but still hate paying for it.
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
mmp really worked for me. mother's milk tea helped too. that might be more affordable?
kiwi / 556 posts
@Mrs. Bee: how long did you stay on it? I am willing to keep using it since it's definitely helped. Did you ever use less than 4 a day? I may experiment with that to see if it helps stretch out the bottle longer I think I'd rather keep with the pills rather than drink 4 cups of tea a day (just personal preference).
kiwi / 556 posts
@Torchwood: Think you'll stay on it indefinitely? What have you heard about that one as opposed to the regular blend? I didn't know another kind existed until I saw it at Whole Body.
cherry / 188 posts
@ldh112: I took the MMP Special Blend - my thyroid is fine but I definitely have insulin resistance and less than a normal amount of breast tissue. Unfortunately it didn't really work for me! But there are lots of mamas with PCOS/IR in my low supply support group who have gotten good results from it. If you don't mind taking pills from a stranger on the Internet (and you're in the U.S.) I can send you what I have left of the Special Blend - at least half a bottle. It's so pricey so I know it's hard to pull the trigger on $50 worth of pills without knowing whether they'll help!
pomelo / 5607 posts
@ldh112: I'm about to wean off of it. The LC said my supply should be established now, and the pills are mostly to increase it, not maintain. I haven't heard anything about any other, she just said special blend is the best. The shop I get it at only offers special blend and plus.
kiwi / 556 posts
@Torchwood: I have a 3 month old and I can tell when my supply dips if I am not taking the pills so I'm afraid to back off again. My LC actually said they can be used to help maintain and sometimes you may just need less. So many different opinions!
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
@ldh112: i can't remember exactly, but it was a couple of months and then my supply was regulated. i definitely saw a huge increase with supplements + extra pumping sessions.
clementine / 880 posts
I take fenugreek and blessed thissle. I have pcos and my supply always seemed just barely cutting it and now it is SO MUCH better. Now dd pops off before I'm empty when before it seemed like she always needed last drop. I pump 4 oz per night when i used to barely get 1 and i am way more comfortable with my supply
Fenugreek is $5-$8/bottle on amazon and has 190 pills. I take 9 per day, so 21 days for $5-8
Blessed thissle is $8/bottle and is 100 pills and i take 6 per day so about 15 days worth.
bananas / 9229 posts
I've been taking Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle since DD was 5 or so days old!
kiwi / 556 posts
@LaughLines: how do you decide how many to take or is that what the bottle suggests?
pomelo / 5607 posts
@ldh112: She did say to watch it when I try to stop and keep taking them if my supply dips. Hoping that won't happen.
clementine / 880 posts
@ldh112: the bottle says 6 for both.. I take more fenugreek because when i was researching it that seemed to be what a lot of others were taking to help with supply... The bottle talks about digestive health, not breastmilk. I started with 6 but upped to 9 after a couple days.
When my parents were in town a couple weekends ago i forgot to take the pills and noticed a significant dip in supply, it takes a couple days to build up
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
@KatieBklyn: I have insulin resistant PCOS so I might have to try Special Blend. I did get a bottle of fenugreek from a recommendation from my sister and a nicu nurse who was a former LC.
Is this information about helping insulin resistant related supply issues mentioned somewhere?
kiwi / 556 posts
@LaughLines: what brand do you use? I am looking on Amazon currently and see some that say 2x a day. Just wanted to compare
cherry / 188 posts
@bluestriped bee: I learned it from my LC and from the "IGT and Low Supply Support" group on Facebook - they have a ton of really helpful information! I would definitely join that group, if you're having supply struggles. You have to answer a short survey to be accepted because the mods keep it a "safe space" for women with low supply, but I've learned so much there and I have a completely different plan for things I'll do in my next pregnancy and postpartum.
cherry / 188 posts
Here's one blog post talking about PCOS, breastfeeding and goat's rue: http://www.mobimotherhood.org/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos-and-breastfeeding.html
clementine / 880 posts
@ldh112: natures way:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0009ETA6W/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1
2 pills 3x a day is what my bottle says. I take 3 pills 3 times a day (9 total) asset mealtimes
And 2 pills 3x a day of Blessed thissle
nectarine / 2173 posts
Fenugreek helped but I could only take 2 tabs 3x per day or I'd get horrible diarrhea. I didn't see any additional boost with More Milk Special Blend even though I have insuffienct glandular tissue so I stopped using it since it's so expensive.
cantaloupe / 6669 posts
@KatieBklyn: Love that Facebook group! It saved me when I was so overwhelmed by low supply issues.
I think fenugreek suppressed my supply. I started taking it before my milk even really came in, like day 2 or 3 when LO was losing weight. I went off and when I went back on I noticed a dip.
Next time I won't do any supplements except goat's rue.
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
@KatieBklyn: thank you! I just requested to join the group.
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