Author |
Topic Search Topic Options
|
noodle
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Auckland
Points: 3193
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Topic: Vitex and Breastfeeding Posted: 30 September 2009 at 8:52pm |
Hi everyone,
not sure if this is the right place to put it but......
I'm just wondering if anyone knows if you can take Vitex while you are breastfeeding?
TIA
|
|
 |
Sponsored Links
|
|
 |
Emmi_
Senior Member
Joined: 14 May 2009
Location: Wellington
Points: 8176
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 30 September 2009 at 8:58pm |
I am sure that in my googling I have read that it is safe to take while breast feeding...
|
|
 |
mummyofprinces
Senior Member
Joined: 10 February 2008
Location: Hibiscus Coast
Points: 8627
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 30 September 2009 at 9:50pm |
Noodle I have just started taking vitex again. My googlesearch came back with it being ok! Infact its even prescribed to mums with over/under supply as it balances out your hormones thus helping the supply
I certainly have not noticed any problems, though I am only taking one pill at the moment. I am going to pop in and see a naturopath tomorrow morning about taking the 2 pills.
|
|
 |
noodle
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Auckland
Points: 3193
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 30 September 2009 at 10:46pm |
thanks ladies! thats intresting about milk supply melnel, I would love it if you could pop back and let me know what the naturopath says about it tomorrow if thats ok?
|
|
 |
mummyofprinces
Senior Member
Joined: 10 February 2008
Location: Hibiscus Coast
Points: 8627
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 01 October 2009 at 9:50am |
will do hun, I cant believe your little man is 9 months! its seems like just yesterday you got your BFP.. obviously it was 18 months ago LOL.
|
|
 |
noodle
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Auckland
Points: 3193
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 01 October 2009 at 3:13pm |
thanks chick!  and yea lol it goes so fast! he has now officially been out longer than he was in hahaha  Your wee man isn't far behind Rory, nearly half a year old! time sure does fly!!
|
|
 |
mummyofprinces
Senior Member
Joined: 10 February 2008
Location: Hibiscus Coast
Points: 8627
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 01 October 2009 at 4:43pm |
I know, way too quickly if you ask me.
I didnt make it today so wont get to see her until monday now,.. will update when I have spoken with her.
|
|
 |
noisybaby
Senior Member
Joined: 08 January 2009
Location: Dunedin
Points: 378
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 01 October 2009 at 4:48pm |
I was told when I started taking it that it decreases your milk supply as it decreases the hormone prolactin( i think it was) which helps your body to produce milk. She also told me to wean her off completely while i was taking it because of this.
|
 |
mummyofprinces
Senior Member
Joined: 10 February 2008
Location: Hibiscus Coast
Points: 8627
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 01 October 2009 at 10:47pm |
Thats interesting, I have been told it balances hormones.. so if your have undersupply it should help boost and if you have oversupply it should help decrease your supply.
I have been taking it now for 3 weeks and certainly have not had my supply decrease, if anything its increased a little...
This is taken from healthchemist.co.nz:
Herbs that may be helpful
Numerous herbs are used traditionally around the world to promote production of breast milk. Vitex (Vitex agnus castus) is one of the best-recognized herbs in Europe for promoting lactation. An older German clinical trial found that 15 drops of a vitex tincture three times per day could increase the amount of milk produced by mothers with or without pregnancy complications compared with mothers given vitamin B1 or nothing. Vitex should not be taken during pregnancy.
Edited by melnel
|
|
 |
Mattsmum
Senior Member
Joined: 18 January 2008
Points: 327
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 02 October 2009 at 8:40pm |
That is very interesting that vitex can lower supply. My local health food shop sold me vitex to help correct my low milk supply - I didn't notice any improvement as a result, I think there are other things such as fenugreek that worked better for me.
|
 |
mummyofprinces
Senior Member
Joined: 10 February 2008
Location: Hibiscus Coast
Points: 8627
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 02 October 2009 at 8:59pm |
Ice_girl, from my research it only lowers supply if you have too much milk as it balances female hormones, that would be why it was suggested for you to increase your supply as it would help balance your hormones so you could produce enough milk iygwim.
I found fenugreek and blessed thistle much better at boosting my supply when my man went on a booby strike  But I have noticed a wee increase in my supply since I started taking vitex too.
|
|
 |
noodle
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Auckland
Points: 3193
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 03 October 2009 at 6:59pm |
sweet Melnel thanks heaps chick!
there does seem to be conflicting advise about it, I asked the lady at the health shop at the mall and she said that its probably not a good idea but then she said that she is not a natropath so best ask them for a definate answer. So will be very intersted to hear what your nautropath says on Monday Mel
|
|
 |
mummyofprinces
Senior Member
Joined: 10 February 2008
Location: Hibiscus Coast
Points: 8627
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 06 October 2009 at 8:55pm |
Spoke to the natropath, well 2 actually. The older one said it would slow milk and the younger corrected her saying what I had been told, if you have too much milk it will decrease it, not enough milk will increase it or if your milk is ok it should stay that way.
The older one said to listen to the younger one as her training is more recent LOL.
Basically they both said its perfectly safe for baby but if you do notice a drop in supply stop taking it.
Like I said, I have not noticed a drop in supply if anything it feels like I have a bit more....
I have been taking 2 a day since thursday last week and still not significant changes
What health food shop did you go to??
|
|
 |
noodle
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Auckland
Points: 3193
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 07 October 2009 at 8:49am |
sweet thanks heaps chick! it was the health shop in glenfield mall down the bottom of the travelator
|
|
 |
noodle
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Auckland
Points: 3193
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 07 October 2009 at 8:50am |
oh and happy half a year little Jake!!!
|
|
 |
mummyofprinces
Senior Member
Joined: 10 February 2008
Location: Hibiscus Coast
Points: 8627
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 09 October 2009 at 10:23am |
Jake says thanks
I find that one to be a bit useless, they told me you couldnt get fenugreek in capsule form in NZ! I went upstairs to Health2000 and what do you think I found......
|
|
 |