| 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......
     
   
   | 
 
 
  | 
   
    
   
   | 
 
 
    |