I can tell you that the Children's Hospital in Houston uses fenugreek with
their NICU moms and have had no concerns for their small babies. Nettle is a
pretty innocuous herb, and mother's milk tea has been around forever with no
complaints that I know of. 

Having said this, but all means the neonatologist should know when a mother
is using an herb. But if this neonatologist is not familiar with herb use,
perhaps the best course of action is for the LCs to first pull together some
information, including from other NICUs that use galactogogue herbs, and
present it to the doctors. The ABM protocol on galactogogues might be
helpful as well.  

This all comes down to the basic issue of risks vs benefits: is formula
safer than breastmilk that may contain some herbs?  It is the same question
we ask about medications and breastmilk. In the vast majority of cases the
amount of a drug, and presumably herbs with therapeutic properties, is very
small and of little risk. 

Hopefully there can be some productive, balanced dialogue, and a
comfort-level agreement hammered out with all concerned.

~Lisa Marasco

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