Yaffa,  

According to Hale... [progesterone]... "is not likely to affect your milk supply" ...  and ...  "So I doubt that progesterone controls milk production. In fact, some people believe that too much progesterone can suppress lactation. I'm not sure of this however."

But my personal experience would agree with your patient's lament.  I recently began a course of Prometrium (200mg 3x/day)to help achieve / sustain pregnancy.  By the second day, my 3 year-old nursling was complaining that "the mimi's are not working."  His personal repertoire of squeeze/massage or side-switching proved fruitless.  On day 3,  I started taking Fenugreek (2) and Brewers Yeast (6) tablets with each meal (3x/day) and noticed improvement the next day and within several days my supply is back to normal.  I had taken the Brewers yeast before with good results but this sudden loss of milk was so dramatic I went with the Fenugreek as well.  

If I am not pg. then I will go off the progesterone and the herbs and then resume post-ovulation next cycle with all three -- hopefully preventing the progesterone to "cause" the loss of milk to occur.

Lisa Dugan
LLL Leader
Southern NJ



Date:    Mon, 5 Mar 2001 08:08:44 -0800
From:    "Yaffa Stark MA, IBCLC" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Fw: Birth control pills/decreased milk supply

Subject: Birth control pills/decreased milk supply


I've had 2 calls today from Mom's whose docs put them on birth control =
pills.  The first is taking the mini pill(progesterone only) and has =
noticed a dramatic lowering of her milk supply.  The second mom's doc =
prescribed the double whammy(progesterone & estrogen).  She's taken only =
1 pill and will call tomorrow to get the Rx changed.  My question to the =
list is:  Has anyone used and had luck with herbs to increase milk =
supply when a mom is on birth control? =20
TIA
Yaffa Stark, MA, IBCLC
Eagerly waiting for the birth of my 21st grandchild any moment.

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