Has anyone ever seen a baby with blood in their stool when mom is taking
Fenugreek?  This mom had a history of insufficient milk supply with her first
baby - baby was rehospitalized at 3-4days of age and w/o for dehydration.
Needless to say parents were extremely stressed and mom was never able to get
a full supply of milk although she nursed for 5-6 months and pced with
formula.

With this baby we got together on day 3pp; baby was already at a 10% wt loss
so I had her start pumping and using an sns (both parents were extremely
anxious about not wanting to repeat their first experience) at the breast with
formula for supplement as mom was only able to pump 10-15cc at a time);  also
started Fenugreek 2-3tabs 3x's daily.  Shortly after we started the formula
supplement this baby started having blood in his in stools.  Peds took mom off
all dairy and switched formula to N- that VERY expensive stuff.  Parents are
pretty concerned about the cost over a long period of time.

Mom is starting to show signs of pp depression; she's very overwhelmed with
everything she is trying to do as well as take care of a 3 y/o.  She stopped
taking the Fenugreek for several days and the blood in the stool stopped.  We
reintroduced it and 3 days later the blood returned.  Her peds doesn't think
the Fenugreek is a problem;  baby is growing well (wt up 22oz from bw at 4
wks; up 34 oz from lowest wt); mom has been off all dairy for about two weeks;
peds has referred her to a peds gi.  Any thoughts.......

As an aside, her milk production seems to be coming up as the baby has gained
12 oz in the last week and decreased the amount of supplement - she no longer
pc's each feeding - mostly the night feedings when he seems to act "less
satisfied" after nursing.

TIA,
Kathy Lipke, RN, BSN, IBCLC