I hesitate to write fenugreek out of the picture in the current situation of
the baby with the blood in stool, based mainly on the fact that this plant is
in the Pea family, and allergies to soy, peanuts, even green beans are not
exactly unheard of.


 Hale 97 mentions case of occupational asthma in manufacturing of fenugreek
products ( don't know if inhaled fenugreek dust was original trigger in this
reference, but likely).

Have the impression that babies that have these bleeding episodes very early
are especially sensitive to allergens in breastmilk (?).  If the blood in the
stool stopped when fenugreek discontinued and restarted with resumption of
use, it could just be by chance, as the baby is still receiving supplemental
feed besides breastmilk.

After 2 weeks no dairy for mom, cow milk protein should be now deleted from
the picture, but may have still been an irritant at the time she stopped
fenugreek temporarily.

But it is somewhat suspicious. Still boils down to risks and benefits analysis
- doesn't read like the mom will need supplement or lactogogue for much
longer.  Is there a family history of allergy?


Sheila Humphrey  BSc(Botany) RN IBCLC
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