Meds to help lactation

Marie - posted on 05/08/2009

I've been on domperidone now since Tuesday afternoon. I haven't been getting a lot of sleep lately but I know how important it is to get enough sleep.



I've been taking 3x30mg per day. My doc only gave me a 10 day supply (100 pills) thinking I should notice a difference within that period. I don't know what else there is that I can do to help my supply... I'm also pumping as often as reasonably possible every time Alexander nurses.



He's still fussy so I'm also working on a new-ish bedtime routine that involves dinner, wind down time, bath, pj's, nursing then bed. I don't think he got his nap this afternoon so he was a REALLY fussy baby tonight.

Lisa - posted on 05/05/2009

meant to say i started on 3x30mg per day but my specialist upped it to 3x40mg per day. i'm in the uk.

Lisa - posted on 05/05/2009

my daughter was born with a cleft lip and palate and couldn't latch onto the breast. to say i was devastated would be putting it mildly. i had to feed her with expressed breast milk as i didn't want to go down the formula route. there began the problems!! i remember having problems expressing with my first even though i had plenty of milk. this time i struggled with supply from day 1. i tried everything, absolutely everything, before i resorted to domperidone. it helped massively but as soon as i stopped i dried up again (although i'm told this doesn't normally happen) i managed to keep expressing until she was nearly 6 months but after that i really couldn't justify the amount of time i spent expressing as i also had a 3yr that needed some mummy time.

personally i couldn't have done it without medication, and i didn't have any side effects. good luck, and keep me updated as to what you decide and how you get on xx

Marie - posted on 05/05/2009

Hubby's really good at feeding Alex when it's time for cereal or jarred food for dinner, but he's not so creative in the raw foods department. I've pulled out all kinds of fresh foods and gotten baby to eat them. What an adventure! :) Of course if I want hubby to give him anything other than the "easy" stuff I have to prepare it myself. We received our high chair from grandma in Victoria BC yesterday. She paid a whole $4 for it! It will make feedings so much easier.



I did some poking around on the 'net after I read your message. Domperidone and Reglan both have similar purposes, though Reglan has a reputation for causing anxiety and depression, while domperidone does not. They are both used in larger doses for gastro problems like heartburn.



Domperidone apparently can be used for long periods - like 18 months long. It's given to adoptive mothers who want to nurse (even if baby is older like 3months +) in 30mg/dose 3x per day. Kellymom.com has a great article from Jack newman about it.



I always nurse Alex before solids, but sometimes he only nurses to take the edge off then goes to play. I got him up at 815 this morning and he only just went down for his nap 30 minutes ago. He hasn't had his cereal yet today but had 1.5 boobs this morning *grin*.;.. My biggest problem is that I can't always pump for 10 minutes after he nurses, and I'm currently suffering pain in the right side - which while hopefully go away in the next few days.



Are you a stay at home mom?? It must be far easier to get baby nursed if you don't have to take off to work and pump while you're there. If I get the domperidone in the next few days, the advice is to constantly empty the breast (even at night) in order for it to obtain optimal effectiveness.... one of my clients will just have to suck it up that I have to take off every 2-3 hours to relieve the pressure. :)



I'll dig up those links again and post them for you. If you're in the US you can't take domperidone (unless it's for gastro... )



http://www.kellymom.com/newman/19b-dompe...



Thanks again!

Holly - posted on 05/04/2009

I share your frusteration with hubby. Bless their hearts, they try to do the right thing, but the feeding side of the baby falls squarely on our shoulders, doesn't it?!!! lol.



Reglan is the real name for it. The generic name starts with an M and is very long. I've been on it for a month and a half. My midwife is weaning me off of it because you're only suppose to use it for a short period of time... it's not intended for long periods. My son is only five months old, and nowhere near ready to wean off of breastmilk, it boosted my supply, so now we're trying to get my body to take over production instead of meds. Good plan, really... that and a lot of prayer!!!



Are you feeding him first, then offering solids? Make him take all you've got first!



Feel free to email me directly too!

Marie - posted on 05/04/2009

Thanks Holly! Is Reglan the generic name of the drug? How long have you been on Reglan for? Is your son weaned now - is that why you're stopping?



:)



I so don't want to give up nursing. I'm just getting so frustrated. I know milk supply is supposed to drop off at this stage since baby is eating solids, but still... he's got to have his milk! And hubby isn't giving him the stuff in the fridge for "some" unknown reason... *sigh*

Holly - posted on 05/04/2009

I hated making this decision, but finally said okay. I tried EVERYTHING, and I mean everything to get my milk supply up to where I didn't have to supplement. tea, fenugreek, blessed thistle, pumping at all hours of the day and night, mothers love tincture, lactation blend supplements, oh my! I even tried beer, but couldn't stomach it! EWWW!



Finally, I gave in as a last ditch effort and said okay to Reglan. I'm currently weaning myself off of it, but it really worked. What a relief I felt to actually be able to feed my son without having to give him formula afterwards. I wish I could say I did it myself, but atleast it's getting done! I don't regret it, and am super happy that I didn't give it up.



Good luck!!