E.B. asks from Wilmington, DE on January 13, 2009
Anyone Taken Reglan to Increase Milk Supply?
Hello Ladies!
Some of you may have seen my last post asking for help with using Fenugreek. Well, unfortunately, after using Fenugreek religiously for 3 weeks, plus all of the additional wonderful suggestions that everyone provided me with, I am still having a lot of trouble pumping enough milk for my son to take to daycare. The past 2 weeks we have had to supplement with formula for the first time, which has just been heartbreaking for me after 5 months of working hard and managing to squeak by with just enough milk.
Anyway—my doctor, at the advice of my lactation consultant, has prescribed Reglan for me. I am a little nervous about taking it and I’m wondering if anyone here has taken it for increased milk supply before? Were there any side effects for you or baby? How quickly did it start to work? How much of a difference did you notice?
The information I’ve seen on the internet says that potential side effects for me can include depression and anxiety. Yikes! Anyone experienced this?
Thanks everyone yet again for the superb help!
Featured Answers
M.Y. answers from Pittsburgh on January 14, 2009
I had a tough time pumping. I think I concentrated too much on the pump and had trouble letting down. I got a hands free pumping kit that allowed me to do other things while I pumped. I was able to pump double! I went from pumping 5-6 oz at a time 3 times a day to 10-12 oz at a time.
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V.F. answers from Scranton on January 14, 2009
I'm not sure of the safety of Reglan. You can get Domperidone from Canada. They don't allow it in the U.S. for whatever reason but in the past it was deemed the safest way to increase your milk. check out www.kellymom.com
D.S. answers from Allentown on January 14, 2009
Hi E B,
Contact your local La Leche League representative and ask her for help.
Hope this helps. Good luck. D.
M.S. answers from Pittsburgh on January 14, 2009
I have nothing good to say about my experience with Reglan. I won't post the details, cuz I don't want to scare anyone, but you can contact me individually if you want more info.
Fenugreek (25/day), Reglan, pumping every hour for 72hrs - each would increase for a day or two, but nothing long term.
Good luck - I don't wish low milk supply on anyone!!!!
C.J. answers from Harrisburg on January 13, 2009
Never tried reglan, but did many herbal supplements to give my milk a boost....Mothers milk tea, fennel, fenugreek....ect....along with oatmeal, dark beer(1/4 cup a day) after a feeding in the afternoon, ect....
M.M. answers from Pittsburgh on January 13, 2009
I have taken Reglan.
it is not a nice drug.
there are many alternative natural choices you could try first.
Are you a member of The La Leche League. If not I would consider dropping the $40.00 to become a member and get some one on one natural help than to spend $40.00 on Reglan.
I hope you find an method that is helpful to you soon, and hopefully one that is kind to you and baby.
K.R. answers from Philadelphia on January 22, 2009
Hello, I read your post and thought wierd that reglan was used to help increase milk flow.But I am not a dr and didnt know it could be used for totally different things. My almost 4 yr old was prescribed reglan for a slower to empty stomach. The dr said it is used on chemo patients to help with nausea also. Look it up online. It took me a long time to pump for my daughter. I never used anything to increase the supply and just pumped more and more. Eventually it increased on its own.
Take care and good luck,
K.
S.A. answers from Pittsburgh on January 14, 2009
I took Fenugreek and that didnt work much for me and then my Dr put me on Reglan and it worked for about 3 month
and it did increase my milk supply. I was post pardum so I was already depressed,I dont recall the Reglan having any side affects for me as I recall. Nothing affected my child from taking it I know that.
E.S. answers from Pittsburgh on January 14, 2009
Don't do it!! I sympathize with you, but this isn't the answer. I'm a pharmacist so I know the side effects it has on healthy people, and I had to take Reglan in college because of a stomach problem and stopped taking it after a month because of the side effects ( I was nervous all the time and wanted to jump out of my skin!) It's fairly safe for the baby, but still not so good for you if you start to have any of the side effects. And please don't try anything that's not approved in the US. Some of the rules don't make sense, but many drugs aren't approved here because they haven't met the FDA's guidelines for safety. It's not a perfect system, but it's here for our protection (the biggest example is thalidomide!) Try again to use non-drug related treatments to increase your milk and if it doesn't work, then you've given your son 5 months of a wonderful gift. Don't ruin it because you think you'll be less of a mom if you don't breastfeed.
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