Increasing Breast Milk Production with Reglan

I wouldn't assume she isn't producing enough milk just because she can't get much out by pumping after feeding. I never could get much out by pumping, unless I pumped with my own hand. Machines never worked for me, but I always had plenty and constantly leaked one side while feeding the other. If she drinks a lot of water, she will have enough. I'm no expert, but it sounds to me like the problem is more with the pumping. Maybe a lactation consultant or the La Leche League would be able to help with that.

I used Domperidone for many months with very good results. I didn't want the potential side effects of Reglan, including depression. When I went back to work, I needed to have a decent supply of milk at home as well as be able to pump and keep my milk supply up (I worked 12-hour shifts), and the Domperidone most definitely helped. It basically doubled the amount I could pump in a sitting. I also took Fenugreek supplements, but I don't think they helped nearly as much as the Domperidone. There are several online drugstores in Canada where you can get it without a prescription. I was able to exclusively breastfeed until 14 months, when my little guy unfortunately decided to stop on his own!

Are you sure it is Reglan? That's a drug for increasing muscle contractions in the upper digestive tract for short term treatment of gastro reflux. The max amount of time that it can be used is 3 months and it has a whole mess of possible side effects. Remember, everything you take has its price. Personally, I wouldn't take it for breast milk. Imagine the whole list of side effects being transferred to the baby. Always look up any drug before taking it. Do the Mother's Milk tea that was suggested. The prescription doesn't make any sense.

I had to pump w/ both my kids. I used the Medela both times. The best thing to do to build your milk supply is to try to pump as often as you can - every 2 hrs for 20 mins at first, then when you start to get your milk going (more coming in), you can pump every 3 hrs for 15 mins. Drink "Healthy Nursing Tea" three times daily. It also helps to boost your supply.

I agree with Missy F's post.
Mother's Milk Tea.

Here is a link to read a bit more on the tea.
http://www.tealand.com/MothersMilk.asp

I would also recommend a Lactation Consultant.
La Leche League can be of a help in that area.
http://www.lllusa.org/
(SEARCH GROUPS FOR A LEADER IN YOUR AREA)
or call:
1-877-4-LALECHE

The best to you & your friend.
~D.

Hello.
I have taken Reglan. It will help increase milk supply but needs to be taken daily for an extended period of time. The drug is usually used for stomach problems and the recommended duration for stomach problems is 120 days. I took it for nearly 8 months. There are side effects. It causes drowsiness, which I did gradually adapt to. It can also cause anxiety/depression and irritability and the manufacturer will give you a list of other problems it could possibly cause that's a mile long. Aside from those I mentioned I didn't have any other problems. The amount of the drug that gets through the breastmilk to the baby is minimal, and significantly less than what they would get being treated for spitting up.

I have heard that on occassion, for no apparent reason when a baby is 3 or 4 months old milk supply will decrease. Reglan is supposed to work particularly well in this circumstance. Decrease in supply can also happen with the use of birth control.

The effective dose is 10mg - 20mg from 1 - 4 times a day; start with one, if you don't see an increase, twice a day, etc., until you see an increase. Most doctors don't know how to prescribe Reglan for this purpose, including OBs. I could feel it when I hit the right dose. My breasts were sort of tender like they are just before milk comes in, then my supply increased.

If your doctor is willing, Domperidone (Motilium) is better because it lacks the side effects on the mother. The drug usually has to be made up at a compounding pharmacy however, and though it is known to increase milk supply as well, its manufacturer does not back its use for such.

There are also over the counter supplements your friend can try. Fenugreek in combination with Blessed thistle. You can get these in capsule or tea form at places like Sunflower Market, Whole Foods Market, etc.. I took these also for several months before going to Reglan. The recommended dose was 3 capsules of each, 3 times a day. If it will work for your friend, she should see results within a week. It worked for me within 24 hours, while it worked, though some women take longer, and some don't respond at all. I don't recommend the tea-- it tastes terrible, and the dosage is smaller.

As with any medication, there are possible risks. I would advise your friend to do some research on her own. She might also benefit from picking up the book, The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers by Jack Newman, M.D.. It was the best reference I found.

I agree with others that she does not a have a milk supply issue. The baby sounds like he is growing fine. Some women just do not respond to pumps. But it's worth it for her to experiment with different pumps. It sounds like she should try an electric pump, the kind that are rented out. Pumps are different in terms of how many cycles per minute the pressure is built up then released. The higher grade pumps have higher cycles per minute.

Yes I have heard of this. There are also herbs that can really help. I can't remember what they were exactly or how much to take (big help I know), but I got GREAT information from the lactation consultant at the hospital where I gave birth. Just have her call. They gave me a ton of info over the phone and on the spot. No appointment was necessary. They were really caring and supportive. Another great place to get help is a nursing store where they sell the pumps and all the baby gear. They can consult with her. I personally would take a lactation consultants advice over my doc. Docs are too quick just to hand over a script. Kuddos to your friend for wanting to continue breast feeding.

Yes. Reglan is sometimes prescribed for increasing breastmilk.

HOWEVER, it causes depression in some women and passes through breastmilk to the infant.

Domperidone is widely prescribed in other countries for increasing breastmilk and her doctor can write a prescription for it. It's safer and doesn't cause depression. Both drugs are used to treat gastroesophageal reflux but have the side effect of increasing prolactin levels which raises milk production in some women. Although this might not be why she's not making enough milk, it might boost her production anyway.

Some more info on Reglan. http://www.reglan-lawyer.net/news/2009/05/07/breast-milk-...

I would highly recommend the book "The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to MAKING MORE MILK" by Diana West, BA, IBCLC and Lisa Marasco, MA, IBCLC.

It is the most comprehensive book I have found on the subject and, believe me, as a mom who struggled with breastfeeding with both my children, I have done my homework.

Blessings to your friend.

Traditional Medicinals makes a Mother's Milk Tea that has worked for me. I had a prolific supply until I went on birth control, then my supply decreased significantly (still have enough to nurse and store some at the end of the night, but not nearly as much as I used to). When I drink the Mother's Milk Tea, I have much more at the end of the night to freeze. They recommend drinking several cups a day, but I make a pitcher of iced tea with 4 bags and drink it that way. You can find it in most grocery store's Natural Foods sections. Good luck to your friend!

I had a problem with milk production with my last child. It was a rough road. I was prescribed Reglan and I don't think it helped enough to make the side effects worth it. I was a depressed, emmotional basketcase. Tell your friend that if she does decide to try it, to be sure to watch out for the depression and stop if she needs to!

I used Relan with both my children. At 6 mos, it was like clockwork my supply dropped. I tried the Fenugreek, extra pumping, etc. and did not have the great success I did with the Reglan. With my daughter I had no side effects and was able to take it during the day. With my son (2nd child) it made me very drowsy and so I could only take it at night. My doctor recommended taking it four times a day until my supply was up and then dropping down on the number of times a day I took it as long as my milk production stayed up. I was able to keep it up by taking it 1-2 times a with my daughter. With my son, since it made me extremely drowsy I would take two pills at night and it still helped to keep my milk production up throughout the day. I would say I took it for about 6-8 mos. with each child and I had no other side effects other than being sleepy the second time I took it. I noticed no side effects with my children. They are 4 and 2 now and are doing great. I thought it worked wonders and recommend it to others trying to increase milk production if the holistic approaches do not work for you.

Hello,

I don't know anything about Reglan but I am one that stayed away from all drugs when I was nursing. But I do believe there is a website that you can look up in details about different drugs ifyou want. Alfalfa tablets not only help with increase of milk production but quality also. This is what I relied on when I was nursing 2 babies full time. Hope this helps.

A friend said that she didn't produce much milk, so her doctor told her to drink a beer, because beer naturally makes your milk really come in. So, another friend tried that this last weekend and she said that after drinking a beer, she had a ton of milk. Beer also will not give you the side effects of the prescription drugs. Personally, I'd rather my baby have a little bit of beer in my milk, rather than those prescription drugs. (Both of which would end up in your milk)

Reglan is a medication originally prescribed to slow your stomach from digesting and speed up your intestines to release... I heard of doctors prescribing this to increase milk supply... I used Mother's milk tea... a mixture of several herbs specifically for increasing milk supply... I would recommend that first as well as feeding 1st then pumping right after... I would start 1st thing in the morning, as your breasts will be most full then... has she called La leache league???

If she is feeding regularly and he is gaining weight, she is producing enough milk. Pumping is NOT the same and many women do not pump milk easily. A baby's latch and suck are MUCH more productive than the unnatural action of a pump. So first, encourage her and help her understand that she IS making a sufficient amount for her son.

Second, she should get in touch with LLL or a Lactation Consultant to help her pump more and transition to work. What she would spend on an LC is MUCH less than what she's spend on formula. It's SO WORTH IT.

Third, there is a class called Back to Work with Breastfeeding next month here:
http://www.InspiredABQ.com
They also have a lending library full of breastfeeding books to help her.
And Presbyterian Hospital has a free breastfeeding clinic she should visit.

She can get plenty of info on increasing milk supply from any of the above sources, but make sure she is getting enough fat into her diet (from real food, nothing packaged or processed), as well as drinking enough water. And she should consider the herbal teas mentioned, as well.