Meds to Increase Milk Supply

I've never taken it myself, but know mothers that have. Domperidone generally works great (much better than Reglan, without the nasty side effects). But it's usually reserved for moms who have serious ongoing issues, such as breastfeeding after reduction surgery, adoptive nursing, etc. Most supply issues can be dealt without the need for herbs or prescription meds. Kellymom is a great resource for breastfeeding info. Here is a link to milk supply info:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/index.html

And Rx meds for supply in particular:
http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/prescript_galactagogu...

And if you're not involved already, I'd definitely recommend getting in contact with your local La Leche League group - they can be a big help.

1 mom found this helpful

I was on Dom for about a year with my son. I had some serious supply issues that fenugreek and the teas alone just weren't able to boost. I would say the results were fairly quick -- a few days -- and gradually by the end of the month my supply was much better. I was on it for a year with no side effects. I know some people who weaned themselves off the drug earlier but I stayed on it for about a year. I should mention that according to my Dr it is not something you want to go off cold turkey, you would cut back your doses and eventually go off it.

I would also suggest contacting your local LLL and/or a lactation consultant who is more familiar with dom (if your Dr isn't). HTH

Hi, K.:

I used Domperidone when I induced lactation (without a pregnancy) for my first adopted son, and again after I birthed my second son. I had researched it extensively before using it the first time, and felt comfortable that it was a safe, effective medicine for increasing milk supply.

It worked fabulously both times, and I had absolutely no side effects. I told my physician I was using it, and she had no qualms, either.

Best,
L.

Hi K.,
We have never recommended it in out Pedi office. We do recommend Mother's Milk Tea- and many of my friends swear by that. It can be purchased at GNC, Whole Foods and most health stores.
Also, like others have said drink tons and tons of water, make sure you are taking time to nap when the little ones do (let everything else GO for now!) and make sure you are eating right.
Best of luck!

Hi K.,
I never used that particular thing to increase my supply but I did the following in various combinations depending on the day:
1. made sure to drink water---LOTS
2. drank Mother's Milk tea...sweetened with honey
3. Tried to increase intake of things dietary that increase or improve the quality of your milk supply. I am not an expert on this at all, but one thing that seemed to help was oatmeal and dark green leafy foods.

Good luck and hang in there......

K.

No, I don't have any experience with these medicine. I did use Reglan when I was breastfeeding and it worked the same day that I took it. You might consider this if this med doesn't work.

GOOD LUCK

I've never heard of Domperidone for increased milk supply. I did use Fenugreek (an herbal supplement)while nursing with my first son and it really did make a difference. I bought it from a local health food store in Frisco called Family Health Market. The best advise I was given was to drink lots and lots of water because no matter what you take, if you are not drinking enough your milk supply will not increase if you are dehydrated.

Here is a website that might help: http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/fenugreek.shtml

Good Luck

My friend took Motilin but had to get it from New Zealand. It worked for her. I asked my doc about it after I gave birth to my son, because I've always had low milk supply, and he said that it is not prescribed anymore, because of some issues, one of them being that it caused stroke in some patients.

i used finugreek. it worked pretty well.

I took Domperidone when my baby was about 5 months up until I stopped breastfeeding at 10 months (she was ready). I found that if I stopped taking the pills my supply went down. It took about a week to see the diffrence and my supply increased by about an ounce or so a day. It was worth it.

Including the Domperidone I also took a few herbals, Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle. I'm not sure if they really made a diffrence with the Domperidone but I really wanted to get the most of my supply.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

J.
Mother of a wonderful 11 month old girl.

Hi K.,
Haven't tried that med, but the lactation consultants at Plano presby recommended Fenugreek (you can get it at the hospital) herb. It worked in 2 days for me. All natural. I ended up using it with each of my breastfeeding experinces after returning to work.

Good luck and hang in there, it's worth it.

D.

I haven't heard of that medicine. . . I just wanted to let you know that I was given vitamins to increase my milk supply by a doctor that leaned toward natural remedies. They are available online, they are called OPTI NATAL. He had a patient nurse triplets by taking these, he said that the milk supply varies by how many you take per day, I believe he said up to six. I had great success with these, they also seemed to help me have more energy.

I am a SAHM of four, the youngest is still nursing. Good luck (and I'm sorry that this doesn't relate directly).

I would suggest Mothers Milk, it worked wonders for me! Also it works very quickly and is pleasant tasting, it tastes similar to Sleepy Time. Good luck!

My lactation consultant has recommended it. It is very expensive and you have to have it compounded at a special pharmacy. Your OB will have to prescribe it. Have you tried Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle...these are herbs that have helped my milk supply increase as recommended by my lactation consultant.

I've been taking Fenugreek as well - 2 tablets 2 to 3 times a day. I definitely notice a difference if I forget it for a couple of days. I told my pediatrician that I was taking it and he was OK with it. You can get it at Whole Foods or Central Market for about $9.00/bottle - about 100 pills/bottle.

I took it with both of my children. With my first child I was able to get it here and I noticed a change within 2 or 3 days. I had very low milk supply though. I went from producing one ounce to two ounces.

When my son was born I wasn't able to get it in the states anymore. Something to do with the FDA so I got it online from New Zealand. I took it but it was making my stomach hurt so I didn't get a chance to really compare because I only took it for maybe a week.

I'm not sure about how long you need to take it. I would think once you get your supply up and your nursing routine estabilished you wouldn't need to take it anymore.

There is a tea at Whole Foods that is called "Mothers Milk" and also "Fenugreek" herbal pills you can take if you are willing to try an alternative way. I took the pills and they worked really well. you have to take like 3 pills 3 x day if i remember correctly to get your body jumpstarted. Plus of course, nursing/pumping on the hour is the most important thing. I saw significant results after 2 days and felt happier I didn't have to go the prescription drug route. Good Luck!

While Domperidone is the very best resource for improving your milk supply and is recommended by the World's leading authority on medications while breastfeeding ( Dr Thomas Hale )
The FDA will not approve it's use in the US. It is illegal to import it, requires a prescription and you can only get it thru Canada or a compounding pharmacy that can make it for you. Your physician must sign a release to the pharmacy stating they are aware of the FDA restricitions and they will accept any and all liability for the prescription as well as any communication with the FDA if caught.

The controversy is that it was developed for gastrointestinal problems and was not effective for that as well as some problems with a few IV large doses in a patient in France. It was used by Lactation consultants for many years here without any reported adverse side effects to mom or babies. But the FDA wants 5 years of testing for breastfeeding before allowing it, and the profit is so low that no company is willing to take that on.

The alternative is :Botanical herbals such as mothers lactation tonic, one dropper 4 times daily (best); Fenugreek 3-610mg tablets 3 times daily for 7 days with a 2 week tapering dose or a prescription for Reglan 10mg 3 times daily for 3 weeks then tapering doses. The botanicals have cross allergies to ragweed or grasses, the Reglan has been shown to increase anxiety in some women.

I hope this helps, please let me know if there is any way I can help you. I am sure you have already tried the pumping after feedings to more completely empty your breasts (preferably with a hospital grade pump), frequent feedings etc. If you are not working with a lactation consultant I would strongly recomend it.

Sincerely,
K. Willis, Rn, IBCLC
The Nesting Place, Grapevine, TX
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Marshmallow root and fennel teas work great for this! And they are safe!

I used domperidone for a few months after my twins were born. I had to get it from a Canadian pharmacy, because we couldn't get it here for some reason. It worked well for me. I had been nursing with no problem for a few months, when for no apparent reason, I was producing less milk. I think it was within a week of starting the domperidone that my supply went back to normal. I stopped taking it when I was ready to stop nursing. Good luck!

I did take Domperidone with my 3rd baby. Honestly- I didnt see much of a difference. And I got a little nervous about taking it- at the time (dont know if still the case?) I dont think it was FDA approved, and I had to buy mine from an online source. I would try taking Fenugreek first. I have taken this also. And 'My cup runneth over' LOL It worked wonders for me. The only thing was I smellled like maple LOL
Oh, also, I heard that when you stop taking the Domperidone after regularly taking it- your milk supply has a hard time recovering. Try Fenugreek first.