Domperidone for increasing milk supply

[missrachelk]

Hi everyone! I am considering starting domperidone to help with low milk supply and would love experience, tips, real life side effects, how it worked for those that used it , dosage everything!!

I know there are a lot of medical professionals around too so a medical opinion would be great too.

Rundown of my situation :
Baby was born 10/4 at 8 pounds 9 oz ( only 1 bag of Iv fluid so no serious bloat)
She had a lip- tie that was clipped at 1 week so the first week I was getting mangled and she wasnt nursing well.
Baby had lost a full pound at first checkup on day four and lost a further ounce at 1 week.

Supplementation started then - weight gain was good over an ounce a day.
I backed off the formula - just want her to nurse as much as possible and keep formula to a minimum- and weight gain slowed to half ounce a day and has stayed there - she is now 4 weeks and is 8 pounds 6 oz

I WANT to EBF but I also want to give my baby what she needs and if that's formula so be it. I'm pumping as much as I can manage - about 4 times a day plus one early morning session. Usually I get 1 oz or less pumping.

I'm going to a BF support group tomorrow and will do a weighed feeding on their scale to see how much milk transfer we get.

We have been using a nipple shield since the hospital and really want to get off it ASAP

I'm taking a bunch of galactagogues - more milk plus, fenugreek (but its giving the baby and I both gas so I think I will stop it), just starred goats rue

I have PCOS and has to go on metformin to get my cycles going and get pregnant so there may be underlying hormonal disruption for me


Thanks for any input!

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

Hi! So, I'm on Domperidone and have had some success with it... but I also take a bunch of other galactagogues, so who's to say what it is that helps my supply?

I take fenugreek, blessed thistle, and goat's rue. I also eat a lot of steel cut oats and feel like that, plus staying hydrated, help keep my supply at a decent level. As does rest!

I started dom at 90mg a day (30 mg X 3-day) and upped it to 40 mg X 3-day. I jumped from 15ish ounces a day to 22. One day I accidentally took another 40mg dose and was producing milk like a dairy cow! Dr. Newman says that 1600mg in 24 hours is the max dose one can take, but I didn't feel comfortable doing that on a regular basis.

I haven't noticed any ill effects, except that it's REALLY hard to get any weight off. I've actually gained a bit since starting dom.

DD has low transfer. Every now and again she'll nurse 4 ounces, but usually it's around 1.5. I also work full time. I think that without dom and with (basically) EPing, my supply would be much lower.

 

[Mela4567]

Another idea for increasing supply, if possible, is to 'take a babymoon'. Take baby to bed with you for 24 hours, relax together, do lots of skin to skin cuddling and nurse as much as possible. Enlist support to bring you food and drinks. It worked for me and we are still going strong 19 months later. Good luck!

 

[Rosebloom]

A "baby moon" definitely worked for me too with both kidos. Skin to skin time is so helpful. (In a warm bath is even better!). I find my supply is very linked to hydration, rest and calories. I'm sure you've taken care of all of those but thought I'd mention it in case you need something to focus on while you're getting in to see your doc about other options.

I also used a nipple shield for a while with my baby who wasn't tongue tied but had other physical issues being able to nurse. One day (about 7 weeks) I got tired of it and just stopped. He did fine! I imagine not everyone is able to wean from it that abruptly but it sure was amazing to let it go! So much hassle!

I wish you the best of luck. My baby is 6 months now and nursing is such a joy. It was super easy with my first, extremely difficult with my second, but totally worth it for both!