I am concerned about milk supply. My doctor prescribed reglan...
Not sure if I want to take this or not, has anyone heard of this to increase milk supply?
thanks, Heather

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Chris and I...



Olivia and Jack

this drug was not meant for that purpose for it is really to keep nausua (i can spell) at bay, but i have heard people taking it for milk supply with no problems at all.

have you tried other ways to keep your supply up like fenugreek, oatmeal, etc etc... also, im sure you know this but stay away from caffine and any kind of sudafeds. these are just things that come to mind. good luck!

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Co-Host of Born in June 2007

What exactly makes you think you have a supply issue? Isn't your bundle a month or so old? It takes 5-6 weeks of nursing on demand to really establish a supply.

Reglan has been prescribed for some BFing moms. There are some side effects that make moms decide not to take the drug. If you go to www.kellymom.com you can search for reglan and read tons on the drug.

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Nancy

I think I need more milk in the afternoons because my little guy is so fussy after he eats (and I can tell I'm gushing milk out and when I pump after he eats I dont get anything) so I give him about 3-4 oz of formula/day. I dont want to keep doing this. I am trying to make more milk... I've also heard of some supplements from Wild Oats called More Milk Plus, Goats Rue or Mothers Special Blend. Anyone heard of these?

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Chris and I...



Olivia and Jack

Well, it is natural and normal for you to have less milk in the afternoon/evening time. That is why babies cluster feed. The milk quantity is less usually, but the quality of milk is higher(more fat in the milk). The best and sure way to increase your supply(again, you have a newborn and your milk supply takes 5-6 weeks to establish completely), is to NURSE, NURSE, NURSE. This means no expectations except for nursing as often as he wants in the afternoon/evening.

Any formula during this time is hurting your supply. It is completely normal for a BF baby to gulp down a higher quantity of milk(say, 5-6 oz) when they would probably only nurse and get 3-4 ounces of BM b/c it is SO MUCH EASIER to get milk out of a fake nipple with ABM versus nursing. They will OVEREAT when drinking from a bottle b/c they know from their BFing experience to suck hard to get the BM out of the breast.

We don't have Wild Oats stores where I live, so I can't offer an opinion on products from them.

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Nancy

I wouldn't worry about your supply too much at this stage, but supplementing with formula is definitely going to hurt your supply. Milk production is a strictly supply and demand issue, and your breasts know to make more milk when they get the signal that they are empty. If you are supplementing you are missing a chance to empty your breasts again so your breasts will not make as much milk.

Here is an excellent page for determining if you really have a supply issue, and I think it covers just about everything you've brought up so far and then some http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html

Exactly! There are huge growth spurts at 2, 4 and 6 weeks where your baby may be on the breast most of the time. You breasts will only keep up with the baby's need if you are giving the baby nothing but breast, formula or even EBM from a bottle can negatively impact your milk production during these times especially.

From http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/growth-spurt.html
Reglan may not be the best option, I understand that many women have bad constipation and depression from it.

Babies will always suck from a bottle - sucking is a soothing and natural thing, so if you put a bottle in their mouth they will suck whether they're hungry or not. He could be fussy for other reasons, reflux, gas, etc. not necessarily because he's hungry. Pumps are nowhere near as efficient as babies are at getting milk, and many women can't get anything at all with a pump while their babies are just fine. Breasts are constantly making milk so even if it seems like they are empty, as long as the baby is sucking he's getting something, even if it is a trickle compared to right after letdown.

I don't personally know much about them, but I think that they're main ingredients are fenugreek and blessed thistle. Here is a good start for information on those: http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milks...actagogue.html

Is your baby producing enough wet/dirty diapers? Is he gaining weight like he should? If the answers to these questions are "yes" then you most likely have nothing at all to worry about. I know I was a mess those first few weeks home with Vivian because I really wanted it to work, and I wanted the best for my baby. Our bodies were made to do this, mama! It just takes a little bit of time for the system to adjust and settle down into a routine.

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kara and nanacy have said everything i owuld have said <nodding>

i would not reglan personally, but i would (and have in the past) use fenugreek and other herbal galactogogues if i felt my supply were low. if i were to go a prescription medicine route, i would use domperidone instead of reglan.


quick question for you, are you on any other meds? cold meds, birth control pills or deposhot etc?

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I thoroughly agree with these ladies!!!!!!!!

I damaged my supply by starting a nighttime bottle routine around 7 weeks and by 10 weeks I almost gave up entirely. I strongly discourage the use of a bottle on any kind of a regular basis.

My only advice is if you are truly having a supply issues I would recommend you take domperidone over reglan. Reglan has some wicked side effects, I know because after taking it for a week I ended up in the ER unable to breathe. Anyway, I started on domperidone and it has been a miracle. By 11 weeks Addi was back on breast exclusively and has been ever since, she'll be 6 months old next week and I'm constatly getting comments about how "healthy aka fat" she looks. I'm thrilled to hear this because I know it's my doing.

PM me is you'd like more info on domperidone or my experience with it.

Good luck.

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