Right. So how do I get hold of domperidone (sp?)

[Tryharder]

... or whatever it's called. Read the other thread with interest and note that the poster managed to get her GP to prescribe some.

My GP on the other hand is being a tad unreasonable IMHO and refusing to prescribe it on the basis that he is not allowed to prescribe drugs for usage other than for which they are licensed (ie he can only prescribe domperi whatsit for nausea and not lactation). I told him that other women's GPs on this forum had prescribed it for them but he wasn't convinced!!

Anyway, I can't really afford to buy it over the counter and I think it's a supervised sale drug anyway so you have to convince a pharmacist and I am a crap liar. I have considered buying it over the Net but have heard so many horror stories about internet pharmaceuticals and am a bit nervous about trusting drugs supplied by companies with names like "cheapdrugs.com" etc.

Can anyone help? I just want to give my supply which has always been fairly poor, a bit of a boost. Can anyone recommend a good internet supplier?

Thanks xx

[thisisyesterday]

tryharder, have you seen a breastfeeding counsellor or lactation consultant?

what makes you think your supply is poor? and why does it need a boost?

I wouldn't buy over the net tbh

[madmouse]

how old is your baby? and is s/he not putting on weight?

it is never a great idea to take meds unless really necessary, especialy when bf. domperidone speeds up the pace with which foods goes through you body, so it is not that innocent and would not be appropriate to take 'to give your supply a bit of a boost'. Unless there is a medical problem the best way toboost supply is feed feed feed.

the other poster had thyroid problems (although I posted on her thread that I was not sure she had supply problems, but she has the right to disagree and in the end I don't know the first thing about thyroid problems)

[Tryharder]

Hi thisisyesterday,

I think you once advised me to check for tonguetie before - just to let you know i did so and DS2 hasnt got one! I am a member of LLL and have seen a number of bf counsellors. DS2's latch is OK now he's older and he's generally feeding well but he still feeds very often - it's like he doesnt get much milk out at a time. My supply hits rock bottom in the afternoons and i generally top up then with a bottle of formula (about 5oz or so). At night, he feeds about 5 -6 times still and i'm knackered from that. If my milk supply was a bit more "gushy", perhaps he could go longer between feeds and only once or twice at night which would be a bit more acceptable.

I co-sleep, feed on demand, have had babymoons, switch feed - have done everything that people on here have suggested btw. DS2 is nearly 5 months old.

[Surfermum]

My midwife prescribed it for me.

[wobbegong]

When I asked my GP about that drug, he said yes in principle, but he also spent some time carefully going through all the potential side effects. As madmouse says, it's not that innocent/ magic cure. Once I had heard how it worked and what might also happen to me side-effects-wise, I wasn't so keen. I went and got some herbal nursing tea instead www.revital.co.uk/Trad_Med_Org_Mothers_Helper and it did the trick. As did - feed feed feed (boring and tiring but true).

[ilovemydog]

my gp prescribed a domperidone like lactation aid. But, my supply suddenly stopped due to shock after being in a car crash. We were also doing skin to skin, feeding all the time, and pumping.

could your h/v help?

[Surfermum]

Ok, have just read your ds is 5 months. Your HV might be able to prescribe or do you have a nurse practitioner at your surgery?

[thisisyesterday]

tryharder, at 5 months it's still really really common for babies to be feeding very frequently.

I know you only ever seem to hear about babies sleeping through, but the vast majority of babies are NOT, not by a long shot, and it's perfectly normal for him to be waking at night still.
ds2 is a year old and still wakes at night for milk. at 5 months old he was fed 2 hourly day and night. this is normal for a breastfed baby, please don't think you aren't producing enough milk for him.

supplementing with formula will only make things worse, because your body is not getting the message that it needs to make milk. the best way to boost supply (and I honestly don't think you need to) is to feed, feed, feed.

if you weren't making enough milk your son would be slow to gain weight/not gaining.

if he is happy and healthy, meeting developmental milestones and putting on weight then you honestyly have nothing to worry about

[thisisyesterday]

I should add. I have always had a "gushy" supply as you put it lol, I seem to have tons of milk, but it makes no difference to how long ds2 sleeps.
very often they're waking for the comfort side of things rather than just the nutrition, which is just as important a need IMO

[madmouse]

tryharder, don't be defensive. we only want to help you. remember that you can simply ignore any advice given that you feel is not helpful

thisisyesterday is making a lot of sense. my ds is 9months and will still feed bedtime, 1-sh, 6-ish and that is very recent since having three meals and a snack during the day.
the comfort thing is also true, the other night ds fed every hour during the night. I was baffled until i stuck my hand in his grobag. poor lad was freezing cold. now apply baby logic, hmm, i am cold, how do I get warm . extra blanket sorted it.

[Tryharder]

I might try the herbal tea. Or a can of Guinness .

I know supplementing with formula is not the way but tbh, it was either that or give up bf completely in the early days as bf was going so badly.

Bloody GP. He wouldn't prescribe me Lansinoh in the early days either because he'd never heard of it even though it was listed on his computer.

TBH, I dont want to ask the HV about it as they are of the opinion that if bf is not going right then ff. And DS2 is following his centile perfectly so they'll say he's fine (which he is).

OK, you have all put me off taking Domperidone now but thanks for support.

[lollyheart]

My gp was not keen to give them to me,he asked how i got the info on them i told him on the kellymom website,he had a look then gave them to me.

[thisisyesterday]

if he is following his centile then he honestly is fine, really and truly.

It IS hard. tremendously hard, when you have a frequent feeder. you have my every sympathy because I remember that sleep deprivation so very, very well. and it's even tougher when you've had a bad start to it as well, because it can make you doubt yourself and your ability to do it.

it will pass though, in the grand scheme of things it doesn't really go on for that long, it just seems awful when you're in the middle of it.

check out kellymom for lists of galactagogues. I am not convinced of their ability to boost supply, but then sometimes you just have to try it don't you? and if it helps you feel like you're doing something then it's not a bad thing.
oats are supposed to help, so if you like a nice bowl of porridge in the morning you'll be alright lol

[Tryharder]

sorry madmouse, I am really not being defensive so apologies if it came across like that. If it wasnt for mumsnet i would've given up bf a long time ago. I am really inspired to carry on until he's 2. This has been the hardest thing I have ever done. I still have days when I am tired and want to do something other than bf all the time but generally, I am so glad that I stuck it out.

[thisisyesterday]

you get a great deal of satisfaction from it, I find. and when it's going well it's more than payback for the times when it isn't

[madmouse]

I am really enjoying bf now, now ds is 9 months and eating a wide range of foods. have to wean him off daytime milk as I going back to work but have changed my mind and will keep feeding morning/evening.

it is easier when they are not completely dependend on you...

and I wish I had known about this section of mumsnet, I was posting on antenatal from 5months preggers fgs

[Tryharder]

I generally am enjoying it and love the closeness and satisfaction I get from knowing that he's getting the best possible nutrition (ignoring the 5oz formula that is ). I love it when he's feeding and he looks up at me and smiles. Although he 'bit' me today - my toes literally curled.

[madmouse]

thanks Leonie, happy I know that now. things still going ok for you?