GP's advice on increasing lactation - nonsense??

[TitaniaP]

I went to the docs today to get a prescription for Domperidone as recommended by the infant feeding specialist as our local hospital. Her first question was to ask if I was drinking enough and then she said that hot things increase milk supply and suggested porridge and hot chocolate!!
Now whilst I'm delighted to have been given the go ahead to drink copious amounts of hot chocolate I can't help thinking she's talking nonsense?

Has anyone heard of have any proof that hot drinks increase lactation?

This is the same GP that listened to my stomach with a stethoscope when I was about 5 weeks pregnant and expressed surprise when she couldn't hear anything.

I've made a note of her name so I never get an appointment with her again!

are you sure she's registered?

She printed her medical degree off Clip Art. It's probably got a ruddy-faced, grinning imp on it giving her a thumbs up on her SuperDooperDegree.

Run, run as fast as you can, brief pause to complain about her but otherwise, do not listen to a word she says.

She's just one of the many GPs at our local surgery. The surgery is mostly fantastic but can't help thinking that she shouldn't actually be allowed to practice! I will make a comment next time I go in.

So does this mean that an iv drip of hot chocolate won't increase my milk supply?

I wouldn't mind but I had a battle to get her to prescribe the Domperidone and she had to refer it to another GP!!

Oh dear.

No. Hot drinks don't increase milk supply.

Nor do increased fluids.

Perhaps let the infant feeding specialist know what the GP is saying - there may be local bf training for GPs that she could invite this doctor to.

Tiktok - thanks for confirming what I suspected. I will talk to the specialist at the hospital as I'm sure she'll be concerned about the misinformation.

It really is no wonder that the bf rates in this country are so low

The stethoscope thing is very concerning, do you think she was joking?
I think this is a worrying part of general practice, that you essentially work alone with little opportunity for colleagues to pick up if things aren't being done correctly.
I would say something.

Oats are supposed to be good for lactation though, so porridge is alright.

What a loon though. The stethoscope at 5 weeks is very worrying!

Yes the stethoscope was very worrying, especially as had I not known she was being a total idiot it could have really worried me. Thinking about it now, she also got my edd totally wrong by looking at the wrong aside of her dial thing. I had to correct her by turning it over!

Maybe I really should say something!

You definitely need to say something! Random breastfeeding info seems to be normal if unacceptable for GPs, but that is seriously shoddy pregnancy knowledge, which must be a major part of a GPs work.

That is worrying. I would think about writing to the Medical Director at the Primary Care Trust, they oversee GPs appraisals and performance issues and might be able to put some supervision or training in place.

What a shocker!

Reminds me of advice my mum was given whilst she was breastfeeding me, to eat a Mars Bar a day to help my weight gain