Low Milk Supply

There are medications and supplements some people use to increase milk supply and promote breastfeeding, these are called galactogogues. Generally there are two medications (reglan and domperidone) and many herbs used. 

If you are thinking about trying a galactogogue, there are a few things to think about:

• There is no galactogogue that will work very well if your breasts aren’t being emptied. Consider having your child’s latch evaluated for milk transfer (with a before and after weight), or add on some extra pumping if you are pumping.
• If you start galactogogues and don’t empty your breasts, you could be at risk for plugged ducts or mastitis.
• We recommend medical evaluation beforehand, as medications and some herbs can cause side effects or may not be recommended for you. Side effects may be as minimal as fatigue, or as extensive as anxiety or poor sugar control (if diabetic).
• We find that 2 weeks is enough to determine if your body can make more milk in response to galactogogues. If your milk supply goes down after stopping them, then some people think longer-term options like domperidone or herbs.