Domperidone

Has anyone used this where a baby's intake is poor, and therefore has poor weight gain? My supply used to be great, and although Jackson was fussy, he did put on weight at almost an average amount.

That started to drop off though, and I noticed a decrease in the amount of weight he was gaining (well below average, or the amount to keep him on his curve).

I am wondering if I take Domperidone (my LC has suggested it) that more milk will be available, and because it is easier to get Jackson will drink more. And I realise I may need to continue to express any excess as well.

What I DON'T want to happen is the Domperidone to mean that Jackson takes a greater ratio of foremilk to hindmilk.

Anyone with experience?

No, I hadn't seen that site, but will have a good look. Thank you!

Great to hear that you managed to feed EBM for so long. Gives me a bit of hope! How many times a day did you express?

What does titrated up mean?

Right, that makes sense. Should have just looked it up!!

Thanks Annie. I know it won't help with Jackson's fussiness, but I am hoping if there is always more milk readily available he will drink it. We seem to have the biggest problems when he has to work really hard for it.

Plus, when we have a few bad days, I don't need to panic about my supply.

Sounds like it is worth a shot. I'll try anything at the moment!

Sorry i tired to answer back straight away but was at work and for some resason the site kept crashing.
I Fed Fay EBM til she was 6 months old at the time when i got fed up and we switched to formula. Fay was born at 35 weeks, I had no milk what soever and she had no latching or sucking reflex, so we had several different problems to you. I persevered with direct BF for 10 weeks and after seeing a speech therapist and LC a really good plunket nurse at the Rongotai plunket centre just suggested i stop putting myself through the wringer and feed EBM. We started on domperidone at 5 days, and it helped at that point in that my milk finally arrived 3 days later. Initallay I was expressing 10 times a day, but over time I was down to 2-3 times by the end and yeilded about 250-300mls a day. I used a medela single pump but would not advise that if you want to do it as it takes nearly an hour a time.
Domperidone made me feel very hungry as it speeds the gut flow up, that's how it works as an anti sickness drug.
and sorry yes titrated means i started on a smaller dose and we increased it until we reached the dose which worked for me, we tried bringing it down a few times but my milk flow stopped and we had to start again until we discovered the dose that helps.
Hope that helps,and just go with what feels right for you. No one else knows the answers to your situation and go with your gut feeling. I think i said earlier that the only person to justify anything to is you and jackson. But giving up BF is a greiving process, acknowledge that and allow yourself to cry for it. I still miss the fact that BF was not the natural loving experience i really wanted it to be, and 2 years on I think I am just about over that. I do feel I was cheated, and I know I didn't bond with Fay initially as I was so stressed about feeding and separation (she was in NICU for 2 weeks)
good luck and If i miss anything or have not explained ask away
claire

Aww Laurie, Im sure you have Jackson have great bond, you have done so much for him. He is a lucky wee chap!

Breastfeeding is just one way of bonding, there are SOOO many other better ways to bond with him I found lots of little things.
Formula feeding Caden, made us have a better relationship as mother and son, but that little bit of breastfeeding was a great bonding experience and I realised that after I stopped.

I wonder why your doc wont give domperidone to you, thats odd, if you LC said to get it then that should be good enough for your doctor.....have you tried the milk flow tablets from the health shop?

Sheena, I think he was more worried about my emotional state and the expectations I put on myself. He reiterated that I had done a good job, but I should choose formula over several hours of expressing every day.

He also prescribes it for it's proper purpose (tummy issues) and feels a large number of his patients have side effects, like headaches.

I think he would have liked to see me go straight to formula, but didn't want to make that call until I have seen a specialist.

Luckily, I trust my doctor 100% and he has been very good with me in the past. I think he is trying to protect me from more upset and worry! Like I said, I know if I had pushed the issue then he would have given it. It feels kind of good that someone has gone "this is what we are going to do...." rather than just giving me multiple options and letting me flounder!

Mmm I guess thats true Laurie your doctor is being sensible, maybe Jackson is a bit like Caden on the feeding thing, I could have kept trying and trying and exausted all attempts but the end result was going to be the same. I mean I was pouring out with milk, it would soak my top and pants where it would be dripping out while I tried to latch him on, so it wanst my milk production that was the problem it was that Caden couldnt/ wouldnt stay latched on.
In the end I got myself so stressed out and upset, especially after trying the feeding tube thing that formula was the obvious way to go for us.

My MW was very supportive and it was her support that made me feel better about my choice, she basicly told me Id done so well to BF for 4 weeks with bleeding sore cracked red nipples! I never got a break from the sore nipple thing

The relief was amazing, physically and mentally after Caden went on formula.

Edited by Sheza

Yeah, I know you guys are right. However I find myself getting frustrated with Jackson when he won't eat.

I know he is not doing it to be difficult - there is obviously something causing him some sort of discomfort and because I feel antsy, it feels like I am not close with him.

A good portion of my day is spent encouraging him to latch/suck/lie still etc that it does detract from just being with him.

The sooner we get to the bottom of it the better!!

3 - 4 hourly. With the bottle I am offering immediately after the feed, and then half an hour later.