Motilium to increase milk supply?

Aww thanks Janie, you have a pretty inspirational journey yourself :hug: and Nickle :hug:

You can take them both together no problems with that, I also tried Blessed Thistle and drinking Aktavite, didn't really feel a great effect from either, would like to make lactation cookies, but just don't know if I will have the time :lol:

For me it was just the tingly feeling :D

Nickle, that vicious cycle is hard! The let down feeling, if felt, can be different for different mums. For some it is like pins and needles, others a tingling, and for others yet it can be quite uncomfortable, even painful. Many mums feel that their breasts become briefly hard, like a very full feeling as you described. There is no one sensation you *should* experience, it is only what is normal for you. And, as I said, some mums feel nothing at all. I have only felt it a handful of times, and very vaguely. But I know that I do let down, and can even see it when I'm expressing.

Yes, Fenugreek and Motilium can be taken together. There is another herbal galactogogue, Blessed Thistle, that it beneficial when taken in conjunction with Fenugreek. In fact there are many, many galactogogues available, Diana's website will be able to tell you some more. In fact, she has a wonderful book available, Making More Milk, which has an extensive list of them, and how they are beneficial (they all work differently).

Hi, there,

I wonder, how did breastfeeding go with your other children?
Motilium works to increase your prolactin levels. Prolactin is the hormone that makes milk. Generally, we have high levels of prolactin in our bodies while pregnant - but we don't make milk, because our placenta produces hormones to supress the action on prolactin. When the placenta leaves our body the prolactin can start doing it's thing - making milk.
In the early days of breastfeeding our milk supply is driven by high levels of prolactin - over time the levels of prolactin naturally decrease to a low level, but milk supply is driven by baby's feeding. The baby's suckling produces a prolactin spike. As the baby feeds, you make more milk. By and large, frequent feeding is the secret to supply.
Making milk is like baking a cake - there are lots of ingredients. Diana West's Low Milk Supply -- Providing Information and Support to Breastfeeding Mothers website has a great explanation of how this all works.
Taking motilium may help if lack of prolactin is the *problem* in low milk supply. In your case you will also be dealing with lack of breast tissue (though remember, most of us have more milk making capacity than we us (ie most of us have the potential to feed twins - but we only need to feed one baby at a time) Motilium may also *maximise* the milk production of the tissue you have available - but the most important thing is to breastfeed frequently. Early feeding , and early , uninterrupted skin to skin contact with youur baby will also act to maximise you supply - more than drugs.
To get the best chance of breastfeeding, join the Australian Breastfeedng Association (their book, "breastfeeding ....naturally" comes free with subscription. Go to their classes and *really* get a good understanding of how breastfeeding works. A consult with an experienced LC will also be helpful. The skill will be to work out how much milk your baby is getting from you, and supplementing appropriately if necessary.
Where you will lay on the spectrum of milk supply is probably a bit of an unknown. I was very happy to see a mum who had had a reduction down at the supermarket the other day and she whispered to me she is *still* breastfeeding her 2 yr old. Fabulous, because with her first post reduction baby she was told 'she couldn't breastfeed' - and didn't.
Motilium may be a useful l for you, but will be only one part of the equation

Hi Barb, Thanks for your response and your advice. Like the mum you mentioned, I didn't really attempt to BF my DD7 because I was handed a bottle of formula at her first feed and told not to bother as there was no point. Other MW's told me that I MUST try and so my daughter was on the breast a couple of times a day (obviously not enough to establish a supply!). By the time I got home and the MCHN visited, I was so confused that when she asked me if i was BF I burst into tears and said "I don't know!!!". She advised me that there was no point continuing after reduction and as I was already comp feeding I should give up the BF, which I did. I continued to leak milk for around two weeks but this 'dried up' on its own.

By the time my DS was born, I was more educated about feeding after surgery. I did not comp feed him until he was 2 weeks old. He was quite happy to sit on my breast as long and as often as I let him! We continued to BF with comp feeds until about 12 weeks, which was the goal I had set for myself. Our BF journey was complicated by the fact that my son was born with serious renal problems and we had to be particularly careful that he was receiving adequate fluids. I was terrified that my supply was not enough and the he would become dehydrated. Again, not a very relaxed experience BF'ing!

One of my very good friends is a MCHN and LC. She assisted me with attachment and we also weighed my DS regularly to ensure he was gaining weight (as well as watching for all the other signs that my DS was getting enough fluid). My friend was surprised by how well my breasts drained and the supply that I did have. My breasts are still a DD cup after the reduction, does this have any correlation to the amount of milk producing breast tissue? I know plenty of women with A cup breasts who feed very successfully!?

I am very realistic about my likely ability to solely BF my next baby. I know that I will probably have to comp feed again. But I would like to know that I have done everything that I can to maximise my supply. I also want to have a plan in place so that I can respond confidently to all the MW's who doubt my attempts to BF (some refused to help me as it was 'a waste' of their time!). I would like to feel relaxed this time, and enjoy my BF journey!

Nickle, I just wanted to express how sad and horrified I am that some people told you it was 'a waste of their time' to help you. That is so terrible, on so many levels. I'm so sorry you experienced that :hug: