Motillium vs Formula

[Life is Good]

I have been feeding DD for close on 4 months and I have truly treasured EVERY moment of being able to Breastfeed her

I am starting to realise that I will probably have to be on Motillium long-term - well, for as long as I BF her. Those of you that have read my previous posts will know that it took 12 days for me before I could exclusively feed her. I was on Motillium from day 1. So my supply wasn't great to begin with.

After a month or so, I started weaning myself off the Motillium super-slowly - it took ages. Eventually I was totally off them and 2 weeks later I hardly had any milk. She was feeding constantly and her nappies were nowhere near as wet as they used to be. Her weight gain also slowed.

I freaked out and started on the Motillium again - it took over a week to kick in and now, after two weeks, I am in oversupply (can't win, can you?!). So I am now going to start weaning back down to a lower dose and see how I go.

The problem is that I hate the idea of having to take medication to breastfeed (I am already on chronic medication for depression) - especially if it is secreted in my milk (safe or not, it is still medication). I dread the thought of having to formula feed (primarily because I tried sooo hard to BF this time and all of the problems we encountered when I FF DS), but I am now wondering if it is something I should be considering.

I am struggling with the idea of taking the Motillium for another 8 months until she is one year old, or stopping earlier and moving her onto formula. I found it hard even typing the previous sentence

What would you ladies suggest?

[M D]

LIG - I often wonder if it is better to medicate and BF or just FF. Will be interested in peoples responses.

[Pretty Butterfly]

I used Motillium for a year for my son. It is supposed to be safe for a year, but no trials had been done longer than a year, so after a year I stopped, and lost my supply (cleft bub with no suction, so by pump only). If your loving it, no need to stop. Breastmilk, even with a trace amount of Motillium is better than formula if you want to keep going babe. Motillium is also given to children, so cant be that bad! LOL

[DANNIIM]

With DS2 i was on Motillium until they wouldn't prescribe it any longer too, but i never got an oversupply to how your explaining it but as soon as i stopped it i also had pretty much no milk and DS2 refused to latch on then (10 months). I hoping this time will be different but i will see what happens.

[emc2]

I read up on it with a view to finding out side effects for myself, not bubs.

It is used as anti nausea drug, for cancer and AIDS patients. Long term it can reduce your dopamine levels, so in my case I decided against taking it long term - as I have a previous history of depression. I would guess the effect reverses when you stop taking it.

I wouldn't panic, but rather just keep that in mind.

[christy]

I have depression as well, and used motillium to boost supply when DD2 refused to feed and I had to pump for a while. After speaking with a few Lactation consultants and nutritionists, they were all convinced it was better for me to get as much breastmilk into DD as possible, and that formula was not as good as breast milk with motillium in it. I kept on motillium for a few months and slowly we weaner her back onto breast and no formula (I used goats milk formula as it is the closest thing to breast milk).

[Lenny]

Do you want to know the chemicals and manufacturing etc in formula vs the motilium in your BM? Or is it more than that?

I just thought i'd ask because i'm not sure if it's purely a concern about secreting motilium in your breastmilk that you think is dangerous? If it is, just that, then i would ring a pharmacist - a proper breastfeeding savvy one, and ask about motilium. Get them to look into it and call you back. There are a couple (one in particular) in melbourne and he's awesome. Loves to help BF mums. There might be one in Brissy too.