Pharmacological management of low milk supply with domperidone: Separating fact from fiction

Restrictions require scrutiny, as their relevance to young and otherwise healthy lactating women is uncertain

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life is well recognised as the optimal form of nutrition to support the growth and development of term and preterm infants.1 Whether real or just perceived, low milk supply is the most commonly reported reason for early discontinuation of breastfeeding.2 This is despite the fact that most mothers are able to produce sufficient quantities of milk for their baby, if given the correct support and information.3 Risk factors for women experiencing low milk supply include maternal illness, caesarean birth, maternal smoking, previous breast surgery, mother–infant separation and indirect lactation (ie, breast pump or manual milk expression).3 Mothers of infants who are unwell and require supportive care after birth, such as preterm infants, are particularly vulnerable to experiencing low milk supply.3