Early Breast Milk Volumes and Response to Galactogogue Treatment

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of galactogogue management in mothers of very preterm infants with varying breast milk volumes prior to initiating this treatment. Data were utilized from 90 women who participated in a trial employing domperidone. Three groups were formed according to their breast milk volumes (based on their infants' birth weight) at the time of randomization and study entry to the trial protocol: (1) ≤100 mL/kg/d; (2) 101-200 mL/kg/d; and (3) ≥201 mL/kg/d. Breast milk volumes were evaluated at the 14- and 28-day study treatment periods. All three groups showed a significant volume increase and volume percent increase both at the 14-day measure and also the 28-day measure. Mothers who started in the two lower volume groups showed the greatest % volume change overall, with 356.2% in the ≤100 mL/kg/d and 106.1% in the 101-200 mL/kg/d groups, compared to those mothers in the higher group of ≥201 mL/kg/d, showing a change of 45.2%, where p = 0.001. Mothers producing varying low volumes were able to demonstrate an effect from the use of domperidone and increase their volumes as much as three-hundred-fold over 14- and 28-day study periods. However, those mothers whose volumes were ≤100 mL/kg/d continued to maintain low absolute milk volumes, putting these mothers at ongoing risk of ceasing lactation.

Keywords: early breast milk production; early breast milk volumes; galactagogues; mothers of preterm infants.