Maternal experiences with and sources of information on galactagogues to support lactation: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

An increase in the marketing and use of herbal galactagogues among breastfeeding mothers in the US has raised the issue of how best to provide support and information on the use of these products, particularly in light of limited availability of certified lactation counselors and continued suboptimal rates of breastfeeding globally. Currently, no cross-sectional data are available on the experiences and attitudes of mothers regarding the use of herbal and pharmaceutical galactagogues for lactation in the US. The findings of an online survey of 188 breastfeeding mothers on experiences with and sources of information on galactagogues are presented. Most mothers (76%) reported that while breastfeeding, they felt as though they were not making enough milk to meet the needs of their child, and yet 54% also indicated that they had not supplemented with formula. A large proportion of respondents reported utilizing galactagogues to increase lactation and finding them useful. The results indicated that most women learned about galactagogues from the Internet or by word of mouth through friends. Lactation consultants were the third-most reported sources of information on these products. While many respondents reported perceiving galactagogues as innocuous, more evidence on safety and efficacy is needed to support women properly who seek out and use them. Large-scale studies of the prevalence of galactagogue use in the US and rigorous evaluation of use globally are needed to ensure that mothers who choose to breastfeed may safely avail themselves of all options when counseling support is insufficient.

The prevalence, perceptions and behaviors associated with traditional/complementary medicine use by breastfeeding women living in Macau: a cross-sectional survey study

“…Consistent with previous reports, the use of T/CM in this study was associated with personal preference and a perception that such products are natural, safer and with fewer side effects than conventional treatments [13,28,41,42]. Interestingly, in this study the number of women who perceived T/CM to be safe was substantially lower than those who reported using T/CM during lactation.…”

“…Breastfeeding women should be made aware of the risks and benefits before they can make an informed decision about using T/CM when necessary. Two recent studies involving this population reported breastfeeding mothers may experience adverse reactions ranging in severity from mild to serious, including nausea, vomiting, and decreased glucose levels [28,49]. More extreme cases such as toxic epidermal necrolysis was linked to the use of Trigonella foenum-graecum by a young woman [50] and a precaution is warranted for cross-reaction among Trigonella foenum-graecum and chickpeas, peanuts, and other legumes in allergic patients is possible [51].…”

“…It was validated through two pilot studies which followed the concepts described by Leavy [21]. The first draft of questionnaire was prepared in English and was informed by (1) the research team's previous study findings [22][23][24][25][26][27], (2) other similar studies in the literature on related topics [8,[28][29][30][31][32], (3) consultation with pharmacist and lactation consultant, (4) an online discussion among breastfeeding mothers in the online chat groups, and (5) interviews with two mothers who had used T/CM during breastfeeding. The questionnaire was then translated into Chinese.…”

Prevention and Treatment of Hypogalactia. The Role of Lactogenic Agents

“…В то же время многие респонденты сообщили о том, что воспринимают ЛС как бесполезные. Авторы делают вывод, что необходи-мы дополнительные доказательства безопасности и эффективности, чтобы правильно информировать жен-щин, которые их используют [46]. Этими же авторами годом ранее [37] в результате опроса было выявлено, что более 70% медработников и консультантов по ГВ в США рекомендуют лактогонные средства.…”

“…При этом фенхель занимает первое место среди растительных лактогонных средств по частоте назначения в Швейцарии -80% [41], а также второе место после пажитника в США [46]. Причем авторы отмечают, что 16% (29 человек из 188 проживающих в США) из опрошенных применяли фен-хель, 58% не были уверены, что количество молока уве-личилось при приеме, однако при этом 79% из них сооб-щили, что будут использовать фенхель повторно, 76% рекомендовали бы его использование другим, и только 5 человек не стали бы его рекомендовать из-за неэффек-тивности, большинство (55,2%) сообщили о высоком уровне безопасности фенхеля, только 6 человек сооб-щили о неуказанных побочных эффектах.…”