ArticlePloS one2021
Use and experiences of galactagogues while breastfeeding among Australian women.
Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 58 citations in OpenAlex.
- Cultural Food Practices During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period Among African Migrant Women Living in Australia: A Qualitative Study.Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities · 2025Article
- Review
- Effect of brewer's yeast or beta-glucan on breast milk supply following preterm birth: the BLOOM study - protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial.International breastfeeding journal · 2024Article
- Potential Anti-Tumorigenic Properties of Diverse Medicinal Plants against the Majority of Common Types of Cancer.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Advancing breastfeeding promotion: leveraging integrative natural galactagogues and unveiling their potential roles-Insights from a 19-year Taiwan nationwide registry to address lactation insufficiency in postpartum women.Frontiers in nutrition · 2024Article
- Exploring galactagogue use among breastfeeding women: Insights from an observational study.PloS one · 2024Observational
- Longitudinal trends in domperidone dispensing to mothers of very preterm infants and its association with breast milk feeding at infant discharge: a retrospective study.BMJ paediatrics open · 2023Article
- Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for postpartum hypogalactia: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ open · 2023Article
- Women's experiences with using domperidone as a galactagogue to increase breast milk supply: an australian cross-sectional survey.International breastfeeding journal · 2023Article
- Lactational Amenorrhea: Neuroendocrine Pathways Controlling Fertility and Bone Turnover.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Review
- "Fear of stopping" vs "wanting to get off the medication": exploring women's experiences of using domperidone as a galactagogue - a qualitative study.International breastfeeding journal · 2021Article
- Lactogenic effect of Polyscias scutellaria extract to maintain postpartum prolactin and oxytocin in lactating rats.Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicineArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundGalactagogues are substances thought to increase breast milk production, however evidence to support their efficacy and safety remain limited. We undertook a survey among Australian women to examine patterns of use of galactagogues and perceptions regarding their safety and effectiveness.
methodsAn online, cross-sectional survey was distributed between September and December 2019 via national breastfeeding and preterm birth support organisations, and networks of several research institutions in Australia. Women were eligible to participate if they lived in Australia and were currently/previously breastfeeding. The survey included questions about galactagogue use (including duration and timing), side effects and perceived effectiveness (on a scale of 1 [Not at all effective] to 5 [Extremely effective]).
resultsAmong 1876 respondents, 1120 (60%) reported using one or more galactagogues. Women were 31.5 ± 4.8 years (mean ± standard deviation) at their most recent birth. Sixty-five percent of women were currently breastfeeding at the time of the survey. The most commonly reported galactagogues included lactation cookies (47%), brewer's yeast (32%), fenugreek (22%) and domperidone (19%). The mean duration of use for each galactagogue ranged from 2 to 20 weeks. Approximately 1 in 6 women reported commencing galactagogues within the first week postpartum. Most women reported receiving recommendations to use herbal/dietary galactagogues from the internet (38%) or friends (25%), whereas pharmaceutical galactagogues were most commonly prescribed by General Practitioners (72%). The perceived effectiveness varied greatly across galactagogues. Perceived effectiveness was highest for domperidone (mean rating of 3.3 compared with 2.0 to 3.0 among other galactagogues). Over 23% of domperidone users reported experiencing multiple side effects, compared to an average of 3% of women taking herbal galactagogues.
conclusionsThis survey demonstrates that galactagogues use is common in Australia. Further research is needed to generate robust evidence about galactagogues' efficacy and safety to support evidence-based strategies and improve breastfeeding outcomes.
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