Grant: Operating Grant

Recent advances in Perinatal and neonatal care have enhanced the survival of the extremely preterm infant. Breast milk is the most optimal form of nutrition for these infants. The mothers of these infants begin pumping breast milk soon after delivery but face many challenges in achieving and maintaining a volume felt to be adequate for their infants during and after hospitalization. Many mothers who have difficulties require medications to help enhance breast milk production. However, it is not known how these medications should be used. Domperidone is the most commonly used medication used in Canada. The idea behind this medication is that it helps with increasing milk supply through increasing a hormone, prolactin. The goal of this study is to evaluate whether using a medication like domperidone in a mother who is pumping expressed breast milk for her preterm infant is safe and effective for both her and her infant. Mothers will be randomized into one of two groups to evaluate safety and efficacy of domperidone. The results of this trial will inform both mothers and clinicians about the choices available to increase and maintain an adequate milk supply. Mothers will also have better information as to what are the potential risks and benefits of domperidone and enable more informed choices.