Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
J Hum Lact. 2022 Nov;38(4):740-748. doi: 10.1177/08903344221077131. Epub 2022 Mar 3.
Galactagogues have been used for centuries to induce, maintain, or increase a mother's milk supply. Recently, there has been an apparent increase in utilization and promotion of galactagogues, largely in the absence of data regarding their efficacy and safety. However, there is limited contemporary evidence about knowledge of these substances in the community or how and where individuals seek information.
To evaluate knowledge about galactagogue use during breastfeeding among birth parents, including recognition of specific substances, perceptions of safety, and common information sources.
An online, prospective, cross-sectional survey of Australian birthing parents ( = 2055) who were currently breastfeeding or had previously breastfed their infants was conducted from September to December 2019. The survey included questions about recognition of galactagogues, perceptions of safety, and information-seeking behaviors.
Among participants, 47% ( = 882) were primiparous and 65% ( = 1,219) were currently breastfeeding. The most recognized galactagogues included lactation cookies (89%; = 1,828), brewer's yeast (79%; = 1,629), fenugreek (74%; = 1,519), and domperidone (69%; = 1,420). Respondents cited the internet (52%; = 1,066), lactation support providers (46%; = 951), midwives (42%; = 873), general practitioners (39%; = 802), and social media (35%; = 714) as common information sources. Lactation support providers and breastfeeding helplines were commonly rated as helpful; whereas, general practitioners and community pharmacists were often rated as unhelpful. While most participants perceived galactagogues to be safe, herbal or dietary galactagogues were perceived to be safer than pharmaceutical galactagogues.
Our Australian community survey of individuals with current or previous breastfeeding experience identified widespread recognition of galactagogue use, with participants reporting a broad range of information-seeking behaviors and generally perceiving galactagogues as being safe to use.
几个世纪以来，催乳素来被用于促进、维持或增加母亲的乳汁供应。最近，催乳素的使用和推广明显增加，而这主要是因为缺乏关于其疗效和安全性的数据。然而，关于社区中对这些物质的了解程度以及个人如何和在哪里寻找信息，目前仅有有限的相关当代证据。
评估哺乳期父母对催乳素使用的知识，包括对特定物质的认识、对安全性的看法以及常见的信息来源。
我们于 2019 年 9 月至 12 月期间，对澳大利亚的分娩父母（n=2055）进行了一项在线、前瞻性、横断面调查，这些父母当时正在母乳喂养或曾母乳喂养过婴儿。调查包括对催乳素的认知、安全性看法以及信息寻求行为的问题。
在参与者中，47%（n=882）为初产妇，65%（n=1219）正在母乳喂养。最被认可的催乳素包括哺乳饼干（89%，n=1828）、啤酒酵母（79%，n=1629）、葫芦巴（74%，n=1519）和多潘立酮（69%，n=1420）。受访者提到互联网（52%，n=1066）、哺乳支持提供者（46%，n=951）、助产士（42%，n=873）、全科医生（39%，n=802）和社交媒体（35%，n=714）是常见的信息来源。哺乳支持提供者和母乳喂养热线通常被认为是有帮助的；而全科医生和社区药剂师则经常被认为是没有帮助的。尽管大多数参与者认为催乳素是安全的，但他们认为草药或饮食催乳素比药物催乳素更安全。
我们对有当前或以往母乳喂养经验的澳大利亚人群进行的社区调查发现，催乳素的使用得到了广泛的认可，参与者报告了广泛的信息寻求行为，并且普遍认为催乳素的使用是安全的。
