Prescribing in breastfeeding | Right Decisions

Please update your RDS mobile app to version 4.7.1

We are pleased to advise that deep linking capability, enabling users to directly download individual mobile toolkits, has now been released on the RDS mobile app. When you install the update, you will see that each toolkit has a small QR code icon the header area beside the search icon – see screenshot below. Clicking on this icon will open up a window with a full-size QR code and the alternative of a short URL for sharing with users. Instructions are provided.

You may need to actively install the update to install RDS app version 4.7.1 to see this improvement. Installing this update is also strongly recommended to get the full benefits of the new contingency arrangements – specifically, that if the RDS website should fail, you will still be able to download new mobile app toolkits.

To check your current RDS version, click on the three dots bottom right of the RDS app screen. This takes you to a “More” page where you will see the version number. To install latest updates:

On iPhones – go to the Apple store, click on your profile icon top right, scroll down to see the apps waiting to be updated and update the RDS app.

On Android phones – these can vary, but try going to the Google Play store, click on your profile icon top right, click on “Manage apps and device”, select and update the RDS app.

Please get in touch with ann.wales3@nhs.scot with any questions.

The BNF shows manufacturers recommendations with regards to drugs and breastfeeding. Alongside this, it is useful to look at the Breastfeeding Network, UKDILAS or LACTMED prior to advising women with regards to starting/stopping medication when breastfeeding. DO NOT advise to express and discard milk without looking at these sources first.

The GP Infant Feeding Network has information on how to access all of the above sources.

There are no licensed drugs to improve milk supply. Domperidone (for low supply, encouraging supply in non-birthing parents or re-lactation) has some evidence of effectiveness and is occasionally used under specialist advice after all non-pharmacological routes have been exhausted but should not be initiated by GPs.

Refer patients to the infant feeding team to ensure other ways to increase breastmilk production have been tried. See a summary of the data here: GP infant feeding network - galactogogues. Do not represcribe domperidone without review after 7 days and consider reducing the dose.