There is definitely evidence to show increased milk production by mothers of prematurely born infants when they take domperidone, and this is standard practice. It is also reasonable to think that domperidone may help prepare the breasts when lactation is being induced in a non-puerperal parent.

Here, however, are the reasons why increasing plasma prolactin levels by taking domperidone is unlikely to increase the amount of milk produced by the mother of a term infant.

• Prolactin levels rise in a pulse after nipple stimulation and suckling, peaking about half an hour after the baby starts to suckle.

• Prolactin secretion varies with the circadian rhythm, resulting…