Questions for LA users ...

[starling&diesel]

So, my homemade SNS bit the dust, so we invested in the LA system. We have two, and may get two more. I have a couple of questions for you LA mamas:

1. What is your schedule like? ie. How often do you offer the LA? We were doing 1.25oz every two hours, but have started the LA doing 2oz every three hours. What do you do?

2. We have donor milk sometimes, but formula more often (unfortunately ...). We use Nutramigen Hypoallergenic powdered. Do we really have to use the strainer?

3. Does it really help to lower the bag to get the flow going faster? My little one used to take the 1oz in 5-10 minutes, and now 2oz takes between 30-45 and sometimes she still doesn't finish it. When I test it, it isn't clogged, so I don't know what else to do.

4. How often do you take it apart and wash all the components?

5. When you go out, do you take the bags filled, or do you fill them just before use?

6. Do you time and separate the feeds starting at the beginning or end of the feed? So if i feed her at 10am and it takes 45 minutes, would i feed her again at 1pm or 145pm?

I really like how discreet it is, but the time factor is really wearing thin. I just ordered a bazillion 4oz bags, so I'm hoping to make it work. Any help is appreciated!

[sattygirl99]

Originally Posted by starling&diesel

So, my homemade SNS bit the dust, so we invested in the LA system. We have two, and may get two more. I have a couple of questions for you LA mamas:

1. What is your schedule like? ie. How often do you offer the LA? We were doing 1.25oz every two hours, but have started the LA doing 2oz every three hours. What do you do? DD is taking 2.5 oz every 2-3 hours... We were doing 4 so that's a huge decrease.

2. We have donor milk sometimes, but formula more often (unfortunately ...). We use Nutramigen Hypoallergenic powdered. Do we really have to use the strainer? YES! Always use the strainer... Also, how are mixing your formula? Formula should always be made with boiling hot water (to kill off any potential bacteria), which helps reduce clumps.

3. Does it really help to lower the bag to get the flow going faster? My little one used to take the 1oz in 5-10 minutes, and now 2oz takes between 30-45 and sometimes she still doesn't finish it. When I test it, it isn't clogged, so I don't know what else to do. She may not need as much as you think.. How's her weight gain? Lower the bag slows the flow... If you want it to flow faster, raise the bag higher than the breast. But I don't think you want it to flow faster.... A normal nursing session lasts anywhere between 10 and 40 min, depending on the baby.

4. How often do you take it apart and wash all the components? You need to wash between every use. That's why I have 8 systems, lol. I started off with only one and I was cleaning CONSTANTLY.

5. When you go out, do you take the bags filled, or do you fill them just before use? I make all 8 of our units at once and use them as needed. When I go out, I take already put together units with me.

I really like how discreet it is, but the time factor is really wearing thin. I just ordered a bazillion 4oz bags, so I'm hoping to make it work. Any help is appreciated!

Responses in red! HTH!

[starling&diesel]

Thanks, Satty!!!

I knew I could count on you, mama!
I added a question ... do you mind chiming in on that?

I realized that I had it wrong, about the bag being lower/higher. I tried it higher and it worked a lot better. I'll try the boiling idea ... but I thought it was supposed to be mixed with room temp water that HAD been boiled? It would make sense that using boiling water would reduce clogs. I'll give it a shot!

You rock!

[sattygirl99]

Originally Posted by starling&diesel

Thanks, Satty!!!

I knew I could count on you, mama!
I added a question ... do you mind chiming in on that?

I realized that I had it wrong, about the bag being lower/higher. I tried it higher and it worked a lot better. I'll try the boiling idea ... but I thought it was supposed to be mixed with room temp water that HAD been boiled? It would make sense that using boiling water would reduce clogs. I'll give it a shot!

You rock!

New recommendation is to mix the formula WITH boiling water... They are finding that the contamination isn't in the water but the formula itself and using boiling water to make helps kill off bacteria that may be lingering.

I'll check your new ?... BRB!

[sattygirl99]

I don't really time her feeds... I feed on demand as I would if I wasn't supplementing. The only difference that we have as supping moms is that we can see the intake... But it's still breastfeeding and we should still offer the breast for sleep, comfort, etc.

Now, I will say that I feel a lot better about doing so with her taking 2.5 oz a feed than 4... It was hard for me to feed her 4 oz and then an hour later nurse her to sleep with another 1-3 oz...

[starling&diesel]

Thanks again, Satty ... so if you put 2.5oz in and she takes half of that over 30 minutes, do you just leave the rest around your neck for if she wants more in the next while? Or do you discard? I don't want to discard when we have donor milk ... I don't mind so much when it's formula. Like, right now, I'm 'wearing' 3/4oz left from when she finished last ... and she'll probably nurse to sleep with it in about an hour. Is that too long for it to 'sit' out, do you think?

[sattygirl99]

Originally Posted by starling&diesel

Thanks again, Satty ... so if you put 2.5oz in and she takes half of that over 30 minutes, do you just leave the rest around your neck for if she wants more in the next while? Or do you discard? I don't want to discard when we have donor milk ... I don't mind so much when it's formula. Like, right now, I'm 'wearing' 3/4oz left from when she finished last ... and she'll probably nurse to sleep with it in about an hour. Is that too long for it to 'sit' out, do you think?

It depends on if it's donor milk or formula...

With formula, you'll want to discard after a feeding.

Donor milk can be out for about a 1/2 hour...

If there is enough left in the bag for another feeding (or to nurse down), I'll put in the fridge and re-warm it. With breast milk, you can do that (don't warm it more than twice and don't leave it out for more than 30 min or so) but with formula, because of bacteria and the lack of antibodies, you'll want to discard after feeding.

[sattygirl99]

Oh... I had meant to ask.. Are you warming your supplement? If not, try that as it should help it flow better. Both breastmilk and formula thin out some once warmed so it tends to travel better through the tubes.

[KnittingTigers]

Originally Posted by starling&diesel

Thanks again, Satty ... so if you put 2.5oz in and she takes half of that over 30 minutes, do you just leave the rest around your neck for if she wants more in the next while? Or do you discard? I don't want to discard when we have donor milk ... I don't mind so much when it's formula. Like, right now, I'm 'wearing' 3/4oz left from when she finished last ... and she'll probably nurse to sleep with it in about an hour. Is that too long for it to 'sit' out, do you think?

Chiming in here to say that I am so protective of pumped milk, I NEVER throw it out. If my DD wouldn't finish a supplement bag, I would put the entire LA back in the fridge until she was ready again. I mean, it probably isn't okay to leave it there for a huge length of time, but we definitely used the same bag/LA unit over the course of a day, and I do the same now with bottles of breast milk. We've never had a problem, though technically you're not supposed to put a bottle/LA back in the fridge once it's been started. If I had a baby with a compromised immune system, for example, I might be more cautious about doing this.

Also, I don't use boiling water to mix formula, I just mix with previously boiled water, per my doc's instructions. I use glass bottles so I'd be afraid of pouring boiling water directly in. Also, our formula has probiotics in it, and specifically says NOT to use boiling water, as that will kill them.

I think Sattygirl has given you great advice on all the other points. I don't have much to add. We eventually stopped with the Lact-Aid because Ocean became so fussy while using it- popping off over and over again, screaming, fussing, etc. By the end, it took us an hour to get through two ounces of supplement. So, we're not really a success story in that regard. I do think though that if you can keep going with it and avoid bottles in the meantime (I know that this isn't always possible, and wasn't in my case), you will hopefully work through any short-term fussiness.

Good luck!

[starling&diesel]

Hi Angela!
And thanks for your advice.
My little one is certainly in that three month fussybot stage right now where EVERYTHING is way more interesting than buckling down to a good nursing session. She is thrilled at herself and pleased as punch to observe the world beyond my boob ... this is frustrating to me, but I'm trying to breath through it and stay calm and just let her go at her own pace.
Anyway, good to 'see' you again, mama!


Satty... I hadn't been warming the LA, but I'll start now. You made a good point!

[LindsG]

Do any of you LA users find you have problems with the darn things leaking? I usually prefer to set up my LA's for the entire day in the morning and then if I go out, just bring them with me but they ALWAYS leak all over the place before I even start to use them. I usually put them in a plastic container so nothing is pushing on them but they leak regardless. I've also had multiple occasions where my LA was lying between DS and me and he pushes in too hard against it and the thing basically explodes all over us. I'm so fed up with using LA's.

Starling- i'm having the same problem where DS is way too easily distracted and constantly wants to pop on and off and on and off the boob and i'm constantly having to reposition the LA in his mouth. Oh I hope this stage ends soon or I may just give up.

[Megan73]

Originally Posted by starling&diesel

My little one is certainly in that three month fussybot stage right now where EVERYTHING is way more interesting than buckling down to a good nursing session. She is thrilled at herself and pleased as punch to observe the world beyond my boob ... this is frustrating to me, but I'm trying to breath through it and stay calm and just let her go at her own pace.

It will get better, I promise – at least until you get to the annoying teething stage I'm at! I try to remind myself that moms with normal supply have the same frustrations with their nurslings.
You've got lots of good advice here but I'll just add a few things.
I nurse "bare" first thing in the morning then supplement 2 oz at the next five feeds, usually about three hours apart or a little less because I aim to do the last feed about 7 p.m. My son was about your little one's age when we started the gradual shift from every two hours to every three hours. I wish I could just demand feed – unfortunately my little one just doesn't demand enough.
It will really make life easier if you can get as many units as you supplement in a day. Then you can delegate cleaning and filling the units to your partner – a great way for them to support breastfeeding.
I did have problems with them leaking at first – DH learned that you need to push the ring and tube assembly together REALLY tightly and make sure to get all the air out of the bag.
I carry them filled when I go out – upright in an insulated lunch bag with ice packs and haven't had a problem with leaking.
Good luck!

[sattygirl99]

Originally Posted by LindsG

Do any of you LA users find you have problems with the darn things leaking? I usually prefer to set up my LA's for the entire day in the morning and then if I go out, just bring them with me but they ALWAYS leak all over the place before I even start to use them. I usually put them in a plastic container so nothing is pushing on them but they leak regardless. I've also had multiple occasions where my LA was lying between DS and me and he pushes in too hard against it and the thing basically explodes all over us. I'm so fed up with using LA's.

I did for a while until I realized 2 thing..

1 - it was too full.. Fill it about .5 oz to an oz under 4 oz.

and 2 - If you twist the pieces together instead of just pushing them together, it goes together more smoothly. You're not getting all the bag into the top, is all.

[MissyLissa]

I'm trying to convince DH that I need more than one (HA!) and I'm leaning towards the LA rather than get another Medela SNS. Are the bags reusable? That's my one hesitation about going the LA route-the cost of buying tons and tons of bags. Could you use the bottle drop-in things instead of buying the LA specific bags?

[sattygirl99]

Originally Posted by MissyLissa

I'm trying to convince DH that I need more than one (HA!) and I'm leaning towards the LA rather than get another Medela SNS. Are the bags reusable? That's my one hesitation about going the LA route-the cost of buying tons and tons of bags. Could you use the bottle drop-in things instead of buying the LA specific bags?

The bags are one time use only...

Here's a break down of cost for you...

Medela SNS is $57 per unit... Ideally you want AT LEAST 6 units ( I have 8 LA's). That's $342.00.

The Lact-Aid starter Kit (which you'll want to buy one of) is $62.50. This will give you 2 lact-aid set ups, 100 bags (2 week supply) and all the other goodies you need. Then you can buy a 4 pack of LA units (DO NOT just buy this, you need the starter kit!) for $67.00. That's $129.50... BIG price difference.

Bags are cheaper depending on how you buy them... I buy the largest set at a time (600 bags for $71.75, which is only 12 cents per bag)... 600 bags is a 12 week supply at 7 bags a day... It's really cheap when you think of it.

I did the math and a years worth of bags plus 6 lact aid units is $414.50. It's a little more expensive than the Medela SNS but not by all that much... Not when you are getting a much much much better product and personal customer service. You will never get the level of customer service and understanding from Medela... Jimmie has used this product... In fact, her husband designed it for her so she could nurse her adopted babies. She has years of first hand experience... When you call, you get her on the phone, not a recording... Seriously, the level of care you get from Lact-Aid makes it's additional cost well worth it (IMO).

The cost was a turn off for us at first too.. But the LA is a far superior product, especially for long term use.

You can't use anything but the LA bags... They are cheaper than bottle drop in's anyway, when you actually do that math.

That said... I have (on occasion) re-used a bag or added to a bag. It works okay but usually does leak. It's much easier to use one bag a feeding than re-use them and have them leak.

HTH!

[LindsG]

Originally Posted by sattygirl99

The bags are one time use only...

Here's a break down of cost for you...

Medela SNS is $57 per unit... Ideally you want AT LEAST 6 units ( I have 8 LA's). That's $342.00.

The Lact-Aid starter Kit (which you'll want to buy one of) is $62.50. This will give you 2 lact-aid set ups, 100 bags (2 week supply) and all the other goodies you need. Then you can buy a 4 pack of LA units (DO NOT just buy this, you need the starter kit!) for $67.00. That's $129.50... BIG price difference.

Bags are cheaper depending on how you buy them... I buy the largest set at a time (600 bags for $71.75, which is only 12 cents per bag)... 600 bags is a 12 week supply at 7 bags a day... It's really cheap when you think of it.

I did the math and a years worth of bags plus 6 lact aid units is $414.50. It's a little more expensive than the Medela SNS but not by all that much... Not when you are getting a much much much better product and personal customer service. You will never get the level of customer service and understanding from Medela... Jimmie has used this product... In fact, her husband designed it for her so she could nurse her adopted babies. She has years of first hand experience... When you call, you get her on the phone, not a recording... Seriously, the level of care you get from Lact-Aid makes it's additional cost well worth it (IMO).

The cost was a turn off for us at first too.. But the LA is a far superior product, especially for long term use.

You can't use anything but the LA bags... They are cheaper than bottle drop in's anyway, when you actually do that math.

That said... I have (on occasion) re-used a bag or added to a bag. It works okay but usually does leak. It's much easier to use one bag a feeding than re-use them and have them leak.

HTH!

Just wanted to add to this. The other advantages to the LA over SNS is it's more discreet for NIP and you can nurse lying down with the LA which you can't with the SNS. HTH!

[starling&diesel]

Originally Posted by LindsG

Starling- i'm having the same problem where DS is way too easily distracted and constantly wants to pop on and off and on and off the boob and i'm constantly having to reposition the LA in his mouth. Oh I hope this stage ends soon or I may just give up.

I hear you, mama!
I just about threw in the towel yesterday. I even tried giving DD a bottle, which she refused (she's had a bottle once...). I tried the LA, and she just wasn't emptying it ... she'd be on and off for an HOUR and still only have had one ounce.
I finally went back and repaired our homemade SNS and she took that. I can control the flow better so I can make it express into her mouth FIRST, and then she sucks (which I don't LIKE to do, but she just WAS NOT eating anything yesterday, except my bare boob, which is just not enough.) She won't demand to eat either.
I'd just ordered 600 4oz bags too, which I might never use if she can't settle down to a decent feed now and then. :
This is so, so frustrating!!!

[starling&diesel]

Originally Posted by Megan73

I nurse "bare" first thing in the morning then supplement 2 oz at the next five feeds, usually about three hours apart or a little less because I aim to do the last feed about 7 p.m. My son was about your little one's age when we started the gradual shift from every two hours to every three hours. I wish I could just demand feed – unfortunately my little one just doesn't demand enough.

This is helpful, Megan...Thank you!

[Megan73]

That IS frustrating. Could you try calling Lact-Aid for suggestions? I hear they have excellent customer support.
Hang in there, mama

[starling&diesel]

Megan...How long does it take you little one to empty 2oz?