Lact-Aid vs SNS?

[cristeen]

What are the differences? Is one better/easier than the other? I'm pretty sure I can get an SNS locally, but I have no idea about the Lact-Aid. But we're looking at long term supplementation, so I need something that is going to keep him on the breast to get as much BM as possible.

[bender]

I use the medela sns, but I'm only supplementing .5-1oz a session. It didn't make sense to me to use the bag system with such a low amt of supplementing. I've heard the lactaid is really nice for long term use though.

[RoseDuperre]

Lact-Aid ALL THE WAY! It completely saved our nursing relationship (extremely long story). The SNS is really best for relatively short term use. I used it for about three days before I nearly went insane with the aggravation. The Lact-Aid is sooooo much more user-friendly, I cannot overstate it. THere IS still a learning curve with it, but I promise you can do it. The first day or two will take a lot of concentration, but you'll definitely start getting the hang of it very soon.

LAct-AId! Lact-Aid! Lact-Aid! I was able to eventally do away with it, but honestly, I could see how it could be done even more long-term than we used it. No freakin' way with the SNS.

[Megan73]

Everything Rose said.
The Lact-Aid (which you can buy online) is an absolute lifesaver. I could never get that darn SNS to work but we're still using the LA at 14 months. I've never supplemented more than 2 oz a feed (and only during the day) but it's worth every penny.

[boheime]

Another vote for Lact-Aids! I'm a low supply mom who CLW. We use LAs for a long time. I like them so much better than the SNS. There is a small learning curve, but really you pick it up quickly and then you start figuring out all of the tricks to cut down on the time it takes to make them. I recommend having quite a few so you can make up a bunch at a time and have them on hand - so much easier that way!

[starling&diesel]

Lact-Aid! Bar none! Don't waste your time, energy, money or patience on the SNS or anything else ... we used the LA for 8 months until DD transitioned to a cup. And she still happily nurses, which I give the LA credit for.

[balancedmama]

Yep, LA definitely the way to go!

[MissyLissa]

Lact-Aid!! I have one Medela SNS that I pull out for emergencies (i.e. When all the LAs are dirty and I don't have time to wash them) and every time I use it I get so frustrated with it and wonder how I put up with it for 6 weeks. My favorite part about the LA is that you can hide it in your clothing and unless you're wearing a very tight or low cut shirt no one can tell that you're supplementing.

[Blessed_Mom]

Originally Posted by MissyLissa

Lact-Aid!! I have one Medela SNS that I pull out for emergencies (i.e. When all the LAs are dirty and I don't have time to wash them) and every time I use it I get so frustrated with it and wonder how I put up with it for 6 weeks. My favorite part about the LA is that you can hide it in your clothing and unless you're wearing a very tight or low cut shirt no one can tell that you're supplementing.

Am a bit stumped by your sentence "when all the LAs are dirty".... I got the deluxe version and got 2 tubes and a whole lot of disposable plastic bags. So either one or 2 tubes can be dirty - right? If you use one tube at a time (like I do) then you get 2 chances before you have to wash them. So what am I missing?

[starling&diesel]

Originally Posted by Blessed_Mom

Am a bit stumped by your sentence "when all the LAs are dirty".... I got the deluxe version and got 2 tubes and a whole lot of disposable plastic bags. So either one or 2 tubes can be dirty - right? If you use one tube at a time (like I do) then you get 2 chances before you have to wash them. So what am I missing?

And some days they don't get cleaned right away ... I was in the same boat sometimes. And I had 5 tubes.

[MissyLissa]

I only wash them once a day. I was going crazy when I only had two and had to wash them so often! Not to mention, with having enough for every feeding I can pre-fill them instead of having to fill one every time baby is hungry.

[Blessed_Mom]

Originally Posted by MissyLissa

I only wash them once a day. I was going crazy when I only had two and had to wash them so often! Not to mention, with having enough for every feeding I can pre-fill them instead of having to fill one every time baby is hungry.

So you can order just the tubes without ordering the whole "system"?

[MissyLissa]

Yep! You order the deluxe system which gives you all the cleaning and filling components, and then you can order either a 4 pack or a single pack of nursing units (I think that's what they call them, it's been awhile since I've had to place an order).

[tropicaldutchtulip]

Originally Posted by boheime

Another vote for Lact-Aids! I'm a low supply mom who CLW. We use LAs for a long time. I like them so much better than the SNS. There is a small learning curve, but really you pick it up quickly and then you start figuring out all of the tricks to cut down on the time it takes to make them. I recommend having quite a few so you can make up a bunch at a time and have them on hand - so much easier that way!

Any tips on the "learning curve"? I tried to use it with my twins I adopted 3 years ago and never got the hang of it. And with lack of support I gave up way too easy! We are getting ready to adopt our son in a few weeks once he's born and I am inducing laction. Also I plan to nurse long term/CLW and NIP as well.

Thanks!

[AshleyManus]

My baby has nursed using the Lact-aid for her first 3 months, but now that she is older and needs more formula, the feedings are lasting nearly an hour and she still isn't finishing.  Her suck is very good, so I think the flow of the system is slow.  What formula would you suggest that I use in order to have the best flow?