what do YOU think is the best way for a baby to be supplemented?

[momofmine]

When a breast-fed baby *has* to be supplemented for whatever reason (not debating that here) what do you think is the best method, in order of your preference? Cup feeding, syringe feeding, SNS, bottle, etc. Just looking for opinions on what way you think is easiest, best, and safest for mom and baby. Thanks!

[annekh23]

syringe and tube on daddy's finger worked best for us, I did managed to get her to take supplements from me that way very early on, but she seemed to rather like breastfeeding even though she couldn't transfer much milk, so she wouldn't take it from me.

I did try the tube and syringe at the breast to see if it might be worth trying an SNS, but it didn't go very well and I think because of her specific problem, supplementing at the breast wouldn't have helped her learn to breastfeed properly in the long run, but it would have worked with more practice if she needed more milk than I could produce, by her supplements being away from the breast it worked in our situation because she wanted to be on the breast.

Honestly I don't know what we'd have done if DH hadn't been available to do this, I'm not sure a different method would have suddenly made her take it from me and if it had been absolutely necessary for her to take it from me, then SNS would have probably been the only option if we wanted to keep her on the breast.

[PatioGardener]

I think for short term supplementation that at the breast, cup, spoon, or finger (with tube) are all fine depending on baby/caregiver.

For medium-long term supplementation I think supplementing at the breast (with SNS, lact-aid or a cheap 5 French feeding tube) is definitely the way to go.

[Bluegoat]

It seems to me that it depends on the circumstances. Some kind of lactation aidhas the advantage that the baby gets to practise nursing and it helps build mom's supply. But if the reason for supplementing precludes it's use, it isn't very sensible. Also, some find them difficult to get the hang of, so for one or two uses it might not be worthwhile to some.

I don't know with finger or cup feeding - I would just use what seemed to work best I think, but I have not tried either.

[boobs4milk]

we used the sns to get baby to the breast. if you are just needing supplementation for nutrition and not bf practice, i'd do cup feeds because they are less intrusive and the baby still has to work for the food.

[zinemama]

Bottle.

My baby never had a problem going back and forth from breast to bottle. The SNS was a royal pita and never did a thing for my supply. Syringe took forever, cup was a joke - he never drank from it, just pushed it away.

Thankfully, the second time around I had a full supply.

[AllyRae]

I've always had to supplement due to chronic low supply and we've used the SNS...I'm on my 3rd year of doing it (next month will be the first full year with DD though...the first 2 years were with my DS). It keeps DD on the breast getting with tiny little bit of milk I do have so I personally think it's the best way for us.

[GoBecGo]

Bearing in mind i began supplementing at 5months, when i lost my milk due to a thyroid issue, and DD was already used to having occasional EBM in a bottle, i just used a bottle.

If it was to supplement earlier (before BFing has been established) i'd probably try finger or SNS, and if i lose my milk again this time around i'll go to SNS, so i can go on BFing in some form. The problem with SNS when my milk was failing with DD was that of the 3 LC's i spoke to, all had differing opinions on whether and HOW to use it. If it was something more healthcare professionals were very familiar with it'd be a big help! The two times i used it DD spat it out, pulled it off and managed to tear the tube from the pouch end (milk was EVERYwhere but in my baby by the end of the feed!). I had enough on my plate without that every feed.

I did manage to continue having skin to skin by bottlfeeding DD with us both topless, and i do believe that a bottle can be used in a way which IS as bonding and close as the breast when it's the only option, but it's harder to FF in public than NIP in that way - hard to explain that you're just stripping your baby and pulling your top up and undoing your bra so you can bottle feed IME.

[Llyra]

Those mamas with babies who go easily from breast to bottle and back again are very fortunate. Not every baby is subject to nipple confusion/nipple preference/breast refusal, but when it happens, it can be ugly to try to undo. So I would definitely NOT say bottle. You never know who those babies are, until it's already happened. The bottle is by FAR the EASIEST solution, there's no doubt about that, but fighting nipple confusion is NOT easy.

Otherwise, it depends on the reason for the supplementation. There are as many answers to this question as there are reasons why a baby might need supplementing.

All in all, I'd like to see baby supplemented at the breast, if that is at all possible, but sometimes that's not an option, or not the best answer to the individual situation.

[crunchy_mommy]

I am far from an expert in regards to supplementing... but if I had to...

Temporary:
-Syringe as first choice for newborn
-Otherwise, open cup

More long-term:
-SNS

For me a bottle would be reserved as a last resort or "emergency" type of situation.