SNS #4 Tube Too Slow, What Next?

[germin8]

I have low milk supply and use the Medela SNS to supplement. There are 3 tubes that come with the SNS (ea. w/ a number 1, 2, & 4 from smallest to largest). We are on #4 and originally thought that I could go smaller so DD can get a stronger suck... but, maybe she already has a strong suck.

Anyway, our DD is ~3 months now and lately she has been fidgety at the breast... starting about midday instead of evening. We bottle feed BM in the evening just before DD goes to bed b/c she just wants to gulp it down and sleep through the night (it seems). But now, she is fidgety at the breast and the bottle!!! When she is fidgety at the breast, I continue with the breast. But, I don't understand why she is fidgety at the bottle too? We think the milk speed is too slow.

So, I'm wondering... is anyone else having this problem? If so, what did you do? Did you move UP a level? To what? I'm thinking I need to move to a syringe w/ a wider tube and a level 2 nipple. I really like the Medela SNS, but it doesn't come with a wider tube!!! What shall we do? Does LactAid have wider tubes?

The SNS is easily reusable. The syringe gets too difficult to push BM through after each use. Maybe I need a different brand. Any recommendations? I don't like the syringe b/c I'd rather DD control her own feeding... instead of me, sometimes it just ends up choking her from injecting BM when she's not really drinking it and just suckling... but maybe she's older and better at it now... not sure.

UPDATE: Today was better... my DD was calm during her nursing w/ SNS. I wonder if the tube width is even a problem since the breast alone doesn't increase in speed as the child gets older. Maybe my DD was squirmy b/c she had gas or something...

[Natanya]

Are you using the SNS because of supply issues? Cause she could just be big enough to handle the breast alone. Sometimes kids have a slower suck when they are small but once their mouth grows they seems to be a lot better at it. Just curious.

[germin8]

Yes, I am using the SNS for supply issues... very low supply and slow flow.

She is much better now... I don't know what happened... she goes through this in phases. And this did happen during her 12-weeks, which could have been a growth spurt (I hear they come in multiples of 3 - 3, 6, 9 wks...).

I've since had another issue with popping on-and-off the breast... so this has sorta turned into my next post: http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1264886

[3crunchycarrots]

I have used the sns exclusively since my babe was 5 days old (i was diagnosed with IGT) and now shes 5 months and some change.. we too have gone through phases with her fussing on the breast, changing tubes and ways of using it. now she uses the biggest tube, which i thought was 3 and i put both tubes in her mouth and this is and has been working for about 6 weeks. We also began introducing a little solids at 4 mo because she was so interested and I would like to give her some real nutrition other then formula, even if it is organic! I know the day is soon coming when she will no longer want the sns... but for now, im grateful for it, although its def been a love hate relationship! good luck!