BF issue support - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[Sky]

Ozzy just fyi, when i saw the LC at my obgyn, she was wonderful she gave me a large type syringe and a tube attachment, it works better than the  sns she said, the babies suck even pulled down the milk so i did not have to push the syringe and it was free. just in case you have a midwife or ob that has LCs in the office maybe they can give you that to try,

[cristeen]

Ozzy - I used a Lact-Aid with my DS.  And I just bought an SNS yesterday for DD, since my LC was not impressed with the LA.  The LactAid worked fine, I suppose.  I am currently using a syringe and 5 French catheter (like Sky suggested) for finger feeding, but for breast supplementation it's really a pain in the neck long-term. 

The Lact-Aid is the only option I'm aware of other than Medela's SNS, and the main difference between the two is that the Medela comes with different size tubings so you can control flow rate, and the Medela uses a hard bodied container.  The LA uses plastic pouches which are disposable - over the long term it generates a fair bit of waste, and only 1 size of tubing.  But, the trade off is that you can preload the pouches and be ready to go.  At peak with DS I could load 6 large pouches (they come in 2 sizes) and have a day's worth of food ready to go, and not have to worry about it again all day.  Can't do that with the SNS. 

With the Medela, there are 2 "sizes" - the Starter kit, which isn't suitable for long term use.  And the "full" kit, which is the long term use set.   I can only find the starter kit locally, so that's what I got for now.  Try asking your LLL leader where you can rent a pump, they'll often have the accessories like the SNS available for sale also. 

The big thing to be aware of with the supplementer is that you must maintain a good latch in order to get the benefit from it.  I learned yesterday at my visit that what I thought was a good latch was not in fact deep enough to provide any breast stimulation.  She was basically sucking on the tip of my nipple and the supplementer tube, basically like a straw.  Not something you want to allow or encourage.  So if you're going to use a supplementer, just be aware of the latch issues you may have.  Because I'm realizing that was the same issue we had with DS - and why I was never able to relactate with him, his latch wasn't deep enough to stimulate my breasts.

And if you are going to be pumping a fair bit, I highly recommend a hands-free pumping bra.  I picked one up yesterday and it's making a HUGE difference in my ability to find the time to pump.  Because hands-free I don't have to worry about DD needing a diaper change or a finger feeding or DS needing a snuggle, or the laundry that needs folding, etc.  I can do it while I'm hooked up to the pump.  I was lucky to get 4 pumpings/day before just because I couldn't tie up my hands and body for that long, but being hands-free just means I need to sit in one spot for 20 minutes, but I can still do all sorts of things. 

HTH

[Sky]

Originally Posted by cristeen 

Ozzy - I used a Lact-Aid with my DS.  And I just bought an SNS yesterday for DD, since my LC was not impressed with the LA.  The LactAid worked fine, I suppose.  I am currently using a syringe and 5 French catheter (like Sky suggested) for finger feeding, but for breast supplementation it's really a pain in the neck long-term. 

Ahhh thats what it's called... I used it for about a week after we came home for every other feeding and I was triple feeding (nursing at the breast, offered bottle then pumping around the clock) I used a banaid to fix it to my breast... DD had a good suck and good latch so yes that matters BUT it was exhausting! I was told a preemie usually won't even bf well until on or after their  original due date. DD was latching on two weeks after she was born. My challange was she had the bottle the majority of the time in the NICU and only bfing from me about 2/3 times a day. So when I got home I had to bf more and after the first week I started omitting a bottle quickly over that second week. Although it was tireing she is EBF now and gets the occasional bottle of pumped milk.  I could see that 5 french cath being a pain long term but I only used it for about less than 2 weeks....