SNS and Lact-Aid users (and other supplementers)

[MarcyC]

Hi everyone! I thought it would be helpful for those of us using a supplemental nursing system to share our thoughts.

Do you prefer an SNS or a Lact-Aid. Have you tried both? Write a review of what you are using. Any tips on making it easier to use? How about making it easier to use in public? What's in it (ie, what type of formula or expressed bm)? Have you tried a "finger feeder" or any other type of syringe with tubing? Let's all share our experiences with these gadgets...

[JunipersMom]

Used both and like them both for different reasons.
For me the SNS is much easier to use when starting out. Its easy to fill and the tubes can be taped on each nipple making it easier than trying to fumble with a new baby, clothing and the tube. It was also nice to use in public because I didn't have as much leakage with it and again it was super easy to re-fill. But it was my third boob because of the hard plastic - there is just no hiding it.
The lact-aid is good for around the house because it is light weight and you can make up a bunch at a time for use all day. It has a definate learning curve on assembly, but once you get it down it can be done easily once a day. Because its soft plastic it didn't wear on my neck as much and it fits right in a larger sippy cup so I could freeze the sippy cup and carry it in there when we used it out and about.
I found it much much much easier to transition my dd off of the supplementor with the Lact-Aid.

[AllyRae]

I have used both, and much prefer the lactaid--it's easier to conceal when NIP and you can make a bunch of supplements ahead of time. We're long term users--we started when Brandon was 2 months old and now he's 30 months old and still uses the lactaid once a day.

[boheime]

Long term LA user here. I really like the system. I've used the starter SNS and didn't care for it.

[SleepyMamaBear]

my concern for when i have my next child is the cost.
we arent ""cup floweth over" financially, and i worry about the constant price of the Lact-Aid bags.
and why cant you tape the lact-aid tubes???

[tash11]

I almost started a Lact-Aid/SNS tips thread yesterday! but baby needed something and .....

anyway.....

I have never used an SNS.

We use mostly Baby's Only Organic Soy formula. Sometimes pumped milk (if I can get enough pumped).

I used a medela finger feeder as an sns for some time. Then the tube broke near the base and it dripped a lot. very annoying to have smelly formul dripping every where (or sad to have milk being lost like that).

We first got the finger feeder from our LC when we couldnt get baby to latch due to engorgment. We used it as a finger feeder at first. A few weeks later since we were having supply issues the LC told me to tape the tube to my areola with the tip sticking up just past my nipple and to tuck the feeder into my bra strap. This worked well until she started wanting more then 2oz a feeding, which was around the same time that the tube broke and started leaking everywhere. So I got a lact-aid.

-------------------------------------

I have had my Lact-Aid for a while now. I use tape with it 99% of the time. (without the tape its a struggle since she likes to unlatch/relatch/unlatch/relatch a lot) When I am sitting upright I have it hanging between my breasts and it doesnt leak when she detaches this way. When I am laying down I will either have it just above her head on the bed/couch, or set it on top of the breast she is eating from. If I have it up on my breast it will slowly drip which seems to help keep her awake if she is sleepy.

I dont use the filter thingy when filling it because the organic soy supplement I use wont go through it. I called the company and they said that I could get a re-useable coffee filter and it would do the same thing. I didnt have time to go get one and my baby was hungrey so I just filled it up with no filter. Really though I think if I used the filter it would filter all of the supplement out anyway. I havent had a problem with it getting clogged or anything in 2+ months of use. When I got the lact-aid though I did start using my magic bullet blender to mix up the supplement. I can fill 3 bags with the smaller attachment on the blender. That will last me anywhere from 2-5 days.

[tash11]

Originally Posted by AddysMama

my concern for when i have my next child is the cost.
we arent ""cup floweth over" financially, and i worry about the constant price of the Lact-Aid bags.
and why cant you tape the lact-aid tubes???

I do tape the lact-aid tubes.

In the instruction pamplet it says (in very small print):

"Taping the tube is optional, but not required. Hair Styleing tape is very gentle when removing it."

I use Johnson and Johnson Hyperalergenic Cloth tape. I used paper tape at first, but I have a mild allergy to it and it started causing a rash on my areola where it was taped.

[JunipersMom]

I didn't find it useful to tape the Lact-Aid tube cause they only have one tube and it was easier for me to just hold it until she latched on so I could switch breasts easier during feedings.
We only used the supplementors for about 6 weeks for every feeding, now we just need them every 6 or 8 weeks when my supply doesn't match her growth spurts.

[TurboClaudia]

Originally Posted by AddysMama

my concern for when i have my next child is the cost.
we arent ""cup floweth over" financially, and i worry about the constant price of the Lact-Aid bags.
and why cant you tape the lact-aid tubes???

have you looked at their costs at the website? www.lact-aid.com sometimes you can also find them on ebay or elsewhere for a little less.

~claudia

[leahida]

PAK (pumping at keyboard)

I have not tried the lact-aid but glad to hear it's working well for so many mamas. I have used the SNS since DS was 12 weeks old and it has been working pretty well for us. The only reason I got the SNS instead of the Lact-Aid was that my local breastfeeding center had an instructional video and I was so intimidated I felt I needed to watch the video.

Using it has become pretty second nature for us. At first I always had to use the tape...but now I am pretty good at popping the tube and my nipple into his mouth. I still struggle with using it discreetly in public, though, so sometimes I just break down and give bottles

Wish we didn't have to use it at all, but since we do, I think it's a mighty great invention. I don't think we'd be still nursing if it wasn't for the SNS. DS just does not have the patience for my slow let-down (except at night when he is 1/2 asleep).

[HotMama]

I used the Lact-Aid for tthree years with dd, only occasionally using the SNS. The flexibility of using the LA in any position, leaving it on for the every ten minute nursing (dd1 nursed all the time) and being able to have it all filled and ready made me appreciate it. Luckily, we don't need either this time around

[Moonprysm]

Does anybody have a Lact-Aid or SNS that they'd like to sell?? I'd prefer a Lact-Aid, but beggers can't be choosers, you know!! I really really REALLY need one...but I can't afford a brand new one. Just PM me, please!!

[Elowyn]

:

[operamommy]

I own both an SNS and the Lact-Aid, and prefer the Lact-Aid (maybe just 'cause that's what I started with). As others have mentioned, it's lightweight and you can pre-fill bags, which is a plus. I don't tape the tubes but just hold them instead. Just very recently I've gotten over worrying if someone sees my nipple. After 4 months of being paranoid about NIP (babe won't take a bottle at all) with the lact-aid I've decided that people just need to look away if they don't want to see anything.

The one problem I have with it is the dripping. I've tried hanging the bag lower, but the tube still drips when my babe unlatches. Since he latches/relatches normally several times during a feeding it's kind of a pain. But...the lact-aid enabled me to relactate, so I don't have too many complaints!

[HotMama]

Oh yeah...I always taped the tube, or it would work it's way down dd#1's throat!

I always thought of the whole NIP thing with the Lact-Aid as education for all. I want more Mamas to know there's an alternative to bottles.

[boheime]

I taped the LA tube in the beginning but then stopped because it wasn't worth it anymore. Dd is 21 mos. tomorrow and still going strong with the LA.

What a great tip with the reusable coffee filter! I'm going to try that instead of the little filter all the time.

I know you aren't supposed to reuse the LA bags, but I do. I have 6 LAs and bags can make it a week or sometimes less. If the supplement goes bad, I will toss the bag. But since we keep everything cold all the time, that doesn't really happen. I can dump and refill or top off as needed.

I LOVE the LA system (well, given my choice I wouldn't have to supplement - but, we deal with what we have to). We are hoping to conceive soon - so my only concern will be how easy it is to tandem nurse with LAs. I think I will need more hands.

[MarcyC]

I use an SNS. I had a lact-aid, but I sold it on ebay. I didn't care for all the little parts and pieces. I use a full-sized SNS. As a matter of fact, I have four of them. I keep 3 filled in the frig all the time. They are lined up on the shelf in the door. FIFO (first in, first out).

When I'm done with one, I wash it out, let it dry, then fill it up and move it to the back of the line.

I keep one in my purse along with a 6 oz. bottle of ready-to-feed formula.

Another thing I do if we're going to be out for a long day is I keep 2 or 3 in my purse filled with warm water and then use the pre-measured formula packets to mix up.

I use Nexcare flexible clear tape (Transpore). At first it tore up my skin, but now I'm used to it.

I'm a little self-conscious about using it in public. I won't use it around general public, but I will use it in a public "nursing" room. Most of the time if I need to, I go to the car to nurse. She's at an age now where if she wants to nurse I don't always have to use the SNS. I use it probably 3 times a day. (Morning, naptime and bedtime). Other times if she wants to nurse she can go "bare breast". It makes it so much easier to NIP! But I always keep one in my bag just in case.

What are you all using in your SNS's? I use Enfamil and/or Horizon Organic whole milk. I was going to buy organic formula, but it was so much more expensive (I could only find it at Whole Foods). It wasn't until very recently that I saw where you could buy organic formula on line and if you bought a case it was cheaper than regular formula and there was free shipping. Wish I'd known about that a year ago. Oh well.

[Ursula Rose]

hi!!!

i hope we can get this thread going again. i really need it. :

dd is 4 weeks old. we only use sns, but after reading this thread will yry lactaid.

i had breast surgery so can't make any milk. i did express colustrum. yhay is why we started on this crazy ride. oce colustrum ended, dd wpuld not take a bottle. she still won't. we try once per day,

we use a formula recipe that dh made up. it's base is goat's milk.

she loves to nurse. i love tonurse her but i hate sns for so many reasons. i don't know what to do. a part of my problem is that i'm ashamed of the sns.

[HotMama]

What a smart baby you have! She wants to nurse. Definitely get the Lact-Aid, it's more subtle. I wore it all around town with dd1. And, I did so much educating on the fact that you can nurse your adopted child, or after breast surgery (often through their children, who were unabashed in their questions)...I know women nursing simply because I did it, and it seems that is only a positive for the world. More breastfed babies

Dh did a lot of formula making and bag filling, while I usually cleaned and sanitized. Get 6 or more nursing trainer units, so you only have to fill them up once a day. It's a lot of chores and it's nice to get it all done at once.

If you expressed colostrum, I bet you will be giving your babe some milk. The Lact-Aid is better for letting your babe to stimulate your milk than the SNS, so that's another reason to switch.

[stilllearninMama]

What wonderful posts, I am learning so much, thank you all! It has been a long time since I was active here (these forums got me through dental caries, slow weight gain issues and TTC, but it has been awhile ) but I am looking for some help with the Lact-Aid and knew this would be the place to go. I am a LLL, but more than that I am a friend and neighbor to a Mom who is trying to use a Lact-Aid to deal with low supply issues, possibly weak suck (baby had a tongue tie and has had a frenotomy) and additionally perhaps some hypoplastic breast issues. This is her fourth child but first BF experience. Is there anyone in the NE Ohio/Cleveland area out there who has some experience using the Lact-Aid? I would so deeply appreciate any hints that anyone could give us regarding positioning of tubing, whether anyone had any measurable/noticeable improvement in supply using one and maybe how long some of you felt it took to get the hang of, but of course, we'd especially like to get in touch with someone nearby who might be willing to do more of a hands on tutorial. This mom is such a trooper, and I just want this experience to be positive and help her achieve whatever she wants it to be. As my username says, despite BF two children and being a longtime LLL Leader, I am continuously humbled and amazed by all I have yet to learn. Thanks to all of you for being willing to share.