Experience w/ Lact-aid (vs Medela SNS)?

[PingPong'sMom]

I experienced some serious trauma in this pregnancy (pubic pain left me in a wheelchair last 4 weeks of pregnancy, lovely planned homebirth turned into c-section, 5 days recovery in hospital, milk came in 10 days after birth, small baby/big nipples, didn't walk for 3-4 weeks after the birth, bad latch, lowered milk supply) and am having to supplement with formula (am lifting boob up to baby, compression, herbs, dom, pumping). We got the starter SNS from the hospital and honestly, have not been able to make it work.

I was wondering if I should invest in the Lact-aid, if it is any different, and how.

[SuperMarcy]

I definitely prefer the lact-aid! I found the sns to be very cumbersome, with the hard plastic bottle interfering with ds's ability to latch well. I'm small-breasted and just felt the bottle was taking over my body. I like that the lactaid is a soft bag that I can keep between my breasts or swing over the opposite breast. I also don't need to use tape to hold the tube, after enough practice! Lact-aids creator, Jimmie, is wonderfully supportive! She answers the phone herself, even on Sundays, and always has an answer for questions. Good luck to you!

[ColwynsMommy]

We've used the starter SNS and the Lact-Aid and the LA is easier by far. It also helps to be able to put the bag lower than your nipple because then gravity isn't helping the baby get milk--he has to do all the work himself (which is good when you want to increase supply). The customer service is fantastic and I think they're much easier to clean. They recommend using vinegar and water, and they give you a teeny bulb syringe to force the water through the tubing. The cleaning aspect in itself makes it better than the SNS in my book.

We're anticipating needing to supplement with this baby as well (IGT/PCOS related low supply), and we'll buy a new LA before the baby is born. If we have the same issues and need to supplement longterm, I'm trying to convince my husband to let me buy several so I don't have to clean one after every feeding, I can do a few at a time when it's convenient.

[SleepyMamaBear]

we use the Lact-Aid and they rock. easy to clean, easy to use, easy to learn.
we bought the deluxe package first, with the two lact-aids, the bags, the holder, the funnel and the bulb, then we bought a four pack of just lact-aids. it helps just filling up as many as i anticipate needing for the day, and not having to refill through the day.
we use ours at night. i have to. i just dont make enough milk, and i have accepted that and just gotten used to ALWAYS needing to use the lact-aid to suppliment my childs feedings. she is still getting mamas milk, and donated milk, and she is a happy healthy thriving baby.
switch over to the lact-aids they rock. and the customer service is GREAT!

[Mommy2Haley]

I too am a fan of the LA. I had that and the SNS and just found the LA to be a better fit. I'd rest the bag on DD's hip while she nursed and never bothered with the neck strap. I also bought the deluxe set and kept extra setups in the fridge. I'd make two setups with the tubing and then extra bags (folded over and clipped with a clothespin) ready for when I needed them. Just grab a bag, insert tubing, and off you go!

Combo of LA use, herbs, and domperidone and I was able to ditch the LA for exclusive breastfeeding.

BTW, my low supply is due to a breast reduction and PCOS. I have tons of info on ways to increase supply so PM me for more info!

[SleepyMamaBear]

Stacey, BFAR here too, and i suspect pcos, just never got the dx.