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]

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]

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:p

[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]

:lurk:

[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. :lol

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! :thumb

[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]

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

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:p

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 :shy ) 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. :Peace

[Laurel]

I've used both the lact-aid and the SNS, and I like both of them for different reasons. I'm currently inducing lactation for the second time. With my ds I only used the lact-aid, and that is what I intended to do for my dd also. But she was slow to gain weight, and so I switched to the SNS with the largest tubing size to help her extract the milk more easily. I am making very little milk myself, perhaps 1/2 oz per feeding (I can pump about 1/8 oz at a time).

I think it's sixes on whether the lact-aid or SNS is easier. It is nice to be able to do the lact-aids all at once and have them set up and ready to go. It's kind of a pain to have to wash the SNS every time I use it and to re-fill it every time she needs to eat. But it's not too bad. The lact-aid is more discreet, but I don't really care about that, since I never tried to hide the lact-aid anyway. The SNS is easier for me to take places, because it's a stronger bottle. I always had trouble with the lact-aids coming apart and leaking when I'd transport them. The SNS tubes are longer, and she gets them caught in her hands much more.

I would like to switch my dd gradually back to the lact-aid because it would probably be better for stimulating my supply. Her suck hasn't been all that strong. Earlier this week I had her nurse all one day with the medium-sized tubing with the SNS instead of the large. She did OK at first but by the end of the day was extremely frustrated and was eating very little. So I went back to the large tubing. But I noticed that since then her suck has been much stronger! I will keep trying a little at a time, perhaps having her do 1-2 feedings a day with the medium tubing until it seems like she does better with it, and then eventually moving to the lact-aid using the same system.

[twinsarefun]

I have used both the Lact-Aid and SNS. What an experience! I have nursed two previous children for almost three years, so this experience was really heartwrenching for me. I got bad lactation advice in the beginning that really messed me up. My twins were nursing at the breast in the beginning. I got super engorged and the twins wouldn't latch. They lost weight and the doctor wanted me to supplement. Not wanting the twins to get bottle confusion, I used the SNS. Through this SNS, I believe the twins developed a suckling problem. I didn't know that at the beginning. The specialist said that since the twins had a suckling problem, I should nurse with the SNS until they matured in their suckling. These twins were born full term and 7 lb. and 7lb 7 oz. So they knew how to nurse in the beginning. Being scared about the weight loss and dehydration, I took the advice. I had never used the gadget before and figured that Madela and the specialist knew what they were talking about. Madela's instruction say to use the tube all throughout the feeding. When the babies get the hang of things and the supply goes up, then they will take less of the container and eventually go off. Well, that did not happen to me. The twins got hooked on the gadget and wouldn't take me alone no longer! I was in tears! They are almost 9 months and still hooked! I hope that I can eventually get them off. Also, my supply has dived as a result of this. When I take the herbs fenugreek and blessed thistle, I notice that the babies get more breast fed stools. Especially on the smallest tube of the SNS. I worked my way down to the smallest tube, and their stools have been the best with that. With the Lact-Aid, in the beginning it seemed that the babies had good breastfed stools, but then they got hard as rocks. I didn't like the way the Lact-Aid leaked. It is hard to travel with. There is no smaller tubes. The tubes are equal to the SNS medium tube. It may be good in the beginning for mom her are adoptive breastfeeding, but if you eventually want to get the babies off, it is best to work down to a smaller tube. I wish there was an even smaller tube than the SNS smallest tube. Then maybe the babies would get more of me and want to go off. The ironic thing is that they are taking lots of formula but I haven't gotten my period. So I know that they must be getting a good amount of me. I would suggest for anyone who may have a supply issue and using the SNS for that (or Lact-Aid) is to get Jack Newman's book "The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers". It is the absolute best book out there on breastfeeding problems that I have ever read. I have read just about every top book out there and searched every site I could. If I had read this book in the beginning and didn't have bad advice, I would have my babies at the breast without a lactation aid. I wrote Madela telling them that they need to change their directions to their SNS and be more specific with issues. It was all that I had in the beginning. Dr. Newman says to first breastfeed without the gadget, then slip it in at the end if the baby needs it. The SNS directions say to use it throughout the whole feeding. That is what the specialist told me to do. That is what completely messed me up. The babies got so used to it and don't want me alone. If anyone ever wants to e-mail me for help and support, I am more than happy to help. I don't want anyone to suffere through what I have if they don't have to. I am pretty much used to it now. I have learned to make the best of this, but there are some frustrating times when I would love to throw the gadget through the window! Times like when the tube slips out and the babies fuss like they are starving. I have to keep re-taping, etc... I'll do anything to get my babies breastmilk. So if they get it this way, so be it. There is a great link at Kellymom.com that says that just 1 tsp. of breastmilk has over 3 million germ fighting cells in it! That has really spurned me on when times were tough. As for making the formula, I use the Vita-Mix to make a big batch. That eliminates having to strain the formula. I tried the straining and the tubes still got clogged. That was another frustration with the SNS and Lact-Aid. They would get clogged a lot! Then they wouldn' work. This is the only thing that has helped. Also, adding a little distilled water as the Lact-Aid directions call for. I put two water bottles, 1 1/2 cup of powdered formula, and then 1/2 cup of distilled water. I add 1 capsule of 1300 mg. evening primose oil (squeezed out) for extra GLA (mercola.com). This makes a nice batch that lasts about 12 hours with my twins. Does anyone know of a good goat milk formula that is powdered besides Meyenburg? I found a really good one with DHA on the web, but now can't find it. I like the organic formulas but the only thing that I don't like is the high manganese levels which are supposed to be toxic to babies brains and some believe can be contributed to ADHD (mercola.com). So I have picked out the lowest that I can find of manganese and uses grass fed cows without antibiotics or steroids (Similac Advance and Kirkland). I would like to find that goat milk formula again. I found some and ordered it from Autralia, but it cost a fortune. I paid $45 for 400 grams to try it out - ouch! I might be interested in selling my Lact-Aid. You can e-mail me at lvn_mom@yahoo.com and I'll put you in my address book for when I might sell it. I have thought about maybe saving it for my daughter if she ever needed it. She is only 13, but the years go by fast. I did re-use the bags for a few of the feedings then toss them after about 3 feedings. I would fill them with water and rinse them out. They are expensive suckers. I would go through two bags per baby a day rather than 14 a day! The SNS is so much more affordable and I think better in the long run. I know an adoptive mom who lactated pretty quickly with the SNS. It only took her three months which I think is great. I was wondering about some of you who are using these aids, have you ever gotten off? For those not adoptive feeding, how did you get on the aid in the first place? Especially for those engorged and could have lacted without it? Thanks for letting me know. This sure has been a learning experience for me. We should start a thread on this. It sure is needed. I did meet one mom who finally got her twins off of the SNS at 9 months. That sure would be a dream for me. Another singleton mom got her baby off at 1 yr. You just never know when these little ones are going to cooperate. I hope my do soon. :loveeyes: I won't give up over here. For those who nurse in the long months, did you put regular milk in the Lact-Aid? Did you put water? What did you do? Did you ever start your periods? Were your babies getting a lot of breastmilk despite using the aid with other milk? I just wonder how much breastmilk the babies actually get. It sure is a mystery to me. I just pray that God multiplies my milk in whatever they get! :lol Take care gals! PM if you want. I am busy and lose these threads sometimes. So a PM or e-mail works for me. I can find it quicker.

[Ursula Rose]

wow. what amazing stories everyone has shared. it's interesting because all of our situations are similar yet different.

i'm in this interesting dilemma b/c i can't breastfeed at all (major breast surgery). we started using sns b/c dd our daughter was very small and our awesome midwives said we should try to stimulate milk production with sns just in case.

well, i'm afraid dd is just hooked on sns. she won't take the bottle at all.

don't get me wrong. i know its great for dd to get close to me with sns feeding, but i DO NOT WANT TO DEPEND ON THIS GADGET for feeding.

maybe, the interesting questions for the thread are:

are you trying to wean your child off sns/lactaid?
if so, what are you doing?

we are trying to give dd a bottle once a day, but she doesn't seem to make much progress. she drinks 1-2 ounces only.

[JunipersMom]

For me - it was much easier to wean my babe from the SNS than the lact-aid. Because I could easily close off the tube during feedings and eventually keep it closed the entire feeding and start slowly removing the tube during feedings until we didn't use it at all. The Lact-Aid didn't close off all the way - and when we first started weaning from it, she would through a fit when I took the tube out.
Best of luck to you
My babe never took a bottle or pacifier or any plastic nipple. We made it through.

[MarcyC]

We've only been able to stop using the SNS since she's started drinking milk in a sippy cup. At about 14 mos. I started putting milk in the SNS to get her used to the taste. Now she drinks milk in a sippy with meals, but still nurses 4 times a day without the SNS.

[Laurel]

I have to share! I just got my dd switched from the SNS back to the lact-aid, and I can't believe how easy it was. She had been using the large SNS tubing, and I'd been trying to transition by going to the medium tubing and then to the lact-aid. She hated the medium tubing. But I had the flash of inspiration to just try the lact-aid, and she ate wonderfully from it. In just a day and a half we have gone to the lact-aid completely, and she is nursing better than she ever has.

I would be surprised if I could ever wean from supplementers completely.

I have a question. Lately my dd is leaking a lot out of her mouth when she eats. Usually she will dribble from her lower lip, and when I take her off the breast I am soaked underneath. But today I've found my shirt (which is pulled up over) soaked. Does this mean that her latch isn't tight enough? Or that the tube isn't positioned correctly in her mouth? Or that the tape is too close to the nipple. I've been wondering about the tape, since I've been positioning it pretty far down in order to keep the tube in place. Maybe the tape gets in the way of her forming a tight seal with her lips?

[twinsarefun]

The Lact-Aid seems to leak more than the SNS from the tubes because it does not have the gravity holding it up. If a lot of milk is dripping from you daughter's mouth, I think your milk supply has probably gone up. Your baby is probably getting a lot of milk with the Lact-Aid and your milk. This is great. You might want to consider now going to the SNS small tube since it seems that your milk supply is up. How is your daughter's stools? Are they now softer since going on the Lact-Aid compared to the large SNS tube? I bet they are. That is surely a signal that you are producing much more milk. If that is the case, I would suggest taking the herbs blessed thistle, fenugreek, and goat rue or just More Milk Plus from MotherLove. That will help increase your supply even more. Maybe from all of this plus the small tube, you may be able to get your baby off of the tube completely. Wouldn't that be great! You just never know. I wish you well with that.

Gals, we need to keep this thread going. It is so much needed! When I first started my SNS/Lact-Aid journey, it was so hard to find other women going through the same thing. How many other women out there also need that encouragement? I was wondering for those who did get off of the Lact-Aid/SNS, when you started giving milk in the sippy cup, baby just automatically started taking the breast only? Did you try before the sippy cup, but baby wouldn't do it? I would appreciate any of your experiences with getting off of the tube. It is an absolute dream of mine to nurse without it. It is hard for me to see that happening though. My guys are just so hooked. I might even try water in the tube and milk in the sippy cup. We will see how it goes.

P.S. I would put the tape just above the aerola. Don't put it next to the nipple. It is not comfortable for baby to have it on her lips. Also, it will make baby used to having it there. The other way is much more of a natural feeling on the lips. I have found with the Lact-Aid that the tube doesn't stick as well on the skin with the Micropore tape. I am not sure why. The Johnson & Johnson cloth tape seems to stick better. Another thing to make the tape stick better is to have it at least 2" long. To support it better.

[Laurel]

I think your milk supply has probably gone up. Your baby is probably getting a lot of milk with the Lact-Aid and your milk.

Wow, I had to admit that is a possibility I hadn't seriously considered. I haven't pumped for a week, but I could only pump about 1/8 oz per session. I figured she's getting somewhat more than that, but not all that much. I thought the lact-aid was designed so that as the baby takes more breastmilk, they will take less supplement? At least that's what it says in the little booklet.

She has been spitting up more, and even projectile vomiting several times recently, so I guess that could be evidence that she's getting too much milk. I just wondered if she might have a little tummy bug.

How is your daughter's stools? Are they now softer since going on the Lact-Aid compared to the large SNS tube?

Actually, no. All along her stools have been seedy and soft, and a mixture of mustard yellow and green. So she's had evidence of breastmilk all along. I haven't noticed any change until today, when she actually had a poop that was almost completely dark green and not seedy at all. It was kind of a disappointment. It was still soft though.

If that is the case, I would suggest taking the herbs blessed thistle, fenugreek, and goat rue or just More Milk Plus from MotherLove. That will help increase your supply even more.

I"ve been taking fenugreek and blessed thistle all along, as well as eating lots of oatmeal. This week I added alfalfa and cal/mag citrate (the latter recommended in the book "Mother Food" to help with the decrease in supply prior to menstruation). I am thinking of stopping the last two, though, because I feel like something may be bugging her tummy, and I'm not sure what.

[twinsarefun]

Laurel,

I was just reading over your other postings. The fact that you had the seedy stools means that you are making good milk. Now that you are using the Lact-Aid, it hasn't been as much. I would seriously consider going back to the SNS and work your way down to at least the medium tube. Once you do that, try and nurse the baby as much as possible without the tube. How old is your little one? If your baby is under three months, now is the time to try and get her off of the tube before she gets older and smarter and will only nurse with it. There is a great adoptive mother yahoo group. I'll try and post the link when I get a chance. I am pumping right now and barely typing this. The gal who started it used the SNS for her adoptive baby. She was able to get her baby off at around three months before that time when they are too smart to notice. She used the medium tube of the SNS. At times when the supply seemed low, she would use the SNS or Lact-Aid. The supply in the early evening is usually slower. You might have to supplement at that time.

I really think that your baby is getting to much of a flow with the Lact-Aid and must not be working as hard. I love the gal from the Lact-Aid company. She is so helpful. But I am not too sure about her ideas of the suckling being better with the Lact-Aid than the SNS. Looking back, in the earlier months I could have pulled my babies off of the SNS and they would nurse without it. Many times they would nurse without it with milk dripping out of their mouths. It makes me sad that I got bad advice that when they were getting enough, they would leave the supplement in the container. I just don't believe that. I have found postings from another group where the women found out the same thing. It just never came. So they had to come up with tricks to try and get their babies off - like me. As the babies sucked more and more without the tube, the supply went up on its own with the suckling. Now is the time to do it. These I things I wish I had known. I wish you well. Let me know how things are going. I think you adoptive moms are awesome! P.S. The pump is never a good indicator of how much milk is being made. It just does not extract like a nursing baby. Another thing is how high is the Lact-Aid bag? If it is really high, the flow is going to be faster. The lower the bag, the better. This allows for more of mommy's milk.

[Laurel]

Well, her stool is back to the way it should be--in fact today it was one of the most yellow she's ever had. I think she must have had some kind of little bug, as she hasn't been spitting up so much either.

I really think she's nursing so much better with the lact-aid. Her suck is stronger and more consistent. Everything about nursing just feels better since we made the switch. I'm going to keep things the same for awhile.

I have tried taking the tube out and she doesn't suck. She doesn't get mad or frustrated or anything, she just changes to a comfort-suck or stops sucking completely.

[twinsarefun]

That's great about the stools. I do think she must be getting a lot of your milk though to have these great stools and the dripping from the mouth. I also think that the Lact-Aid drips more too than the SNS. So with the two combined, that is what is probably going on. My guys won't even comfort suck without the tube. They do great though with the tube. I haven't started my period yet, so I know they must be getting a lot. Just curious with your situation, do you have a menstrual cycle at all? What about you other gals? How many ounces of formula is your babies taking per feeding at what age of months that your child is? I would like to compare notes here. (-:

[Taryn237]

Hi everyone we use the SNS here. I began with the starter SNS and that went pretty well so I got the full size one. I'm wondering how long it takes you to supplement? Our first few times with the SNS I used the medium tubing and it took over an hour for Joshua to get 3 ounces. I read it should be 10-20 min for 1-2. So it was twice that. So I swithced to the bigger tubing and it took about 30-45 min. Then this morning he took 3 oz. in 10 min. I guess I should switch back to the middle tubing? We nurse without it for like 40 min first and I just don't want it to take an hour on top of that. He gets 12-15 ounces of formula a day. 3 ounces in each of 4 or 5 daytime feedings and he has been gaining weight but on the low end about 4 oz. a week. We don't supplement at night and he will comfort nurse without it. I hope that doesn't change as he gets older! He's nearing that 3 month mark. Oh and his poops are soft and green with a few seeds in there. That does mean he is getting breastmilk too, right?

[JunipersMom]

Where did you read the 10-15 minutes thing? My babe differs from day to day and feeding to feeding. When we used the supplementors - sometimes she would suck down a ton really fast and other feedings she would just linger on the boob for literally an hour just tasting really. But I did on demand feedings so in the early days I got teased alot cause people only saw the back of her head cause she was always nursing...
I would suggest throwing away your clocks and just watching your babes growth and generally health and appearance and just love the fact that you have a slow nurser that will force you to take time out of your busy day to just focus on babe! :)

[twinsarefun]

I would suggest trying to wean your baby from the SNS before she gets hooked on it and will not take you any longer. My babies used to do what yours was doing. They would take forever. The fact that they are taking a long time out of the container means that they are taking more of you! Whatever you do, don't go to the larger tube. The baby will take less of you and more formula. Babies at this number of months like to suckle for a long time. That is their way of stimulating the breast to produce more milk as they get older. I would suggest doing what Dr. Neman suggests. Nurse your baby first. If the baby seems hungry still, then slip in the tube until baby seems satisfied. If baby seems satisfied but wants to comfort nurse or just sleep on your nursing, take the tube out so baby stimulates your supply. Over time, baby should go off of the tube. That is unless there is some suckling issues. I know it is hard when they lose weight in the beginning, etc... but try what I suggested and see how things go. Also, try the herbs blessed thistle, fenugreek, and goat's rue (motherlove.com). They will help with your supply. As the supply goes up, baby will most likely go off of the tube. I had bad advice with this. I wish I had known what I shared with you. It would have spared my babies getting hooked. Now I am having to deal with them getting unhooked. Let us know how things go. I wish you and baby well!:Kiss

P.S. The stools are great! Seedy stools mean that baby is getting LOTS of breastmilk. The harder they are, the more formula. I think you should even consider working your way down to the smaller tube. Then baby will get even less of the formula and hopefully go off of the SNS soon. The postings that I have found from other women who have used the SNS and Lact-Aid, all seem to say the same thing. The older the babies get, the harder it is to get them off of the tube. They get bigger and smarter. Are you sure that you have a low supply? Maybe baby had a hard time gaining weight in the beginning, but that could have been because baby wasn't latching properly. It seems that baby is doing good now with the type of stools you described. Just keep concentrating on latching baby properly and sucking in a good manner. I really think your baby is on the road to nursing without the SNS.

[Ursula Rose]

Is anyone in my shoes? I use SNS because I can't express any milk and dd won't take a bottle.

[SleepyMamaBear]

i dont currently use either SNS or Lact-Aid, but when yet to be made #2 arrives, and for all future children i will.
i plan to use as much donated milk from women i am close to (both geographically, and friendship) and hopefully i wont have to suppliment much formula at all. :fingersx:
i am a BFAR mama, or will be.
with DD she comfort nursed for two months, until she realized that my breasts just didnt give her what she wanted, FOOD, or they didnt give her enough.
i learned of the SNS when she was 11 months old or so. :( i wish i had been told about it by the three LCs i saw. so we used bottles with formula.

i want my future children to have as little formula as possible. so we will be buying a baby scale, many SNS' and a few Lact-Aids as well as herbal galactogues, and if we can afford it, Domperidone.
with the donated milk from the wonderful women around me all future children should do well.
though i know that there will never be a point in time where i will be able to nurse without an at the breast supplimenter. and that saddens me. but knowing that they will be breastfed, and nursing :D well that makes me uber happy.

[Ursula Rose]

i'm not sure why the sns bugs me so much. i know it is good for dd. it helps me to hear about other mommas who are committed to sns and can't express breast milk. thanks for sharing everyone. i wish i could figure out how to love the sns. dd loves it. i want to love it too.

[HotMama]

FWIW - I couldn't deal with the SNS either. I almost always used the Lact-Aid with dd1...for almost three years!

[twinsarefun]

I was wondering what you used to nurse your baby so long on the Lact-Aid? Did you put in milk, formula, water, how many ounces, did you have to refill the container, etc... How often did you nurse with that? Did you use before meals always? Did your little one just not want to nurse without the Lact-Aid? Thanks so much for letting me know. I don't like the darn thing myself. I would really like to ditch it. I will use it though if it is the only way my babies will nurse. Breastmilk is just too important! Remember, just 1 tsp. has 3 million germ fighting cells! (kellymom.com). That will encourage you during those winter sick season.

[2 in August]

Hi!

Joining up with you all. I just got a starter SNS on Weds.

Ds is gaining very slowly (born at 6lb 14oz and dropped to 6lb 7oz and stayed there for 3 wks). As of 5 wks (last Friday) he was finally up to 7lb 1oz by using formula and a Haberman feeder (but on Weds he was still 7lb). I think he was developing some bad habits from the Haberman (only sucking when it was easy). He was then doing the same at the breast.

I've only used the SNS a few times because we started to have issues with the formula. It hadn't been bothering him, but the more he got the more it started to bug him (constipation, bad gas, poor guy up screaming all night for several nights). When I use the SNS I have him nurse first, I switch sides several times (due to him stopping productive sucking as soon as the milk doesn't flow freely). When he isn't getting any more from me, I slide the tube in his mouth and give him an extra 1/2-1oz.

I've had a little trouble sliding the tube in correctly. I feel like if I had 1 more hand it would be easier, lol. I can't seem to latch him on with the tube in place, although I've only tried a couple times. My main problem is that I can't get much when I pump and I don't want to use too much formula if it is going to upset his stomach. So that's why we aren't using it much. My ultimate goal is to not need to supplement at all, but if I have to, I'd rather do it while nursing. My dd had lots of issues with nursing and she self-weaned at 4mo so I'd really like to nurse him much longer than she did and if the sns is the only way then I will do it.

[boheime]

Dd turns two tomorrow. We still use the LA at nap time, bed time, and during the night. About 1/2 months ago I started transitioning from formula to whole milk. She still nurses anywhere from 12-20 times a day, though. Most of the time we nurse without.

[twinsarefun]

Thanks so much for the info. How many ounces did your little one take in the SNS with each feeding at 1 yr - 2yr.? Thanks for letting me know. How about anyone else? I would like to know your experience with this?

[twinsarefun]

I am just putting this back into the ring. Please anyone, share your experiences with the Lact-Aid or SNS how you got your babies to go strictly to the breast. Anyone out there have experience with this? :loveeyes: