Home Forums Breastfeeding Breastfeeding Experience with Lact-Aid?

I have a 3 week old preemie who we are adopting. I think she is probably 36-37 weeks gestation at this point. She was unexpected so there was no prep time to bring in a supply. I'm currently pumping with a Symphony and using the Lact-Aid supplementer.

My problem is that she seems to latch on and nurse great, but she is not getting milk from the supplementer. The woman at Lact-Aid suggested the formula may be too thick (Enfamil Enfacare 22 calorie formula, ready to feed, NOT powdered) and to thin it with breastmilk (she is getting about 4 ounces of donated BM each day). I have tried with 100% BM and still no luck.

I have also raised the bag to make some gravity flow. Same problem when I tried with the Medela starter SNS.

Has anyone else had this problem? I'm not sure if maybe I just don't have the tube placed right, or is there a problem with her suck/swallow?

I exclusively breastfed my two bio children (including a preemie) but it has been 6 years.

I plan to meet with an IBCLC next week, but thought I'd check to see if this rings a bell with anyone and you could give me some tips!!

Hi Maggie,

when I started using Lact aid, a gal from this forum suggested that I 1st run the milk through a damp paper towel, THEN through the lact aid filter. I found this made the lact aid flow perfect. I did the same with the breast milk.

also, at times I would 'test' the lact aid flow, as in I would suck on it. I would occasionally find it was clogged, high up and when I flushed it through, it solved the flow problem.

Have you tried taping on the tube? I used a band aid and that worked well.

Hoping that you will be able to get a full milk supply and be able to leave the lact aid behind. : )

I last BF over 18 years ago, and successfully BF our adopted daughter.

Best wishes

Thanks!

I met with the IBCLC today and tried with the SNS as well. It pretty much confirmed my ides that she is just not sucking properly. She just can't maintain suction. The good news is that she is gradually getting better and can now maintain good suction and keep it flowing for a few minutes.
She is a preemie, now 5 lbs 8 ounces and still at least a couple of weeks from her "due date". I'm hopeful that she will get the hand of it in the next couple of weeks.