Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Natural Methods to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply Lact-Aid or SNS?

I was wondering for those who used a supplement in the beginning, did you like the Lact-Aid or SNS better? Which was more successful? Did you wean the baby off or did the baby wean himself? If you used the SNS, did you use the large, med., or small tube? Also, how long did it take to get off of the supplement and have baby nursing 100%? Thank you so much for answering my questions.

HI Anne,

The main difference between the two is that the Lact-aid opening is at the top and the SNS opening is at the bottom so if the lid is not correctly placed, you can end up spilling all your breastmilk from the SNS. This happened to me and is the reason I switched to the Lact-aid. The problem with the Lact-aid is that it's essentially a bag and so doesn't conveniently fit into the side of your diaperbag. Basically what you can do is fill the Lact-aid and pop it in a bottle and carry it that way. And advantage to the Lact-aid is that the bags are disposible making clean up a breeze.

The tubing of the Lact-aid is flexible and small diameter which makes baby work a little harder which is good for your own milk supply. It's usually best to use the smallest tubing.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Thank you so much for getting back to me. I tried logging on, but forgot my password. I am trying to relactate for my twins. Do you think it is possible. They are 3 1/2 months. I was nursing them for one week but had problems due to engorgement and then suckling problems. They lost a lot of weight and the doctor wanted me to supplment. I didn't want nipple confusion, so I started using the SNS. I haven't been able to get off of it since. My supply has drastically dived. I saw a specialist who thinks the twins had a suckling problem and that is what happened from the begining and as they mature, they will suckle better. The specialist says that they suckle better but not at 100% yet. She said to keep supplementing with the tube and eventually they will get off of it. She thinks they will do this on their own. Do you think she is right in this? The babies WILL NOT no longer nurse WITHOUT the tube. It is so sad for me. I have hardly any milk, they try and sip the tube like a straw, I want to get off of the tube so badly. I have tried the Lact-Aid. It does seem to bring in more milk. I find the tube gets clogged easier with it though. Then the babies go crazy because they have a hard time getting the milk. Have any of you had this? Where the babies get frustrated because they can't get the milk quickly? I really need some BIG encouragement here. It has been a long hard road for me with tears all over the place. I have nurse to of my other children for almost 3 yrs. This has been horrible for me. Thank you so much for whatever encouragement you may have. Do you think I will be able to get my supply up with just the supplement, or should I use the pump as well? I have rented a hospital grade pump but don't have much time to use it.

Also, I am using formula for the supplement. I hate it. My poor little babies get speckles on their face. I think they are allergic to it. I know that they get a little breastmilk as I can see it in their stools. I have thought about getting donated milk, but it cost $3 an ounce. That would be about $3500 a month for twins! Also, the places near me only screen the mothers, not the milk. What if a mother who is okay later catches something? The milk was never checked. That is a concern to me. I just hope that I can get my supply up to meet the twins needs. Right now they are taking about 5 oz. of formula each. So the amount of breastmilk is probably one a few ounces each if any.

The best advice I can give you is to arrange for a board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) to assist you with a home visit. This is not the same as a certified lactation counselor or a La Leche League Leader. The IBCLC is trained to work one on one with mothers and their babies in person. You can find an IBCLC here: www.iblce.org Just click on the "About IBLCE" button and the US and international registries pop up. She will be able to provide you with strategies for breastfeeding with the Lact-aid in a manner that has your babie stimulating your breasts while they receive nourishment.

To rebuild your milk supply, it would help if you can pump after feeds or between feeds with a good electric breast pump. Most moms use either a Medela Pump in Style or WIC in Style and there is a new pump that will be available in May called the Limerick PJ Junion. I've been testing this pump for the past 4 months and I'm very impressed with it. It has flexible breast shields that acts very much like a baby at the breast. With the limerick pump all you would need is to pump for about 15 minutes each time.

Have you tried any herbal or medical means of increasing your milk supply? Fenugreek can help and many mothers use domperidone to increase their prolactin levels and bring their milk supplies back in.

Start with this and let me know after you have contacted the IBCLC.

Best,

Thank you so much for gettng back to me. I have the Madela Symphony that I rented. It has worked better than the Pump in Style. I think I need new cups though. The one you mentioned sounds good. I'll have to look into that. I have been using Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle. I need to be more consistent though. I have thought about Domperidone. I am afraid of taking medications though. I might break down though on that. Thank you again for everything. Anyone else who may have ideas, please share if you can. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />