Supp. Nursing System (SNS)
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Topic: Supp. Nursing System (SNS)
Posted By: Jacobsmumma
Subject: Supp. Nursing System (SNS)
Date Posted: 07 February 2012 at 7:32am
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Hi, has anyone used a supplemental nursing system before? I'm looking at getting one as I need to top up my baby boy with formula after each breastfee,d and at the moment I've been using bottles, but I think this is affecting his sucking at my breast (and I'm also scared he'll wean early, preferring the bottle). If you've used one, was it good, how easy was it to clean, and how many did you buy? Thanks ------------- 
(9lbs 6ozs) 
(11lbs 4ozs) |
Replies:
Posted By: Bky
Date Posted: 07 February 2012 at 8:40am
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I used one 4x a day for 7 months with my daughter. It was reasonably easy to clean, just fill with soapy water after and squeeze through, then rinse and sterilize if you like. Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.
I only bought the one, though I did need to buy replacement tubing after about 5-6 months. ETA: it does have a huge learning curve, probably took me a few weeks of daily use to get the hang of it. ------------- 7/2010, 10/2012 and 1/2015 |
Posted By: Jacobsmumma
Date Posted: 07 February 2012 at 10:15am
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Thanks for your reply Bky -------------
(9lbs 6ozs)
(11lbs 4ozs) |
Did your Daughter take ok to it and did you use it from birth or was she a bit older? My Son is just over 4 weeks and we only introduced formula just over a week ago. Just wondering if he'll take to it ok? It's only a small tube hey? I think I'll buy the one to start with then if we both adapt ok to it, then I'll buy a back up.Posted By: UpsyDaisy
Date Posted: 07 February 2012 at 1:03pm
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Jacobsmumma - I was using a very ad-hoc one for a week when my twins were born as my milk was late to come in and not quite enough for the first two weeks. It was just a bottle with a little tube had to get DH to hold the bottle up so gravity and the baby sucking would help it to flow. You didn't say why you need to top-up but I hope you don't have to use it too long if possible as I found it quite tricky to get the baby to latch and get the tube in - adds an extra complication. I thinks its amazing Bky that you used one for 7 months, well done! I had to express three times a day to get milk supply up, so could use some of that EBM instead of formula in the SNS and then was able to stop using the SNS when their feeding got better. Have you been able to see a lactation consultant if you haven't I would highly recommend it. Good luck! |
Posted By: Bky
Date Posted: 07 February 2012 at 2:14pm
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I started at 6 weeks because I had the same bottle concerns you do. She took to it ok. It was much more an issue, for us at any rate, of me figuring out how to get it in her mouth along with everything else.
ETA: I managed to bf until 18-19 months as well, after around 7-8 months we were able to stop supplementing in favour of solids. ------------- 7/2010, 10/2012 and 1/2015 |
Posted By: Jacobsmumma
Date Posted: 07 February 2012 at 2:51pm
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Hi UpsyDaisy, I need to top up as even tho I have milk, it's not enough to sustain my boy(I'm also taking domperidone 2 tabs 3x daily to help increase the amount). He was constantly feeding and not sleeping at all (during the day), and losing weight. After a few weeks my mw suggested that he would probably need to be topped up as he's a big boy, so reluctantly I topped him up and it made such a difference. During the time he sleeps, my breasts actually have time to fill up again before he's breastfed. I am hoping that eventually my breasts will be able to meet his needs soley. Bky, so do you need to attach baby to the breast, then insert the feeding tube? Is there a nack to using it? Think I should have a look online for some more info. -------------
(9lbs 6ozs)
(11lbs 4ozs) |
Posted By: Jacobsmumma
Date Posted: 07 February 2012 at 2:54pm
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UpsyDaisy, I forgot to add that my GP is a lactation consultant - actually she was on The Breakfast show this morning, Yvonne Le Fort. She helped me initially with my DS2 tongue tie, but I haven't been back since we've started topping up, although I'm due to see her this weekend so will discuss it then. -------------
(9lbs 6ozs)
(11lbs 4ozs) |
Posted By: Emmi_
Date Posted: 07 February 2012 at 5:34pm
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I used one with DD1 for a few weeks as we were topping up/expressing etc as my milk took over a week to come in and then ages till I had enough to just BF.
I was using a nipple shield at the time (although have given DD2 some EBM by lactaid this time with no shield) and just put a feeding tube (one of the ones the put down babies throats into their tummies) into the bottle of milk, and then slide the other end into babies mouth. I would need to wriggle it around a little as it sometimes would end up in a place where her mouth was blocking it so the milk wasnt going through but it worked great eniugh, and its cheap! I kept mine in the steralised water stuff (I cant remember what its called, with the tablet you put in) and used a syringe to pull the water through, then rinsed and used. (you can get the tubes from teh chemist for a coupe of dollars) HTH, GL! ------------- 
+1 May 09 Angel 
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Posted By: UpsyDaisy
Date Posted: 07 February 2012 at 10:06pm
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Thats all I had Emmi, the lactation consultant sorted it for me. I think thats how I did it too - baby latch then tube in and sometimes fidling around with getting the tube in would stuff up the latch. The lactation consultant I had formula was a real no go she wanted me to express 3 hrly - pretty tricky with feeding twins and trying to get some rest so I could use EMB with the lactaid asap and its the whole supply and demand thing to. Jacobsmumma I didn't see your GP on TV but good that she has some lactation training to support you- Kellymon website gives pretty good advice also about weaning from formula too. |
Posted By: Jacobsmumma
Date Posted: 08 February 2012 at 8:30am
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Thanks heaps for your replies. I will check out kellymom as I would like to eventually wean from formula, so he's fully breastfed. I am looking at getting the lactaid one now. -------------
(9lbs 6ozs)
(11lbs 4ozs) |
Posted By: Bky
Date Posted: 08 February 2012 at 11:02am
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Lactaid is really good I've heard as well. I just got the SNS because it's all reusable and I didn't want to hassle with getting bags shipped if I ran out. Maybe if I need to use it again I'll get a Lactaid and compare.
If you like I'll PM you some videos on how to use it. ------------- 7/2010, 10/2012 and 1/2015 |