What is Reddit's opinion of Medela Supplemental Nursing System - Feeding Tube Device and Baby Feeding System for Moms and Babies Facing Special Challenges, Made Without BPA?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

No advice on increasing calories. But I know a few moms who have used a supplement device to keep baby at the breast and stimulate more production while supplementing with formula.

amazon link

http://www.amazon.com/Medela-009-0003-Supplemental-Nursing-System/dp/B000W73YKY

Basically you tape a tube that connects to a bottle to your boob (although I know some experienced moms who don't need tape anymore). Then, baby is getting practice at latching while stimulating your production both manually and through all the lovey dovey hormones that happen while nursing! There are other brands of them, as well.

My daughter also refused the breast and we got her back to it using an SNS. First we finger fed with the SNS and then transitioned it to the breast. I also used nipple shields for the first 10 weeks to help her latch. We're still supplementing at 3.5 months, but she gets about 2/3 of her food from breastfeeding. Hang in there and good luck!

Thanks! I use the medela purelan and just breastmilk most of the time. The doctor also recommended hemagel, which I've used a few times, but it needs to be washed off before feeding so isn't as convenient when she's cluster feeding. :) I've heard of the softshells but don't have them...I've been just going shirtless as much as possible and I'm lucky to be home with baby, so can be bare chested most of the time. Most of my struggle has been getting back to breastfeeding after supplementing with a bottle early on. We've managed to get her breastfeeding and are supplementing with an SNS occasionally as I build my supply...but we're also still using nipple shields and trying to wean off them. She's latched a few times for a few minutes at a time without the shields in the last week, so we're making progress. :)

Thanks dear, I hope it works out for you too. Read some of the other comments, not all so i'm not sure if anyone mentioned this. Have you looked into a SNS http://www.amazon.com/Medela-009-0003-Supplemental-Nursing-System/dp/B000W73YKY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1432148697&sr=8-2&keywords=sns This way you can put or use formula and still feed at breast. I used a syringe + feeding tube for weeks. My husband would insert the tube while the baby was latched on already - this way they wake up a bit from a quicker flow and then they are also stimulating you. You don't want the baby to get too lazy from bottle feeding this early on - some of them don't have a problem going back and forth but some do. Long term use of this gets annoying so we ended up doing bottles after every feeding instead after like 5/6 weeks of the syringe. My LC recommended once or twice during night to have husband give bottle of whatever milk + formula = to two ounces while I pumped for about 20 minutes, that way I got some rest since all the supplementing+ feeding/pumping is very time consuming. My LO never had a problem with the bottle but we started giving it to her at night around 2 1/2 weeks and only 2 a day. She still wanted to nurse to sleep, and now even if I give her the bottle of ebm after feeding she still nurses to sleep for every nap!

Like I said, make a goal - I want to give her atleast 3 months of breastfeeding, if I can't give her enough then that's that..I did my best. Also, have you looked into better formula options? None are as good as breastmilk. But the european brands are better than american from what i've researched. There's two I have been looking at HiPP and holle. You have to have them shipped from europe. Anyway, seriously if you need support you can message me anytime.

 

^Item Info | Bot Info | Trigger

https://www.amazon.com/Medela-009-0003-Supplemental-Nursing-System/dp/B000W73YKY

I would use the slowest flow nipples you can if you keep using bottles and doing paced feedings may cause baby to take in more air but if it does they just burp it out. It's really not a big deal. Kellymom is a great resource http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/

I've been reading Making More Milk, it has a chapter on confirming your baby is getting enough milk (wet diapers, baby's weight, and a few other tests i can't remember off the top of my head) and best ways to supplement without compromising your supply such as using a supplemental nursing system instead of a bottle like this: https://www.amazon.com/Medela-009-0003-Supplemental-Nursing-System/dp/B000W73YKY

I don't have the book with me right now, but check out the kindle version as it may be helpful to you! https://www.amazon.com/Breastfeeding-Mothers-Guide-Making-More/dp/007159857X

We were in a similar situation. This did the trick for us. She was able to get the baby food so she wasn't hungry, and work on sucking.

https://www.amazon.com/Medela-009-0003-Supplemental-Nursing-System/dp/B000W73YKY

supplemental nursing system

It was a total lifesaver with getting back to the breast after bottles while still supplementing as I build supply.

Non-mobile: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000W73YKY/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1428762276&sr=8-2&keywords=SNS&pi=AC_SY200_QL40&dpPl=1&dpID=21d55Y5BCtL&ref=plSrch

^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?

You mentioned that he is breastfed so you could try one of these. Medela Supplemental Nursing System https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000W73YKY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ij5lCbR72YX52 It is meant to supplement formula for mothers with low supply but you could definitely stick the medicine in the pouch, too. The tube is teeny tiny and slips right into their lips while nursing.