Supplementing At The Breast!

Supplementing at the Breast!

Oftentimes a new parent needs some time to work on milk supply, and ends up supplementing baby with expressed milk, donor milk or formula via bottle in the meantime. I would love to encourage more families to consider supplementing baby directly at the breast, with the help of a supplemental nursing system (SNS). Babies that are interested, willing and able to latch, but just need more "flow" at breast, are particularly good candidates for this! Baby can stay longer at breast without the parent having to worry if they are getting enough, and they are helping to stimulate more supply, while enjoying the bond of being skin-to-skin!

Examples for purchase -

https://lactationhub.com/supplemental-lactation-aid-system-for-multi-use-sns-feeding-tube/

https://www.medela.com/en/breastfeeding-pumping/products/special-feeding-needs/supplemental-nursing-system-sns?productId=1015

DIY SNS - 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RPTcc_r24VI&pp=ygUpSG93IHRvIG1ha2UgYSBzdXBwbGVtZW50YWwgbnVyc2luZyBzeXN0ZW0%3D

Sleepy Babies!

So many little ones come eagerly to the breast, but once they are there, they snuggle up and fall asleep! Hardly surprising, since it is such a calming place to be! However, we need them to EAT ;) Here are a few of the tips I generally share for those sleepy babies...

• Breast compressions! You have milk ducts everywhere! A gentle squeeze, massage, jiggle can get the milk flowing and remind baby why they are there!

• A little "tuck-in" between the shoulder blades. Helps the chin press into the breast and the nose clear, and often inspires a swallow or two!

• To quote one of my lovely moms, flap the "chicken wing" (their little bent arm resting on their side). Hello, sweet one, wake up!

Sometimes it helps to have a weighted feed, for peace of mind. Many babies do outgrow this sleepy phase, and will be doing their own breast compressions for you...just wait ;)

Pacifiers!

Here is some guidance on pacifier usage from Lactation Hub!