[sswj]

I am just looking for opinions on which supplimenter is best

[aspenhall]

I have heard nothing but good about lact aid and nothing but bad about sns

Besides...lact aid is the original...and it is a soft bag instead of a hard bottle...I will be using lact aid

[Gr8ful4MyFamily]

I have asked around a bit about both these supplemental nursing systems.
I think I will go with the lact aid. I think it will fit my needs better

[lambeausam]

I have not used SNS, but have used Lact-aid. It was simple to use and comfortable.

[Gr8ful4MyFamily]

Originally posted by lambeausam
I have not used SNS, but have used Lact-aid. It was simple to use and comfortable.

Thanks for the info!

[mom2GRLC]

I have used both.... this is what i have found.

The Sns is easy to use at home it is a hard bottle so it stands up in the fridge without falling over or leaking. You can easily clean it and put more milk in it for the next use with very little trouble. The only problems I had with it was it leaked a couple times when the plastic tube piece weren't pushed up to the hard plastic cap enough. I tried using the different sizes of tubing and it still caused my nipples to turn kinda whitish...which blocks the flow of milk (bad when your trying to stimulate milk) I found it harder to actually tape the tubes down and it irritated my skin so I would take one of the tubes and rap it around the cap to keep it out of my way but it was still a hassel at times. The advantage is all you really need is one or maybe 2 for extra convience and it's a one time thing...no bags or missing pieces.

The lact-aid is more discrete to use out in public however i have a B/C cup size and you can still see the bulge....under my shirt....and the white tie around the neck isn't very attractive. What i normally do is slip the pouch into one side of my nursing bra and pull the tube accross to the side I am nursing on. It feels more natural and is a lot less noticable than the (third breast look). I haven't had a problem with it leaking on me....but I have had the tube unhook several times in the fridge or the diaperbag...and leak out. The only problems with the lact-aid is that you really need to have enough units so you only have to clean and re-fill them once a day.

What I enjoy using the most is the Lact-aid and i would reccomend it to a mother who is really dedicated to breastfeeding.... who plans on doing it for a while and is willing to buy enough supply of unts to cover all the feedings a baby uses each day.. and who is willing to coninue to buy the bags.

To someone just starting out..who is concerned about money and just wants to give it a try and then decide wether to continue...I would suggest just starting off with the SNS....especially because it is so much easier to learn to use and to re-use again and again through out the day.

I'm glad I do have both and have tried both.

[lisa in venice]

I started with the SNS in my first (and unsuccessful) attempt at nursing. When I got serious with my third baby I bought the Lact-aid. I also took the very ggod advice of another adoptive mom and bought four units. That way i didn't have to clean or fill them but once a day. That made a huge difference. I lways had one really to go. As Sam started eating more I bought two more units so that at the hieght of my supplimenting I was using six/day.

The biggest advantage to the lact-aid is the ability to nurse while lying down. In other words you can nurse and sleep at the same time. Anyone who has had a newborn in their house will agree that sleep is becomes SOOOOOOO important. Also my babies nursed better at night (better latch more effective suck) and I really believe that is one of the reasosn I was able to build such a good milk supply. Also they were willing to start with the supplimenter but if it ran dry at night they would keep nursing. Again helping with milk supply.

I think that the fact that you have to fill and clean the SNS each time caused some mom that I know to give bottle out of frustation. In the beginning it is hard to recognize the hunger cues before the baby gets desparate. With the Lact-aid you are always ready if you have enough units.

lisa

[csw]

I have used both..the SNS is easier to set up..but flows by gravity, and as Lisa said..cannot be used easily while lying down..It will also not stimulate your supply like the Lact-aid will..
The Lact-aid does take some getting used to..it can be a pain to set up at first but you need to keep practicing and it gets better (not hard..just kind of a pain)..I had six Lact-aid units and one SNS..