Comments on Hobo Mama: Supplemental feeding techniques for a breastfed ba...

I had to supplement for a month, mostly because of...

2011-03-22T17:48:32.763-07:00

I had to supplement for a month, mostly because of low supply and that I didn't get my son to the breast soon enough and often enough. Anyway, I syringe fed at the breast and used the SNS. That was one of the most difficult months of my life! It was well worth it however, and my 11 month old is still in love with his milky from the breast. Thanks for sharing and pointing out that even if breastfeeding doesn't go as smoothly at first as one might hope, there is still a way to get there!

All right, clearly I should run my articles past y...

2010-03-02T17:01:54.362-08:00

All right, clearly I should run my articles past y'all before I post. Oh, wait, that's what comments are for. Thanks for all the extra tips and advice, everyone! Love it.

My lactation specialist told us to sit our baby up...

2010-02-25T22:11:41.569-08:00

My lactation specialist told us to sit our baby up and hold the bottle horizontally so the baby really had to suck to get the milk out. We also used the bottle nipples with the smallest hole. Even if he still developed 'nipple confusion' at least he wouldn't get flow preference from the bottle. Just a bit of advice for anyone overwhelmed by the tubes and syringes.

As a low supply mom, I highly recommend Lact-Aids ...

2010-02-23T08:54:50.034-08:00

As a low supply mom, I highly recommend Lact-Aids over the SNS system.

I've heard stories of babies becoming nipple c...

2010-02-22T21:40:43.422-08:00

I've heard stories of babies becoming nipple confused with finger feeding. Obviously not in the same way as with bottle-feeding, but it can lead to latch problems in some cases. It's just something to keep in mind.

The other thing I like to keep in mind is that while tubing and pumps and so on can be expensive, it is a limited-time cost, whereas formula is ongoing. Spending the money to see you over the hump is an investment that will pay off in the long run if you're successful.

As for me, my first child was born 6 weeks early and spent her first week in the NICU. She was given a bottle of supplemental formula before I had a chance to breastfeed, and she subsequently refused to latch. I don't think this could have been avoided, even if I HAD been consulted prior to giving the bottle. We were on different floors and I was extremely unwell, so I couldn't get down to the nursery to sit in a chair in a bright room around the clock. The staff was NOT open to alternative feeding methods. It is very difficult to swim against that stream, because you want them to like you so that they will work with you and get your baby out of there faster. Before they discharge your baby her or she needs to be taking all feeds by breast or bottle.

In the end I used nipple shields to overcome the nipple confusion, and then I weaned off of those. For the time we used them they were a lifesaver. They eliminated the refusal to latch and allowed my daughter to breastfeed, and let me give up the grueling pumping regimen.

What a wonderful helpful post Lauren! I love that ...

2010-02-22T08:40:27.314-08:00

What a wonderful helpful post Lauren! I love that you found pictures of most of these types of feedings too. A visual image of a technique one has never done before makes such a difference! Good job!

At Eden's first check up with the NP she wante...

2010-02-21T22:18:24.441-08:00

At Eden's first check up with the NP she wanted us to supplement with formula because she felt Eden was too small. I refused to give her a bottle, so we went to a breastfeeding class at a local hospital and they gave me a tube. It was awkward and I never got the hang of it. We ended up using a syringe after I had breastfed her.

She ended up catching up eventually and is now in the 90th percentile for height and 70th for weight. In retrospect I really wish the NP had not given us the formula. Ironically, she was the one that showed me how to position Eden correctly so we got a good latch, too. Huh.

Great post, Lauren! Thanks!

It's amazing how many options there are for su...

2010-02-21T18:50:55.432-08:00

It's amazing how many options there are for supplementing! Thanks for getting this info out there. I definitely didn't know you could supplement other ways than just a bottle. I hope I don't ever have to, but I'm glad that I know so much more about my options now.

thanks for this very informative post. this is a ...

2010-02-21T18:34:47.938-08:00

thanks for this very informative post. this is a great resource to share with mothers - very detailed and with helpful pictures.

I would just want people to be aware of the danger...

2010-02-21T17:07:10.923-08:00

I would just want people to be aware of the danger of aspiration in cup feeding -- I would prefer the syringe method.

You're right about needing to make your wishes known to medical staff in the case of a hospital birth. I ended up having a crash c-section with my son under general anaesthetic -- which was traumatic enough, but when I woke up my husband informed me that the baby's blood sugar was low and they were giving him sugar water in a bottle, which nearly sent me into hysterics. Then they kept wanting me to nurse him using the football hold because of my scar -- and he was a humongous baby. Finally I ignored them all and used the standard hold (not sure what it's called) and he turned out to be a champion nurser. But I also heard the hospital breastfeeding consultant being unbelievably bitchy and haranguing my roommate, so insensitivity is found on both sides (just to stay balanced).