SNS help

[goldfishimon]

I have recently started using an SNS due to many problems throughout the past 5.5 weeks since my DD was born.
To expand; a TT meant poor latch, meant severely cracked bleeding nipples, meant taking a break from BF for a few days and expressing, mastitis happened simultaneously, meant reduced milk, then a does of D&V meant that my supply was staying reduced. I also have vasospasm in my boobs which makes for v.painful nipples after feeding.
I started taking supplements to increase my milk: fenugreek and soy letcihin. I also got a few domperidone from the doctor (although I've run out now) and I'm eating lots of porridge.

All in all a bad run but I am passionate about wanting to EBF and have spoken with every possible person about it... Lactation consultants, the LLL, my HV, midwife, doctor, etc.

Since using the SNS, I am noticing that DD gets exhausted after sucking for a few minutes and will fall asleep on the breast before she is full.
This just means she ends up constantly hungry as she can't fill her tummy enough before feeling sleepy. Does this happen to other people?

I then have to resort to giving a bottle to make sure she doesn't starve.
She then gulps this down like she's been starved for weeks.
Generally I'm putting her on the boob before each bottle feed and then trying to use the SNS where possible, but it really doesn't seem to be working the way it should.

I was given the SNS by the lactation consultant and we tried it out and it worked fine when I was with her but now it takes too long to feed.

I basically wanted help and advise from anyone that has used an SNS. Because I'm really at my wits end.

Thanks in advance.

Sounds like you've been through a lot and well done for persevering - 5.5 weeks is a tough time.

I used a sort of improvised SNS (ng-tube with one end in a bottle and the other at the breast, like a long straw) with both children - only a couple of weeks for dc2 with EBM to get her back to birth weight, but for six months with dc1 who had a terrible start. Was told everything was fine but it wasn't and we had major weight loss, nipple trauma, mastitis etc to deal with.

In terms of feeding with the SNS, how is your little one's latch now? Does she respond to flow (eg if you elevate the container with the milk in when she starts to drink so gravity helps her get a rush of milk or when you get a let-down) by drinking more enthusiastically? I used to find that sometimes helped to get the baby going again if they were sleepy or losing interest. A bit like you might do with a breast compression to get the milk flowing.

Conversely (in case you end up doing this long term) when dc1 was bigger and stronger I would pinch the tube a bit from time to time to slow the flow and make it more like a natural feed because he was getting impatient with my breasts at feeds when I wasn't using the tube.

Even though I couldn't feed dc1 exclusively I would say this system saved our bf relationship. Also, if all the latching issues are resolved, or you're able to pump effectively to make more BM for the feeds, can you get your GP to prescribe more domperidone on repeat? I found all other remedies to be a bit questionable but was on 6 tablets a day for 6 months and it made a huge difference.

Thanks for your response.

Her latch is ok. Not great, especially when the milk starts to run low. She will then start to fuss at the breast and pull back to be sucking mainly nipple. In that case, I have to take her off and latch again. We can be doing this for ages sometimes.
The container is clipped to my bra strap, I haven't been able to raise it higher than this but it seemed to work ok the first time i used it..

I tend to turn on the SNS when the initial burst of milk runs out. I will be doing compressions at times too. trying to empty the breast!

Unfortunately I cannot produce enough milk to provide the container with only expressed milk. I have to use formula.

Another GP has given me more domperidone but only 10mg x 3 per day.
I will speak to my actual GP next week, as she is currently on holiday, and I will ask about upping the dose.

Fingers crossed.

Hello,

I've been using an SNS with my ds for 5 months now.
I had a problem like this when we tried comfort formula, which is thicker so wouldn't get down the tube. Have you tried sucking it through yourself to see how much strength is needed and check for formula blockages. Could the tube not be far enough in or not right next to the nipple? If you raise it by hand does it free-flow ok?
Hope you find a solution, as once we got it working comfortably the sns was wonderful. Got us down from top ups at every feed to 2 a day.

The formula does drip through, but after some experimentation we have worked out that if I squeeze the little buffer bit at the bottom of the SNS then DD will drink it faster. So I will just do that from now on I think.
It is a mini SNS, so maybe if I buy the proper one then it might be better too.
Thanks