Nursing supplementer- is it worth getting one? Lactaid or Medela

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My son was born with a tongue tie and I fed him till 6 days when the top of my nipple came off and I got mastitis, I then pumped and supplemented with formula whilst waiting for an appointment for tongue tie division this took five weeks during which my supply dropped substantially.
I am now trying to relactate, at night and in the morning he feeds well, However in the afternoon and evening my supply drops and he pulls on my nipples and I end up giving him a bottle.
Has anyone used a nursing supplementer to good effect? I’m starting to get a bit downhearted

Bumping for the evening crowd

I used the Medela one for months with DS.
The infant feeding team advised me to get one after trying everything else for 2 months.
However, i never produced much myself, so it was almost all formula.

I used the premixed cartons as the powder versions were two 'grainy' for the very fine tubing.
I had to buy extra tubes when DS broke them.

It was not a cheap option.

DS now 11, so it is distant memory,

Hi there OP. Just to let you know that we're going to move this one over to infant feeding for you shortly. Really hope you get the help and support you are after over there .

Thanks Caroline. Jsotherhalf think this is my last gasp attempt at feeding him myself. How did you find cleaning the system? I’ve just ordered it. Did you ever feel your supply increase?

Have you tried all the usual tricks? Drink more water, feed as often as you can overnight, pump and feed if you really want to up your supply. Also eat lots of oats (no idea why this works but it does!).

Also spend 48 hours in bed with LO where you are topless with skin to skin almost constantly.

I've not used a supplementer but I did have to get my supply up after a tongue tie division.

Yes, I used the Medela one when I relactated with DD1. I used a syringe to clean it. It was a faff. I couldn't have used it outside the house.

Lots of skin to skin is effective. Bedsharing, sling wearing, nightly bath together, etc.

Are you pumping at least 12x per 24 hours with a hospital grade pump? At least twice between midnight & 5am?

Do you have real life support? LLL were amazing on my journey.

No my milk supply never increased, but then I'd spent 3 weeks hiring a hospital grade pump, cup feeding, taking various herbs etc.
Ds was IVF due to pcos amongst other things, which can affect milk supply.

The cleaning was a bit of a faff tbh.
My skin reacted to various micropore tapes, where I had to tape the tube to my breast.

It's such a long time ago that I can take the emotion out of it now. I was determined to do my best for him, but looking back I think I may have made too much about the way he was fed?

I kept it up during the day for months, and moved to bottles overnight at 2 months.
He stopped feeding from me at all at 9 months. He preferred the bottles so he could look round I think.

I have no idea how any of his classmates were fed as babies. It becomes a stage we've all moved past.

Ds had his SATS this week, and moves to high school in September.

I had fertility problems too and he is a much longed for second child. Partner wants me to give up, he can be pretty lazy and doesn’t get involved in sterilising etc. My elder daughter broke her arm during all off this and I’m feeling guilty I haven’t given it my all. I got post natal depression with my daughter and a contributing factor in that was her tongue tie. Feel very let down by the hcp who let it happen again. I’ve been pumping in between feeds, doing skin to skin .
It’s nice to hear you have healthy thriving children!

Just thought I’d update and say thanks to everyone. I used the system for the first time yesterday and it’s been a partial success. He fed well from one side but struggles on the other. Still lovely as I’m enjoying feeding him rather than having my nipple pulled!! Thanks so much again

Excellent news.

Great news. I hope it goes well x

How are things now?

Pretty good thanks I’ve dropped the amount of formula in the supplementer and noticed my milk coming in at other times. Trying not to put myself under too much pressure as I’m trying to enjoy the kids, while they still want to spend time with me!!

That's brilliant. I am so pleased for you.

I used the medela SNS with my daughter was just what I needed. Supplemented for 10 weeks with artificial formula or breast milk and after the 10 weeks we were exclusively breastfeeding.

I used it out of the house too! One of the best things I bought when my kids were small

Good luck.