SNS - supplementary nutrition system near the chest: pros and cons. Breastfeeding Medela system of supplementary feeding of newborns

The straws can be bought separately in an online store (the order from Moscow to St. Petersburg arrived in a couple of days), so this is not a problem.

If you want to return breastfeeding, and not feed a mixture for emotional contact through the breast, then there is a tricky point like this. In all descriptions, it is advised to first let the baby eat the breast, and then supplement it with formula through the baby. That is, do not express if your lactation is insufficient. But it didn't help us. THE OPPOSITE helped.

I EXPRESSED EVERYTHING TO THE DROP BEFORE FEEDING! And I poured it all into sns. Then she laid the baby down and, without torturing him (the baby sucked weakly, which is why there was little milk), gave the breast TOGETHER with the SNS IMMEDIATELY. I took the thinnest tube first, then almost immediately switched to a medium one, and a month later to a thick one. Let me make a reservation right away: I took the tubes based on the time it took for the baby to drink a bottle of sns: in about half an hour he had to eat his quota. More - a thicker tube, less - a thinner tube. And I also regulated the flow by the height of hanging the system on the chest. But I digress...)

So, immediately, with the breast, she gave sns. And on an EMPTY, expressed breast -!!!- I felt up to three or four hot flashes during feeding. That is, the breast was given a signal to produce more milk. And when I acted according to the instructions, the baby simply slept on the chest, and in desperation I turned on the SNS, and the milk in the breast did not decrease much, therefore, it was not produced in larger quantities.

Then I found an explanation for this. Even during pregnancy courses, we were taught that a baby sucks milk simultaneously in two ways: with a vacuum and mechanically using the tongue. If at least one component is missing, the guards suffer. My child created an excellent vacuum on the nipple (hence the feeling of hot flashes), but mechanically could not latch onto the nipple (as it turned out, simply because that same notorious “correct latch” did not suit the structure of my nipple at all! And as soon as I allowed the baby suck the way he likes, and not as it should be, it’s off!)) In the end, I did the mechanical work with my hands (not with a breast pump! It just creates a vacuum!), and then the child added the vacuum and expressed directly in the process of sucking the breast along with sns of those last drops of hind milk, which he so needed and which he himself could not get to. And the chest was completely emptied: first mechanically, then with the vacuum of the baby.

In this mode, we returned to full guard in a couple of weeks, but a month and a half before that I was trying on the sns, trying to do everything according to the instructions. If we had managed to make this little discovery earlier, everything would have happened faster...

As a result, at 2 months we weighed a little more than at birth, but then we kept up until 8 months, a kilogram per month)) now we are still on guard duty, we are one year old)

and further. I would like to emphasize that in cases like mine, you need to express with your hands. In fact, it is no slower than using a breast pump, which also needs to be disassembled, sterilized, dried, and reassembled... I mastered the flow method)) into two sterilized wide containers Avent SHARED BOTH BREASTS AT THE SAME TIME. So after about five minutes of sluggish pumping, a rush of milk came and in three minutes both breasts were expressed. Without a tide, expressing is almost impossible. When stimulating both breasts, I personally experienced a flush much earlier, or even more than once. Like an orgasm, honestly)))

And I pumped IMMEDIATELY BEFORE FEEDING! This is also a very important point. So that the baby takes an empty breast and continues to stimulate it to produce milk.

Yes, our feedings were strictly according to the schedule. But when we switched completely to the breast, we returned to feeding on demand, I didn’t find anything terrible about it))

You really need to wash your sns right away. But this is a small thing compared to everything else, my word!)) of course, those two months were a feat, I bow to the girls who breastfeed through SNS for a year or more, it’s hard labor! But it's worth the results.

They also say that it is better not to store milk (your own) for the reason that morning and evening milk differ in composition. I don’t know how true this is, but I noticed that if you pour freshly milked milk into the baby’s stomach, the stomach does not bother the baby, but if it sits for at least three hours, it becomes worse for digestion... Rumbling, colic bothers me more.

I didn’t have any allergies to the patch, I still use it, it’s better than the usual pharmaceutical one, it soaks in water, so you can peel it off without damaging the delicate skin of the chest by slightly wetting it.

Yes, there is another important technical nuance with the tubes: I first attached both tubes to the different breasts. In general, the milk did not flow. Or it was leaking from both tubes. In the end, my husband and I figured it out: attach one tube to the active nipple, and RAISE the second to a LEVEL ABOVE this “working nipple” to the other breast. Somewhere in the middle of feeding, I changed the breast, and the position of the tubes, too, accordingly. The second tube must be raised high enough (almost attached to the shoulder) so that there is a sufficient flow of air into the bottle. The one provided by the design is too small and did not allow the milk to flow out at all. Well, or was it a design defect?...

So experiment and don't despair! It’s absolutely possible to return GW!))

milk rivers with jelly banks to everyone!)

The best way to supplement your baby's nutrition is to supplement it at the breast. This method allows the baby to suck on the mother's breast, continue to stimulate lactation, and remain in close contact with the mother. At the same time, he can receive additional nutrition, which he still lacks.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

As part of the project “Educational photo and video master classes on breastfeeding,” 17 instructions have been created to correct the most common difficulties during breastfeeding. Master classes will be released in photo and video format in Russian and Kazakh languages.

The materials were created for parents and professionals and are available free of charge. All master classes are protected by copyright law. The authors of the project give permission to those who wish to use materials on their resources, provided that they maintain a link to the author’s website (original source) - website.

If you wish to use these materials to create any printed materials, you must contact the authors of the project to obtain approval.

The implementation of this project was made possible thanks to the full support of the following organizations:

We thank the project sponsors for their trust and support in us at all stages of implementation.

Supplementary feeding at the breast

The models for the master class “Supplementary feeding without a bottle” were:

• Baby (age – 40 days).

Ways to supplement your baby's breastfeeding

Supplementary feeding at the breast with a syringe

Breastfeeding system

The breastfeeding system (SNS) is a container that is filled with an adapted milk formula.
A thin tube is attached to it, which the child sucks at the same time as the breast and receives additional nutrition.

You can make your own breastfeeding system from a regular bottle and thin tubes (for example, catheters). You can use ready-made industrial systems.

1. 1. To prevent the baby from disturbing his mother with his hands, you can swaddle him. More details about this in the master class.

1. 1. The container with supplementary feeding can be attached to the mother’s neck.

1. If you notice that the child continues to suck, but no food is supplied through the tube, you can move (carefully move) the tube in the child’s mouth - a little deeper into the mouth or, conversely, slightly reduce the depth of insertion.

Important: Items for supplementary feeding of the baby should be thoroughly washed and treated after each use. Or regularly replace them with new ones.

• – breastfeeding consultant, perinatal psychologist, AKEV teacher, teacher and author of the course “Psychology of Motherhood. Natural feeding", coordinator of the branch of the MOO "Molochnaya Pomoshch" in St. Petersburg, head of the MOO "Molochnaya Pomoshch".
• - Breastfeeding consultant, educational psychologist, AKEV teacher, coordinator of the branch of the MOO "Dairy Pomoga" in Almaty, head of the MOO "Dairy Pomoshch".

Photo: Marina Tsaplina- family photographer.

GRATITUDE

The implementation of the project to create master classes for mothers and specialists was also made possible thanks to the contribution made by:

• Proud Mom - clothes for expectant and nursing mothers. Breastfeeding clothing in the project is provided by the Proud Mom brand
• Creative workshop

By hour: the required daily volume of the mixture is divided into equal portions and given at equal intervals throughout the day between 6 and 24 hours (for example, 40 g at 6, 10, 14, 18 and 22 hours).

Around dreams: Supplementary feeding is offered to the child after waking up and before falling asleep again. In this case, you need to carefully ensure that the required volume of the mixture is collected per day.

There are a few more rules when organizing supplementary feeding:

• after supplementary feeding, be sure to offer the breast;
• know how to stop in time! Do not insist that your baby eat everything you have prepared for him - let him control his own nutritional needs;
• if the baby spills something or doesn’t finish eating this time, there is no need to add an amount of formula equal to the uneaten amount to the next portion;
• do not create negative associations with the process of supplementary feeding. If the baby resists or shows dissatisfaction, offer the formula differently;
• the lack of milk should be compensated by physical contact with the mother! Leave the child alone as little as possible, hold him in your arms more, carry him in special devices, sleep together, learn baby massage techniques. The baby constantly needs his mother's affection and warmth!

No additional feeding needed

But here is another, often encountered situation: the mother has enough milk, the baby “walks” well, both big and small. But he gains weight very slowly, behaves restlessly while sucking, or refuses to take the breast at all. But those around you still tend to blame the lack of mother’s milk and insist on supplementary feeding. Try to find the true causes of the problem.

Growth rates and weight gain are affected by stress factors. This includes difficult childbirth, infant colic, treatment of the baby, and simply a lack of mother’s attention or inept care. The health condition of the baby may also be the cause of the problem.

Restless, crying, jerky breast sucking sometimes causes incorrect application. Maybe it’s due to the use of a pacifier or the presence of a shortened frenulum - and he just needs help to attach correctly!

Breast refusal is not at all related to how much milk is in the breast. Children suck a pacifier or a finger, from which nothing flows at all. Therefore, if you are sure that there is enough milk, but in response to a problem that has arisen you are persistently recommended to introduce formula, claiming that it is “better” and “healthier”, do not rush.

Understand the situation

• consult a more competent doctor;
• Call a lactation specialist for advice;
• look for up-to-date scientific information on lactation issues (on the Internet, in documents from the World Health Organization);
• look for support among relatives and friends. And don't lose heart!

What to supplement your baby with formula: the choice is yours!

The simplest option for supplementary feeding is This is feeding a baby with a spoon. Fill a clean teaspoon halfway. After the baby opens his mouth wide, bring the contents inside deep enough and pour it onto the side, behind the cheek (the baby pushes out everything that gets on the tongue).

Now you can buy special soft spoons. There are also spoons with a bottle on the handle. During feeding, the baby can be held in a horizontal or semi-vertical position, or placed in a car seat or stroller. When offering the next portion, make sure that the baby has swallowed the previous one.

The baby's reluctance to open his mouth or swallow is a signal to stop feeding. Most likely, he has satisfied his hunger and now wants to “wash it down” with his mother’s milk or fall asleep while suckling at the breast.

Some mothers find it more convenient to give supplementary feeding from a pipette with a rounded end. The baby can be in a lying position or semi-sitting. After filling the pipette, place it in the corner of the child's mouth so that the liquid pours out of his cheek. Take your time, let the baby determine the speed of supplementary feeding and the required volume.

Many children prefer to receive formula from a small cup: This method is recommended for premature babies. What if your baby also likes to sip from a small container? It can be a plastic beaker or a doll glass. The main thing is the safe material from which it is made.

And finally, the best, but little-known way. This is the so-called Supplementary Feeding System (SNS). What does this device look like? The mother puts on an inverted bottle around her neck (on a small cord), at the end of which, instead of a nipple, there is a thin tube attached to the chest next to the nipple. The baby receives the formula while suckling!

This method preserves all the psychological aspects and benefits of breastfeeding and solves the problem of lack of nutrition for the baby. If you don't have SNS capability, try making one yourself. Or use a cone from a disposable syringe or any thin tube (for example, a nasogastric tube for newborns).

Mom can't be replaced

What if breastfeeding didn’t work out? The milk did not come after childbirth, there was not enough strength to fight for its preservation, it was impossible for medical reasons, it was not possible to get qualified help on time... As a result, the baby grows artificial feeding. Many mothers realize this as their fault, intuitively feeling incomplete motherhood.

Is there a way out of the impasse of mental discomfort into the open spaces of joy and full-blooded communication with the baby? Of course there is! Here are some solutions:

Return the milk. Yes, it takes a lot of work and patience, plus professional help, but it is possible. Both abroad and in Russia, numerous lactation consultants regularly deal with such cases.

Use the Supplementary Feeding System (SNS). This is exactly how, for example, some mothers feed their adopted child. The main condition for using this method is the baby’s consent to suckle on your breast! To teach him this, most likely, you will also need the help of a specialist.

Use bottles and pacifiers as breast substitutes. But not in the way we often see: a baby rides in a stroller and chews a pacifier in his mouth, or a swaddled little bag lies alone in the crib and, falling asleep, sucks a bottle. In this situation, part of the love and affection intended for the mother in the baby shower is transferred to these feeding accessories.

In difficult times, a little man, out of habit, reaches out not to his mother, but to the bottle. Therefore, even at an older age, he will also seek consolation on the side. And you will only be left clutching your head when the child begins adolescence and the problem of lack of contact and mutual understanding with the teenager becomes acute.

Formula feeding rules

Only the mother feeds the baby from a bottle. In mother's absence, supplementary feeding is given from a spoon (cup, pipette, etc.).

Try to buy the most comfortable and safe bottles and pacifiers for sucking. A bottle made in the shape of a mother's breast has appeared on the Russian market - the best option for bottle feeding situations. During feeding, you can hide it under your clothes (like a pacifier) ​​so that the baby has the complete illusion of sucking at the breast.

For sucking, the baby is positioned in the mother's arms, facing the breast. He should not suck anything anywhere else (for example, lying in a stroller, or crib, or in the arms of another person).

He falls asleep while suckling in his mother's arms(as when breastfeeding). Decided to put aside your sleeping baby? Wait until he releases the pacifier from his mouth, or take it away before putting your baby down.

Only mother offers a pacifier. The pacifier can be used to calm the baby and fall asleep. In mother's absence, children calmly fall asleep from rocking in the arms of any well-known person, without sucking on anything.

You are together!

Psychologists warn about the negative consequences of artificial feeding. But we will not focus our attention on them, but will try to do everything to compensate for the lack of breastfeeding through competent care of the baby.

So, we make up for the lack of contact with the chest with constant physical contact. We hold the baby in our arms as much as possible, carry him, organize skin-to-skin contact, practice co-sleeping. We go for walks while we are awake in our mother’s arms. We try to do all the housework without leaving the baby alone.

During pregnancy, the mother's body gives life to the baby. And the baby expects that this will be the case after birth. Mother's breasts and milk will ensure a prosperous further development child. And a bottle-fed baby, thanks to such continuous physical communication with his mother, will also not forget that she is the source of his life support and the most reliable assistant in all stages of his growth.

The second condition is adequate use of objects for sucking. The child should perceive breast substitutes not as separate, independent objects, but as part of his beloved mother. The comfort and sense of security that they provide him should be associated exclusively with his mother.

Used to provide a child with nutrition in case of shortage or complete absence breast milk, for relactation (restoration of lactation) or induction of lactation in mothers of adopted children, for supplementary feeding of a weakened child with unproductive sucking, for premature children and children with oral developmental defects, can also be used to develop sucking skills. The reservoir with supplementary feeding is hung on the mother's neck, and during breastfeeding, the baby receives nutrition through capillaries (thin tubes) attached near the nipple. Regular stimulation of the breast by sucking (even if there is no milk in it or is released drop by drop) will cause an increase in lactation, and over time you will be able to reduce the amount of supplementary feeding or remove it altogether. When using the SNS supplementary feeding system, you reduce the risks of improper attachment and breast refusal that occur when using a traditional bottle. Expressed milk can be used as supplementary feeding in the SNS system, and if you cannot express the required amount, you can use frozen breast milk, donor breast milk, or artificial formula (you can mix breast milk and formula). Depending on the density of nutrition, capillaries of different diameters are used. We recommend starting with a medium size.

Indications for the use of the Medela SNS supplementary feeding system:

• feeding foster children
• feeding children with cleft lip or palate
• feeding for problems with lactation and lack of breast milk
• feeding children who are slowly gaining weight
• feeding premature babies
• feeding immature babies with a weak sucking reflex
• resumption of lactation

Key features of the supplementary feeding system (Medela SNS):

• Does not spoil attachment, which means there is no risk of nipple damage (unlike bottle feeding)
• Helps maintain close contact between mother and baby
• Supports milk production
• The system is equipped with a graduated container for nutritional formula, which allows you to control milk consumption and make it easier for your baby to suck by gently squeezing the bottle
• The sippy cup is equipped with a neck cord with an adjustable length, which allows you to regulate the speed of milk flow, placing the bottle above or below the level of the nipple, depending on the situation

SNS consists of the following parts

1. adjustable neck lanyard
2. feeding tank
3. capillaries of 3 sizes with valve (red, white, transparent)
4. valve holder
5. screw cap
6. lid
7. two hypoallergenic paper patches

SNS assembly
Position of capillaries SNS

The standard recommendation is to position the capillary so that when feeding it is in the middle of the baby's upper lip (attachment above the nipple). However, some mothers place the capillary in the corner of the baby's mouth, or in the middle of the baby's lower lip (attachment under the nipple). Experiment and find the position that works best for you.

SNS capillary sizes

Different situations correspond to different capillary diameters. The larger the diameter of the capillary, the faster the fluid flows through it. In most cases, you should start with the middle diameter. You can judge the correct diameter by how your baby sucks and swallows. One sip should correspond to 1-2 sucking movements. If the child does not swallow for a long time, make sure that the capillary is positioned correctly, if necessary, select a thicker capillary.

• Red valve - thin capillary
• White valve - middle capillary
• Transparent valve - thick capillary

How to regulate power flow

To increase the flow rate you can:

• use a thicker capillary
• hang the system above nipple level
• press down on the tank
• warm up food

To reduce the flow rate you can:

• use a thinner capillary
• lower the system below nipple level

Weaning off the SNS system

The main task is to return to natural breastfeeding as soon as possible. As your own milk production increases, reduce the amount of supplementation in the SNS system, but not to the extent that the baby is not getting enough nutrition. Monitor your weight gain.

Breast pumps

To use your own breast milk in SNS, you will need a breast pump. We recommend using fully automatic medela® breast pumps - clinical breast pumps Simphony® and Lactina™Electric Plus, household breast pumps - electronic two-phase Swing, electric Mini Electric™ or manual two-phase breast pump Harmony™

The SNS system needs daily processing (see SNS system processing instructions)

Among young and experienced mothers in Lately Breastfeeding systems have become especially popular. Simple devices allow, at the same time as feeding the baby with mother's milk, to saturate the baby with complementary foods. Thanks to this, the baby receives the beneficial elements of breast milk, supplemented with artificial compounds. It is recommended to purchase a device for supplementary feeding at a pharmacy or make it yourself; there will not be any particular difficulties.

SNS is a simple device recommended for mothers whose children do not receive adequate nutrition due to a lack of milk. The system is a thin long tube. One end is attached to the nipple of the female breast, the other to a container with the mixture. The reservoir is placed on a special tripod. Some models allow you to attach the container directly to the chest, which is more convenient - feeding can be done outside the apartment - at a party, in nature.

A device for supplementary feeding of infants allows the baby to simultaneously receive a portion of mother's milk and nutritional composition. The system is easy to use and maintain - it is easy to clean, correct use will last a long time.

Advantages of SNA

If you carefully study all the advantages of the supplementary feeding device, it is easy to see that there are many advantages.

Among the most important advantages of mothers feeding their baby with the help of SNS are:

• without much difficulty it is possible to introduce complementary foods into the child’s diet;
• The device can be used repeatedly;
• thanks to regular stimulation of the female breast, more milk is produced;
• the baby gets excellent breastfeeding training due to the artificially created vacuum;
• maternal instincts are supported and stimulated;
• A bond is established between mother and baby.

What problems can it cause?

Despite the many positive qualities of the supplementary feeding system, it often happens that women using the device to feed their baby encounter some difficulties. Among the disadvantages is the child’s refusal to feed in the future without the use of SNS.

It is almost impossible to cope with a baby’s habit, so you have to give up trying to accustom your baby to mother’s milk, which is obtained without any device.

Another drawback that women note is that difficulties often arise when trying to properly insert the tube into their child.

It turns out that in the absence of dexterity and experience, not everyone can do this, so you have to repeat the process several times. This causes irritation in the baby, and he is able to refuse feeding altogether.

If a reservoir of supplemental mixtures is attached to a woman's breast, the patch often leaves behind red marks or irritation.

On sensitive skin prone to irritation, a profuse rash often appears. In such cases, you have to use a tripod to support the container or temporarily abandon the use of the system.

How to make it yourself

The supplementary feeding system is so simple that it is recommended to do it yourself. To make it, you will need a regular bottle from which babies are fed, and a catheter used in medicine for intragastric feeding (a transparent thin tube made of silicone with holes at the ends). Be sure to purchase a quality pacifier.

Step-by-step production of the system:

1. Make a hole in the nipple; the hole should not exceed the diameter of the catheter.
2. Place the tube into the bottle, be sure to use the end on which the fixative is located.
3. Use a medical plaster to attach the second end of the tube to the female breast.

The system, made by yourself, is completely ready for feeding the baby, and is in no way inferior in efficiency to expensive devices offered at the pharmacy. It is not recommended to use other components to make the device - experiments can lead to a complete refusal of the baby to eat this way.

This will immediately affect growth and development; a child who does not receive enough nutrients will quickly lose weight.

There is only one way to prevent mistakes - by completely medical recommendations and using the experience of other mothers who have already seen the effectiveness of a simple DIY device.

Tricks of use

Using a system for supplementary feeding of a baby has its own secrets and tricks that will make the feeding process an enjoyable pastime for mother and baby. The first thing to remember is that it is recommended to keep the container with complementary foods not at chest level, but slightly lower. This forces the baby to make more effort to suck the milk, which stimulates the activity of the baby.

To increase the flow and quantity of donor milk, it is recommended to open a non-working transaction. Be sure to lift its end up and secure it above female breasts- this will avoid losses, not a single drop of the composition will leak.

Regularly closing the second (free) end allows you to create an imitation of feeding with tides. Be sure to do this with clean hands, pre-washed with soap - bacteria entering the tube threatens the penetration of microbes into the child’s body. Closing the free end of the tube has a positive effect on lactation. After such processes, the woman’s milk production is stimulated; often, after regular procedures, the need for supplementary feeding disappears.

SNS care

A prerequisite when using a supplementary feeding device is careful care. Mothers should remember that with such feeding, harmful bacteria can easily penetrate into a small body, causing diseases or even simple indigestion or an upset stomach.

Washing the system should begin with the bottle and nipple. They should be washed with special detergent for children's dishes. Rinse under running cool water. You need to rinse for at least 2-3 minutes. Sterilize the bottle and nipple once a day. It is recommended to purchase several feeding containers at once and use them alternately. Rinse the tube thoroughly. It is not recommended to boil it - silicone can deform when high temperature. If possible, change the catheter every week.

Be sure to thoroughly dry the system components. It is recommended to do this on a soft, clean cloth. Use for feeding only after thorough drying. The system for supplementary feeding of the child allows you to compensate for the lack of mother's milk, which often happens if a woman after childbirth was unable to put her lactation in order. Thanks to the device, the baby also gains excellent sucking skills, so in the future with breastfeeding no problems arise.

Even a self-made system allows you to cope with problems by actively supplying the child with the nutritional components necessary for growth and development.