DIY Lactation Aid Feeding Tube Supplemental Nursing System

If you are looking to supplement your baby at the breast due to low milk supply or other feeding difficulty, you know that traditional SNS or Supplemental Nursing Systems are expensive and hard to clean. Moms opt for at-breast supplementation because it makes getting back to breastfeeding much more likely and suckling at the breast is optimal for the infant's tooth and jaw development.  Skin to skin feeding is also a bonding experience that should not be overlooked.   

Because of the expense of SNS systems and the efforts of leading lactation experts such as Dr Jack Newman and many lactation consultants, many moms have opted to use a DIY method using 6FR or more commonly 5FR feeding tubes.

The upside to using these feeding tubes is that it is much more cost effective as an SNS or LactAid system cost is usually $50-$75.  The down side to the DIY supplemental method is that it can be messy and you have to know what you are looking for before you buy the parts to get this done. For example, it might be tempting to think a 15" feeding tube is a good thing because there is less tubing to deal with.  This is not the right size for the correct flow of breast milk.  36" feeding tubes in 5FR accurately offer a slow flow for newborns and 36" 6FR offer a medium flow for older or babies with suck difficulties.  Choosing a shorter tube increases the flow rate so we advise against it.

That is why Lactation Connection has curated a Lactation Aid Feeding Tube Starter Set for you which includes all the parts you need at a low cost of under $20.  This product includes:

    (2) 36" feeding tubes in your choice of 5FR slow flow or 6FR medium flow. 

    (1) 50ml container with (1) storage lid and (1) tubing adapter cap which allows you to use with feeding tube for gravity or anti-gravity feeding and helps prevent spills.

    (1) 30cc syringe for flushing feeding tube for cleaning

    (1) 1" x 1.5 yard roll of clear medical transpore tape which can be torn bi-directionally. This is used to tape the         securely to the breast.

As with all lactation aid feeding tubes, these are not to be used for more than two weeks and should be replaced if milk was allowed to dry in them or if the tubing begins to feel hard.  

Best wishes for nourishing your baby at the breast, 

Tanya