Breastfeeding Tips & Breast Pump Guide | Lactation Connection

     In my practice as a board certified lactation consultant, there were times when it was medically necessary to supplement.  Whether it was due to a poor suck or mismanaged milk supply, we need options when recovering from these issues and getting back to breastfeeding.  Many times, I would recommend finger-feeding with a syringe to keep moms from using a bottle nipple.  I would have rather recommended a Supplemental Nursing System which has a container with tubes that runs to the breast; but I didn't want to see mom spending the extra money when her budget was so tight.  At that time, the only options were the Supplemental Nursing System (SNS) by Medela and the Lact-Aid Nursing Trainer.   These cost mom $50 or more and had small tubes to be cleaned which were cumbersome.   Now, with more options available, Moms can use a short-term feeding tube which accomplishes the same thing and can be cleaned for a few days before ...

Motivation as in anything is extremely important in breastfeeding and even more important is tenacity when inducing lactation.  The success rate for the following protocols according to Nemba in the 1994 Journal of Trop Pediatrics was 89%.  In this study 33 of the 37 women nursed their babies for 9 months or longer. These mothers began with a 100 mg single priming dose of medroxyprogesterone (Depo Provera).  After 7 days, they began 25 mg of chlorpromazine 4 times daily or 10 mg of metoclopramide (Reglan) 4 times daily until adequate lactation was established.  Frequent pumping before infant's arrival and/or frequent suckling afterward is encouraged.  A supplemental feeding device is necessary until adequate lactation is established.  Inducing lactation is a gift of time and love! Breastfeeding an adoptive baby is more than about breastmilk.  It is about bonding.  Skin to skin contact is essential.  Use a lactation aide to feed donor milk...