[blparent] using an S.N.S. when blind

Wed May 23 23:30:13 UTC 2012

It might be perfect, or it might be a monumental pain that only adds strain 
to the already stressful first days of motherhood.  If it works for some new 
moms, that's great, but since Erin asked about it, I wanted to give her a 
true idea of what it was like, at least for me.  Whether I was using bottled 
breast milk or formula, I had a much calmer, cuddlier, more bonding 
experience with my baby when I held her close at night and fed her, than I 
did when I was fighting the nipple tube, the adhesive tape, the hose to the 
reservoir, and the frustrated baby.  The idea of an SNS, usually, is to get 
the baby used to taking milk from the nipple, so that eventually there can 
be a transition to nipple only.  That's not the case with an adopted child, 
who will probably never transition to a nipple unless the mother practices 
induced lactation techniques, which involve taking hormones and pumping the 
heck out of your breasts to make them start producing milk even if you 
haven't been pregnant.  It's been done successfully, and someone on the 
list, sorry I can't remember who, posted recently about a great re-lactation 
experience, which sparked a big debate over nipple confusion that had to be 
stopped by the moderators.  Personally, I can't even imagine going through 
the SNS nightmare on a long term basis.

The routine that eventually worked itself out in my family was that when the 
baby cried, Dad would get up and feed her a bottle of half stored breastmilk 
and half formula, and I'd pump for twenty minutes.  We'd all be back to 
sleep in a half an hour or so, whereas if I used the SNS, it could take 
nearly two hours for the baby to get roughly the same amount of milk, and we 
were all exhausted and exasperated by the end, so it was hard to get back to 
sleep.  When we finally all did drift off, the next feeding time was right 
around the corner.  That, for me, didn't add to the bonding experience at 
all, so I fell into the habit of nursing a few times a day, for my pleasure 
and the baby's, and then pumping and bottle feeding, supplementing with 
formula, the rest of the time.  If I'd stuck it out with the SNS, maybe I 
would have achieved exclusive breastfeeding in time--or maybe I would have 
run screaming into the night or curled up in my bed and succumbed to the 
depression that was nipping at my heels anyway.  Besides, my baby grew so 
slowly at first that the WIC nurse and the pediatrician didn't recommend 
keeping up the battle with the SNS.  Maybe if I'd contacted La Leche League, 
things would have been different.  The hospital lactation consultant 
couldn't be with me all the time, and when Gerald went back to work, dealing 
with the baby and the evil SNS got to be too much for me, so I decided to 
cuddle up with the baby and feed her in whatever way worked out at the 
moment, and throw the SNS into the garbage can.  I could all but hear my 
sore nipples thanking me when I slammed the trash can lid down.

Jo Elizabeth

"How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, 
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of 
the weak and the strong.  Because someday in life you will have been all of 
these."--George Washington Carver, 1864-1943, American scientist

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Veronica Smith" <madison_tewe at spinn.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 4:12 PM
To: "'Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [blparent] using an S.N.S. when blind

> But some peeps can never nurse, so in that case one would be perfect.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Jennifer Jackson
> Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2012 1:15 PM
> To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [blparent] using an S.N.S. when blind
>
> I have used one, but it just seems like there are easier ways to bond. I
> used it with my first son while we supplementing and I was trying to get
> more milk to come in. If I had it to do over again I would have just used 
> a
> bottle for a couple of feedings a day and gotten some more sleep. I think 
> we
> both would have benefited more from that. :)
>
> Still, it is doable if you are determined. really not that hard, but it
> creates double the dishes to wash.
>
>
>
> Jennifer
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Veronica Smith
> Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 4:51 PM
> To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [blparent] using an S.N.S. when blind
>
> I never knew such things existed but if I ever had needed one, I would of
> used it.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Erin Rumer
> Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 12:57 PM
> To: NFB blind parent listserv
> Subject: [blparent] using an S.N.S. when blind
>
> Hello list,
>
>
>
> Just out of plain curiosity and since my husband and I are interested in
> possibly adopting in the future, I was wondering if any of you have used a
> Supplemental Nursing System, (SNS) with either your biological kids or an
> adopted baby.  For those not familiar with this device, it's a neat little
> thing that allows you to feed the baby in a breast feeding position by
> putting a device over your shoulder with either breast milk or formula in 
> a
> compartment that is then distributed to the baby who is sucking on a 
> nipple
> that is attached to your chest.  They are often times used to aid babies 
> who
> have trouble with latch or for bonding purposes alone with babies who 
> cannot
> be fed by the breast alone.   I've been around women using these but
> honestly never was bold enough to ask to check it out by hand so I'm going
> off of description here.  I've even heard of fathers using them to add to
> the bonding experience with their babies.  I am wondering for those of you
> who have used them or know someone who is blind that has, if it is 
> difficult
> to use or is it no different than using a bottle and merely getting used 
> to
> position and listening out for sounds while feeling what baby is doing?
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> Erin
>
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