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

Thu May 24 16:31:18 UTC 2012

When it comes down to it, it's something I'd try myself if faced with a
situation where it might be a viable option, and if it didn't work well for
me than that's fine.  If it did work well, then wonderful!  Everyone has
different experiences with the same devices so it's good to share and try
out things ourselves as well.

Erin

-------- whether it be  nursing, with your own milk or with a bottle is the
closeness mom and baby have. It is the fact that your faces are inches from
each other or at least that is how gab and I were and that is probably why
my back always hurt.  
When you first mentioned it, I was only thinking of that, not the fact that
you would first have to mix, warn and assemble the whole thing.  Like I said
I haven never heard of one before.  It did sound like a good choice from a
mom without the milk.  
I guess after learning about it, I would just bottle feed. 

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jennifer Jackson
Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2012 6:52 PM
To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blparent] using an S.N.S. when blind

Just to clarify for Veronica and anyone else, I do get that an SNS is often
used by people who can not nurse for some reason. I just disagree that it is
the perfect answer to that. I think there are other ways to bond with a baby
instead of faux breast feeding. Erin asked about our experiences with the
system and I shared my thoughts based on my own actual experiences with the
equipment.

I really just can not imagine setting up a situation where I had to undress
in public and would still be having to mix and warm formula. It seems like a
cumbersome situation to me.

Jennifer

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jo Elizabeth Pinto
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 6:30 PM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] using an S.N.S. when blind

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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