Supplemental Nursing System
What is a Supplemental Nursing System?
A supplemental nursing system (SNS) is one of many different methods that you can use to give your baby milk in addition to breastfeeding them. What is unique about the SNS is that your baby can be breastfed at the same time.
A SNS is a tube which has one end placed in a container with milk, and the other attached to your breast, running alongside the nipple. When your baby is latched and sucking at the breast, they will receive milk from the tube as well. You can use a SNS to deliver expressed breastmilk, donor breastmilk or formula milk to your baby.
There are a number of advantages to supplementing at the breast using a SNS:
Suckling increases breast stimulation which will in turn increase milk supply. This can be beneficial to those who are having challenges with milk supply.
It saves time as it can happen as part of a breastfeed rather than following a feed. Thus reducing a step in your feeding plan.
You don’t need to introduce a bottle and therefore don’t need to worry about your baby developing a bottle or flow preference. This can be more likely the more bottles are offered.
It is important to recognise that many parents find supplemental nursing systems difficult to use, particularly at first and finding a way to make it work for you can be key. In a blog by my colleague Cordelia Uys, one of her clients shares her experience of using a SNS which is a really useful read for those of you who may be considering it.
You may consider using a supplemental nursing system in the following instances:
If you have been advised to ‘triple feed’ your infant – breastfeed, pump and top up
If you have low milk supply
Insufficient infant suckling such as infants with cleft lip and palate or hypotonia. Please note that this should not be used if the infant has an unsafe swallow causing or contributing to feeding difficulties
Slow infant weight gain requiring supplementation.
Re-lactation or inducing lactation
When using a SNS, it is advised to get the support of a lactation consultant or other suitably qualified health professional.
Image @jojofordillustration
A SNS can be bought commercially. In the UK you can purchase the Medela Supplemental Nursing System. However you can also make your own following the instructions in this article: homemade supplemental nursing system. Please note as per the article that homemade supplemental nursing systems use products outside of manufacturer’s guidelines and therefore are done at your own risk.
How to use a supplemental nursing system
There are two different ways to introduce a SNS to a breastfed baby. You can either do it with the baby latched or unlatched
Unlatched: run the tubing down the breast and nipple so that the end sits alongside the end of the nipple. You can use medical tape or a plaster to hold the tubing in place. Make sure to do this away from the nipple and areola so it doesn’t interfere with your baby’s latch. Latch your baby as usual ensuring a deep latch.
Latched: when you are ready, gently thread the tube into your baby’s mouth from the corner, wait for baby to suck and check that the milk is flowing through the tubing.
If you need any help with breastfeeding or think a supplemental nursing system may help you feed your baby then get in touch.
Image credit: Tiffany Coppersmith-Heaven and baby Luna
* Affiliate links may have been used in this blog. This means I make a small percentage of the sale if you purchase via my link. The product doesn’t cost you any more money but does help pay for the time it takes to produce the blog which is otherwise free.
