Are all of you sick of me yet?

I think I'm having a reaction to the fact that 3 years of my training were
so focusing on tube use and I had to find out so much of the rest of
managing breastfeeing out on my own, on Lactnet and from my colleagues once
I moved on.  I had a period of time where I shuddered at the thought of
actually having to use an SNS.

So, I hope you don't mind a little more of letting me get this out of my
system.  I think there is a huge difference in the psychology of women who
are using the SNS for adoptive nursing and those who are using it because
they have low supply and those who are using it because their baby has an
inappropriate suck.

My colleague contends, and I think she has it dead right, that when a woman
has low supply (especially if it is some form of primary lactational
insufficiency) the SNS becomes a symbol of her inadequacy.  Thus it is a
constant reminder of her "failure" every time she uses the SNS.  The longer
they use the SNS, the more discouraged they often become.

For the adoptive mother - it is a form of bonding and connection with her
baby that enables her to overcome feelings of inadequacy she may have had
from not being able to have a child on her own.  Hence, the Lactaid is a
terrific device enabling them to go outside and not have to mess with an
oversized hard plastic bottle.  They feel good about any milk they get.

For the woman with a baby who is not sucking well, there can be the
frustration that the baby should develop faster.  "Why can't they get it?"
And labels of "lazy".  Seeing a huge amount of milk going into the pump and
the baby not taking it from their breast is incredibly disappointing.  So,
the pump and/or the SNS can sometimes be a symbol of their baby's "failure".

Especially for the woman who has low supply - if the baby will suck on the
breast alone at all - I try to build some unfettered time at the breast
where she doesn't have to worry about messing with the tubes, taping,
concentrating on latch. It depends on the woman how many times a day that I
recommend this.  AND for the woman who has trouble latching - I will often
start with practicing the latch first before even using the tubes.



For my most recent case of insufficient glandular tissue - she was a
completely classic case - I just had her do breast alone as long as the
baby was willing and NOTHING ELSE.  The baby had a good suck and was happy
to stay at the breast long enough to get a little and for both mom and baby
to enjoy each other and he was gaining weight well enough and alert enough
that he would get off and ask for more when he needed it. The pump and the
SNS had become incredibly negative symbols to her.


Best, Susan Burger

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