Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply Lact-Aid or SNS

Can anyone explain the differences and pros/cons of the lact aid and the SNS? I am currently using the starter SNS for my 5 week old daughter and I'd like to get either the SNS or the lact aid for long term use but I don't know which is best. Any info is appreciated.

Thanks,
Bobbie

The advantage of the Lact-aid is that the baby only gets milk by sucking on the breast. This sucking stimulates your body to produce more milk. The SNS is meant for babies who have a poor latch or a weak suck so it flows by gravity. Over time this may actually hurt your supply as the baby doesn't spend as much time on the breast before they are satisfied.

Thank you for that comparison. I ordered a LactAid and when it arrived I was disappointed with how complicated it is to use and clean. I had been considering buying an SNS to use instead until I read your post.

The Lact-Aid seemed very complicated at first. But we used it for 8 1/2 months so it definitely got easier!! We washed it in soapy water but only did they rinse with vinegar followed by water about every 3-4 days. Stick with it the rewards are great!!!

I used both the SNS and lact aid, and it was hands down the lact aid.
I was so frustrated with the SNS, it would leak and tangle and made a muck of things.
After reading many post on this site, I ordered an lact aid, and started using it with my 2 month old daughter. HUGE difference. Totally helped with stimulation and increased milk supply. I was able to stop using it entirely after 4 months.

Good luck

I used both and found the SNS bulky and always leaking out the other tube, or the tube would get pinched off etc. The lact-aid is a pain to clean but you get your system down and it is not so bad! I got a package of extras so that I could prepare 6 bags with the tubing all at once. Once a day I would wash all the tubing and refill to be set up for the next 24 hours.

I was unable to use the lact-aid at first because my tiny preemie was not strong enough to get the milk from it. I used the SNS to start with (though not at every feeding) until she was strong enough.

The lact-aid hands down! I used both. I hated the sns. The lact-aid offers the stimulation. You can also use the bottle adapter to help on the costs of bags. I used my adapter at home and the bags when I was out

I ordered the lactaid! Thanks for all the feedback on what to get because without it, I would have just went with the SNS, as that is what is easily available to me here in BC. It ended up being a bit of an investment by the time I paid shipping to Canada but I am hoping that it works well for us! Idealy, I would like to sell it, unused, if I could just get 4-5 more ounces a day before baby comes in 8 weeks!