Medela Supplemental Nursing System

by Medela

• Ideal for long-term supplemental feedings at the breast
• A breastfeeding assistance kit for moms and babies facing special challenges
• Adjustable flow-rate system and Color-coded tubes for different feed rates
• Neck strap for maximum convenience
• Sterile packaging

Product Description

Item Package Quantity: 1

Benefits - Supplemental feeding assistance for mothers and babies facing special long-term challenges - Inducing lactation - Keeping special-needs babies at the breast Features - Adjustable flow-rate system - Color-coded tubes for different feed rates - Graduated reservoir container - Adjustable neck strap - Autoclavable and boilable - Easy to fill container - Sterile in package - English/French/Spanish instructions

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 56 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Medela SNS vs. Lact-Aid: A comparison June 9, 2012

By A. Jackson

Item Package Quantity:1

This product is widely reviewed, so I will try not to completely repeat what others have said. I have unexplained low supply, but desperately wanted to establish a breastfeeding relationship with our second little guy, after being unsuccessful with our first. There are two at-breast supplementers available for helping Moms do this when they do not make enough milk to sustain their babies: the medela SNS and the Lact-Aid. I began with the SNS and while my experience was not bad, I wasn't a huge fan of this somewhat large, plastic bottle hanging from my neck, against my skin, and sometimes bopping my son in the head if I tried to move in certain ways while nursing. After 2-3 weeks with the SNS (every nursing, 8-11 nursings a day), I decided to try the last-aid after reading about it and how it is supposed to encourage a nutritive suckling vs. just suction to accomplish the goal of milk transfer. In my case, all it took was one nursing with the lact-aid and our SNS has been shelved since then. I will keep it undoubtedly as a back-up, but I have no desire to use it.... Here are some pros and cons:

SNS Pros:
*All parts re-usable, though the tubes may wear over time and need replacing
*Fairly easy to use and refill when away from home (especially if you are comfortable without having to fully clean in between uses here or there, some people are not though)
*Being able to "pinch" off the tubes so that no milk flows if you want to encourage the baby to nurse from you first, then be able to open the tubes when you choose

SNS Cons:
*Bulky, cannot imagine trying to use it discretely in public
*The 2 tube system (using one for a vent) can be tricky at times and a little annoying to deal with (how we dealt with it was taping one tube up on the bottle; we never taped one to each breast as it shows, that wouldn't seem like it would work to me, but evidently others have success)
*Milk sometimes leaked or dripped from tubes while waiting to get my son latched or if he unlatched during a nursing

Lact-Aid Pros:
*One-tube system, which in my experience I was actually LESS likely to have leaking or milk dripping from the tube without his actively nursing to pull it through (though from reading other reviews, it seems maybe I am in the minority?); most of the time, if he unlatches or pulls away, the milk goes back up the tube and does not drip or leak while I am relatching him
*Feels better against skin, especially with optional cloth bag to hold the milk storage bag
*Slightly more discreet than the SNS, even more so if you can master the process without the use of tape (which I have not yet been able to do routinely)
*Encourages gentler nursing, at least in my experience; I truly felt a difference from the first time my son nursed using the lact-aid vs. the SNS; with the SNS it felt like hard suction and the nursings took longer as well, sometimes by double and then some (what my son could drink in 10-15 minutes with the lact-aid was taking 30 minutes with the SNS and with the greater suction, the wear and tear on my nipples and my comfort was significant)

Lact-Aid Cons:
*Disposable bags =( This was a big bummer in my book, and I admit I do reuse the bags a few times before throwing them out which is not advised, but I strive to reduce waste as much as possible and this was probably the biggest con for me about the lact-aid
*The tube is shorter than the SNS tubing, which can also be a PRO, but for me, it is a slight con as with the SNS, I actually often ran the tube from under my breast and it was more out of the way and with the lact-aid I cannot do that
*While there is a way to "pinch" off the tubing, with the shorter length, I find I cannot do this (this may also have something to do with the fact that I prefer the bag or bottle, in the case of the SNS, off to the outside of the breast I am nursing on vs. hanging between my breasts, as this way it is not in my son's way or touching him really)
*Not practical to refill when out and about

In my book, cleaning either is not particularly fun, so I didn't list that as a pro or con on either end. It may appear surprising, when I list it out like this, that the lact-aid is my preferred method for at-breast supplementation! For me, the pros of the lact-aid outweigh the cons, as well as outweighing the pros of the SNS. The big one is just that it has a better overall feel than the SNS to me--no hard plastic against me or my baby, only one tube making it seem simpler overall, and my son nurses more effectively and yet more gently at the same time making nursing more enjoyable all around. If you have a baby who won't latch, neither will truly be successful for you, and in that case, working with a certified lactation consultant will be key. A baby needs to be able to latch and nurse effectively to pull milk from these systems.

One last word for Moms struggling with low supply who do not want to give up and truly value the breastfeeding relationship....ignore all the nay-sayers and try a system like this or the lact-aid to help you reach your goals, even if your goals have to be adjusted from what they originally were. As I like to tell myself when I am feeling rough about not being able to produce enough for my son, we still have a great breastfeeding relationship, it just has extra parts. ;) And check out the book Making More Milk by Diana West and Lisa Marasco. Read more ›

58 of 63 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT if you really want to breastfeed October 30, 2007

By Amanda Schwartz

Item Package Quantity:1

I am breastfeeding after a breast reduction surgery about 14 years ago. I have been using the SNS since my little girl's first week and now I am only using it to supplement 2-3 feedings daily. I never would have increased my milk supply without the SNS because it allowed me to supplement while still getting stimulation at the breast. It is tedious and a lot of work to use the SNS, but for me it has been well worth the work. My little Emily is now 14 weeks old and I'm hoping that eventually we won't have to use the SNS at all.

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than pumping! (I did that too) July 5, 2009

By M.M.

Item Package Quantity:1

This product may be right for you if like me, you tried keeping up with pumping and caring for your newborn on your own while your spouse had to return to work and your family had to go home. Rather than stress and tire yourself out pumping and washing and storing, try this SNS. I had been pumping and washing and storing and it ran me down so that my milk supply was on the decline. My baby had been introduced to a bottle at about 2 weeks because she was sleepy at the breat do to being small (6 lbs 4 oz) at birth. Her ped said to bottle feed or they would have her hospitalized. (THIS WAS ALL AFTER HAVING BEEN TOLD SHE HAD A PERFECT LATCH AT THE HOSPITAL) I wish I had had the courage to ask for this then and she never would have had a bottle at all. Oh well, we all learn. :) The bottle created a flow problem and she would get fussy at the breast waiting for the let down. Causing her to suckle poorly, further reducing the milk supply. NOW - with the SNS we have restored a high milk supply and she stays awake at the breast. MOST IMPORTANTLY - our feeding time is RELAXED AND ENJOYABLE for both of us. She has always preferred breast milk so I am glad that we were able to try this and have some success. Be aware, you may feel frustrated with this at first as it can be cumbersome, but don't give up, it will help in the long run. I find it best to wear under my shirt and have the tubes positioned correctly and secured before picking her up. Babies are not born with patience so you want to be ready when they are. GOOD LUCK!!!

33 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Life Saver! January 6, 2009

By T. Allen-Carney

Item Package Quantity:1

After I went back to work my little one got used to the bottle. When I would try breast feeding her she would turn away and cry (wanting the bottle). I was afraid that my milk supply would go down so I used this item, only a few times, to trick her into staying on the breast to stimulate my milk supply. I now only have to use it on occasion. I recommend any mother who has low milk supply or a fussy baby wanting the bottle to USE THIS ITEM!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Breastfeeding-saving product! June 7, 2011

By Amber

Item Package Quantity:1|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was given bad advice in the hospital and given a nipple shield that reduced stimulation so much that I never built a full supply of milk. I had to supplement, pump, and to add insult to injury..my son refused the breast entirely if it did not have a shield on it. He loves silicone and will take any bottle over the breast any day of the week. He has an upper lip tie that medical professionals have denied exists and not given me help for (to have it snipped) so he has trouble opening his mouth properly to latch.

I bought this 1.) to supplement him at the breast and 2.) to possibly trick him into staying latched without the shield by giving him an instant "reward" of milk. At first I slipped the tube under the shield. Then one random sleepy evening he didn't scream when flesh instead of silicone touched his lips, so I got him to latch - slowly, badly, as he had never latched without a shield before. But it worked! My husband gave the SNS bottle a few gentle squeezes at the start of the feed to entice our son into staying latched,and it worked! We still have issues, but at least now he will try to latch without the shield (with or without the SNS) because he knows he can get milk that way.

It is tricky to put together but worth it compared to the other non-Medela SNS on the market. It WILL NOT leak if assembled correctly. You must make sure that the bumps in the silicone disc that holds the 2 tubes are slipped into the grooves of the plastic disc perfectly - which is NOT hard but is easy to overlook. If the bumps do not align, it will break the seal and it will leak from the cap when overturned. I have always used the slowest flow tubes..the others are pretty fast.... If supplementing with breastmilk, be sure to gently heat it to body temp because any bits of solid fat (from being refrigerated) can clog the tube. If you must use powdered formula, mix it at least an hour before using the SNS and warm it to prevent blobs of powder clogging the tube. Ready-made formulas work better.

I have not had trouble with the tubes staying in the clamps, which are the grooves all around the cap's ring. After testing the SNS before putting it on (to make sure the tubes are not blocked), I tuck the tubes in and have no leakage issues.

To prevent the tubes from leaking while nursing (usually, the tube on the opposite breast needs to be open so that it can vent while baby takes milk from the other side) I tape it up to both sides as suggested, and only unclamp the side I mean to use right before trying to latch. After he is latched for about 30-60 seconds, I will slip the other side out of the clamp. This way there is already a vaccum and instead of the other tube leaking, air will flow in and vent the bottle.

It is tricky to get Baby to latch with the tubes, but it can be done. Place the provided tape as suggested, and place an additional piece of tape ON the areola, very close to the nipple, so that the tube is right there and cannot be flipped away. It did not affect my son's latch. The tape is hard to remove in this sensitive spot, but just use a little lanolin, baby oil, or even cooking oil to soften the adhesive/

I wish I'd bought this sooner! My supply went up, Baby's coordination got better, his nipple preference/confusion went down, and we were all around happier. I'd definitely buy it if you have issues, or buy Medela Starter Supplemental Nursing System (SNS) Sterile M#00902 without 80ml Bottle, the temporary, cheaper SNS before Baby arrives if you are worried about having troubles Read more ›