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RPT022
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Helpful Hints for using your
Lact-Aid® Nursing
TrainerTM System NTSTM
by Jimmie Lynne
Avery ( jlavery@lact-aid.com )
Introduction
We always appreciate hearing from mothers about their
experiences. It helps us improve the quality of our products and
services to know if our instructions for use are clear and
helpful. we’ve been listening to what they say from the very
beginning. During our three-years of development and testing 1968
to 1971, and for 26+ years since we launched Lact-Aid® System
mothers have helped us develop our product instructions and
educational support literature. Every time we get ready to do a
new printing, we review all the suggestions we receive. When we
are complimented on how thorough and helpful our instructions
are, we owe it to the moms who shared their ideas with us.
The information provided here is included as an Addendum to
the instructions packed in every Lact-Aid® Nursing Trainer
System. We hope it will help you and your baby enjoy a positive
experience.
We welcome your comments
and suggestions.
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Positioning
These suggestions about positioning have been found helpful by
many mothers. The filled, assembled Nursing Trainer™ Unit
may be used attached to the Neck Strap, or inserted into an
optional lace pocket, which is available. (See your Lact-Aid
Catalog/order form packed in your System, or refer to our online
catalog.)
The
Lact-Aid® Nursing TrainerTM Unit,
when filled and assembled, consists of three (3) durable
pieces, plus our own special disposable Nursing Bags.
- Body/Nursing Tube (Baby suckles tip of
Nursing Tube and nipple of breast.)
- Clamp Ring (Joins bag to the Body/Nursing
Tube.)
- Extension Tube (Extends inside the bag.)
- Nursing Bag (Holds 4.5 ounces.)
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Positioning the Nursing TrainerTM Unit
- Because of the unique flexible bag and other special
design features, a great variety of flow rates can be
achieved to accommodate different suckling abilities and
various types of supplement.
- Raising it speeds the flow. Lowering it slows the flow.
- It may be used in an inverted (upside down) position by
making a holder from an extra bag. (For a
gravity-assisted flow for babies unable to suck due to
cleft lip/palate, or other problem.) Refer to the
booklet, Simple Ways to Evaluate and Adjust Flow,
included with each Lact-Aid® Nursing Trainer™
System NTS™. (Soon this booklet will also be
available to you in our Lact-Aid Online Library.)
Positioning the Nursing Tube & Breast Nipple:
- Place the tip of the Nursing Tube about 1/4" past
the end of the breast nipple. You may place a piece of
tape over the tube at the edge of the areola, if desired.
Positioning the Nursing Tube & Baby’s Mouth:
- The tube does not have to enter Baby’s mouth exactly
at the center of Baby’s upper lip. The tube may
enter slightly off center. (Imagine Baby’s mouth as
the face of a clock. The center of the upper lip would be
the 12:00 o’clock position. The tube may enter the
mouth at 11:00 or 1:00.)
Positioning the Nursing Tube & Mother’s Hand:
- Support the breast from underneath with all your
fingers (like a push-up bra) to keep the weight of
the breast off Baby’s chin. Do NOT use a V
Hold or a Cigarette Hold. Fingers tend to squeeze
together and cause the Nursing Tube to curl. Failing to
properly support the breast may cause Baby to pull his
chin in and his head back. This can cause the nipple to
slide partly or all the way out and leave only the tube
in Baby's mouth. Some babies may clench their gums
tightly to keep from losing hold of the nipple. Proper
support prevents this problem.
Positioning Large Breasts & Mother’s Hand:
- Your hand may tire if you have large breasts. Make a
support by folding a dry face wash cloth in half. Then
roll it up, and fasten it into a roll with rubber bands
or string. When you are ready to nurse, place the rolled
up wash cloth under the breast, like a push-up pad. This
will keep the weight of the breast off Baby’s chin,
and you can give additional, but less tiring support
under the breast as described above.
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Premature and Sick Babies
Avoiding Fatigue:
Premature and sick babies tire easily. They need to be fed in
ways that help to conserve calories needed for growth and
healing.
- Offer Lact-Aid System from the beginning of the feeding.
Nursing the breast alone, then following with Lact-Aid
System may overtire Baby. Many mothers do notice a more
abundant milk supply mornings. Thus, for the first 1 or 2
feedings of the day, nursing first may be appropriate,
then offer Lact-Aid System if needed.
- Short, frequent feedings. Feedings of 20 to 30 minutes'
duration, offered 8 to 10 times a day may be overtiring.
Try shorter feedings of 10 to 20 minutes, at more
frequent intervals.
- Switch breasts often. Switch breasts about every 5
minutes, to stimulate and take advantage of multiple milk
ejection reflexes. This reduces non-nutritive suckling
that might otherwise occur during feeding times.
Excessive Crying:
Preemies, babies recovering from illness and babies gaining
after having lost weight may begin crying a great deal, after
having been quite passive previously. They also may seem to want
to nurse almost constantly. Mothers often interpret this to mean
Baby is hungry, or milk supply is low.
- Ask your doctor to confirm that Baby is gaining well and
improving, and has no medical problem causing the
excessive crying. In that case, crying likely indicates
that Baby is expressing a need for a lot of close skin
contact. This may be to help make up for separation and
other discomfort Baby experienced due to the prematurity
or illness.
- Try using a baby carrier that keeps Baby and Mother, (or
Baby and Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, etc.) in close contact.
When someone other than Mom is carrying baby like this,
use of a pacifier can be calming, as well. Some moms find
continuous nursing (non-nutritive suckling) between
feedings tiring to the extent it inhibits milk ejection.
In that case, consider pacifiers between feedings (while
still continuing to provide lots of contact). After a few
days, they may no longer be needed.
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Teaching Older and
Reluctant Babies to Nurse.
Sometimes, mothers attempting to relactate find that Baby is
reluctant to take the breast. Efforts to go from bottle to breast
abruptly are often unsuccessful. Baby has become accustomed to looking
for the bottle as the signal to take the nipple. It may be
necessary to actually re-teach Baby rooting behavior. This
can be done easily, as follows:
- Plan on taking 3 or more days to make a gradual, gentle
transition from bottle to breast.
- Use the NUK® Orthodontic Nipple, which is now available
in several sizes, including newborn. (Use the type
intended for bottles without a collapsible bag. The bag
allows liquid to flow too fast and may elicit a gag
reflex, which Baby counteracts by gum clenching or tongue
thrusting.)
- Have the filled, assembled Lact-Aid® Nursing Trainer™ Unit in position for
each nursing.
- Try to use the same chair and location for every nursing
during this time. Have a pillow available for your lap to
help support Baby. The same setting will condition you,
and the pillow helps relax your neck, shoulders, chest
and arm muscles so blood and lactation hormones can
circulate more freely and effectively.
- Hold Baby in breastfeeding position, with his/her cheek
against your bare breast. Baby can begin to relearn that
skin contact and your scent are part of feeding.
- The first efforts at nursing, you may have to show Baby
the bottle, before inserting it into her mouth.
- Then, gradually move the bottle so it is next to your own
bare breast and nipple. DO NOT try to offer the breast.
Simply let Baby relax in a breastfeeding position in your
arms, while nursing from the bottle.
- Talk softly, sing, caress Baby and make the experience of
being in your arms as pleasant as possible for Baby and
you. Repeat this for every feeding the first day.
- If you want to, try offering the breast once it is clear
Baby is satisfied. Do not be disappointed if Baby does
not mouth or suckle the breast. Keep in mind you are
simply OFFERING the breast, at this point.
- The second day, show Baby the
bottle, but then touch Baby’s cheek close to
your breast so Baby must turn toward your bare breast to
suckle the bottle nipple. Again, sing, caress, and do all
you can to make it very pleasant for both you and Baby.
If you offer the breast, do not be upset if Baby only
mouths or plays with the nipple, or only nurses for a
moment or two. Having the Lact-Aid® Nursing Trainer™ Unit in position will
give Baby an immediate reward for suckling. Even if
suckling is for just a moment, the idea is to make it a
positive experience.
- For many babies, the third day is the
turning point. The repeated bottle nursing in a breastfeeding
style usually results in Baby automatically
turning to root, find your nipple, and begin suckling
when placed in breastfeeding position. Having your
Lact-Aid® Nursing Trainer™
Unit filled and ready will reward Baby’s suckling
and keep him on the breast.
- Once Baby has learned that breasts are a happy source of
food, nursing usually progresses well. Keep in mind that
this is simply a guide. For some mothers and babies, the
progression of events from bottle to breastfeeding may
take only a few feedings in a single day. For others it
may take 4 to 10 days. The average is about three days
for babies 4 to 6 months old. Making the transition from
bottle to breast a gradual, loving process will take a
great deal of pressure off Mom and Baby to perform. It
avoids the pass or fail worries a mother might
encounter if trying to make an abrupt change.
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Free
Consulting Service
We try to provide as much information as possible in our
instruction booklet and information sheets provided with each
Lact-Aid® NTS™ System.
However, we know there may be times when special questions arise.
For FREE consulting service, call us at 1(423) 744-9090. (There
is no charge for phone consulting. However, you must call at your
own expense, as we do not accept collect calls.)
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Send Us
Your Suggestions
We really would love to hear from you. Sketches, photos, even
videotapes are welcome, but cannot be returned. Please give your
phone number so we may call you if we need to clarify details or
obtain your permission to use photos. Names are kept
confidential, and never revealed to others without your
permission.
Lact-Aid International, Inc.
P.O. Box 1066 Athens, TN 37371-1066
Phone (423) 744-9090 FAX: (423) 744-9116
E-Mail: info@lact-aid.com
Visit our new home on the Internet! http://www.lact-aid.com
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Copyright © 1998, and 1995,
1996, 1997, by Lact-Aid International, Inc.
All rights reserved.
This report last revised May 08, 2008.
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