Why and when at-breast supplementation?
Could at-breast supplementation be something for us? You can collect information from this website and from the booklet Breastfeeding with the Supplementary Nursing System which contains also experiences from mothers, and also look for competent support. Then you will find out whether you want to try at-breast supplementation.
What happens when you use the Supplemental Nursing System?
When you provide a necessary supplement at the breast while breastfeeding, your baby receives both at the same time: your mother’s milk from the breast and additional nutrition from the supplementer. This has various effects: The baby notices that sucking is worthwhile, sucks more sustainedly at the breast, connects feeling satisfied with sucking at the breast and, with that, you prevent your baby from preferring the bottle. At the beginning, you can adjust at-breast supplementation so that your baby receives milk immediately and, thereby, is motivated. Furthermore, his sucking also stimulates the milk production at the same time. This saves time because if you are supplementing with the bottle, the breast is not being stimulated. This can only be compensated for by pumping.
WHEN you do not need at-breast supplementation ...
You do NOT need the at-breast supplementation if your baby is exclusively breastfed and is, thereby, gaining weight according to his age.
When could at-breast supplementation be helpful for you…
First you could gather information about the purpose of at-breast supplementation, how it functions, what you can expect and then make your own decision about whether or not you want to try it.
At-breast supplementation might be an option for you:
if you are exclusively breastfeeding but your baby is clearly gaining too little
if your baby is gaining appropriately for his age, but you supplement 200 ml or 300 ml or more with the bottle daily
if you are feeding 100% pumped mother’s milk with the bottle
if your baby does not suck at the breast at all
if your baby does not suck steadily and it is visibly difficult for your baby to suck milk out of the breast
after surgeries
with or after serious illnesses of the baby
with or after serious illnesses of the mother
if you want to start breastfeeding again after having weaned (relactation)
if you want to breastfeed in an adoptive or foster family
Already the fact that you consider at-breast supplementation expresses your commitment to your baby and your relationship. Some mothers are happy that the breastfeeding relationship both of them like so much can be maintained with at-breast supplementation. Many mothers experience at-breast supplementation as a great relief if the baby really needs supplements. Many have very good experiences with at-breast supplementation and appreciate this possibility. Others might try it and later decide to choose another way.
To find out how to practically use an at-breast supplementer
Read next How to prepare an at-breast supplementer
Back to the Overview At-breast supplementation
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