There are many reasons why parents may need to consider alternative feeding methods for their newborns, whether due to medical, physical, or personal circumstances. These methods, though often temporary, can support parents in achieving their feeding goals while maintaining flexibility and bonding with their baby. In this guide, we’ll explore various short-term feeding options such as the Foley cup, spoon and syringe feeding, and Supplemental Nursing Systems (SNS). These alternatives not only support nutrition but also align with different lactation goals, helping parents through their unique breastfeeding journey.

There are many different reasons why alternative feeding methods might be indicated for you and your baby. Oftentimes these options lead into other feeding methods that align with your goals and are not long term solutions for feeding your baby.

The Foley Cup

A foley cup is a small cup that has a dip that you can gently tip and cup feed a newborn. It tends to be used during antenatal hand expression, and is usually used to feed with colostrum (as it is given in small portion sizes). The cup features a gentle dip, making it easy to tip and feed a baby without needing a bottle or nipple. Foley cups are commonly used during antenatal hand expression or in situations where direct nursing isn’t possible but parents still want to avoid introducing artificial nipples. This method helps preserve the newborn’s natural breastfeeding reflex while allowing parents to deliver essential nutrition in a controlled and gentle manner. 

A Spoon & Syringe

A spoon and syringe uses a similar mechanism to feed newborns small amounts without using a nipple and bottle. Many parents are wary of using a nipple and bottle, especially if exclusive nursing is their primary goal. This is a great reason to use a spoon and/or syringe in the short term. Syringe feeding is when a syringe is filled with expressed milk (or defrosted colostrum-collecting syringes) and then your baby sucks your finger as you place the tube attached to the syringe between their lip and your finger. Syringes can also be used suck up colostrum and/or expressed milk from a spoon, or used as part of an SNS device.

SUPPLEMENTAL NURSING SYSTEM (SNS)

Supplemental Nursing System (SNS) is a system used to feed babies, when they are unable to get (adequate) milk from a parent’s chest. It consists of a thin flexible tube (to insert into your baby’s mouth) and a bag or syringe with milk in it. This tube is placed beside your nipple, so babies can continue to nurse while increasing your supply and maintaining their familiarity with nipples. Alternatively it is placed on your finger (usually a pinky) as you allow your baby to suck on it. This is a useful tool as you can continue to associate feeding with your chest and promote bonding. This system also allows adopted and surrogate babies to be fed from their non-lactating parent’s chest.

What are the reasons people might need to, or choose alternative feeding methods?

Below are some of the common indications that you may need to explore alternatives to feeding from your body. This can allow you to have more support, and offers a higher likelihood of an effective feeding journey. 

Physically

Chest surgery, such as:

• Reduction
• Gender affirming top-surgery
• Augmentation (Because augmentations usually remove less tissue, lactation can be less inhibited than with reduction or top surgery.)

Chest tubes

Chest binding

Physical trauma to your chest

• For example, your chest being crushed – such as car accidents.

All of the above impact nursing because these events have impacted anatomy, which directly contributes to the ability to make milk and have it removed from your body.

• The pathways to your areolas could be severed, which means you may be able to make milk but it has no way out of your chest.

Tip:

Do you have sensation in your nipples and areolas?

• If so, you have a higher likelihood of being able to nurse/get milk out of your body.
• If you have had top surgery, you may know if your nipple stems are still intact. This can impact your ability to nurse more easily.

Goat’s rue can be used to build and develop mammary tissue. It is usually started at 32 weeks of pregnancy until 4 weeks postpartum. Be sure to discuss this resource with a trusted health care provider.

Physiologically

Insulin resistance

Thyroid disorders

• Can affect how you create prolactin, which contributes to risk factors for establishing supply.

Fenugreek (a commonly used galactogogue) should be avoided by those who have hypothyroid conditions, or are taking medication for a thyroid disorder. 

Individual birth and postpartum journeys that have included but not limited to:

• Retained placenta, can cause your estrogen and progesterone levels to remain elevated, delaying your body’s milk production.
• Depending on what stages of labor your body experienced before having your c-section, the hormones that trigger lactogenesis may not have kicked in.
• Birth trauma and PTSD.
• Extended pitocin use in labor and/or epidural use in labor.

All of the above impact nursing because of the effects on the hormonal matrix of lactation and lactogenesis.

Every family’s feeding journey is unique, and understanding and/or exploring these alternatives can empower you to make informed decisions that work best for both you and your baby. Remember, the ultimate goal is a healthy, well-fed baby and a feeding method that nurtures both baby and parent.