Becca, I don't think you are blowing things out of proportion. When I saw them, I kept thinking how could they do this, put nipple shields in Target! But it is like any other company, it is about making money. And Medela only makes money when a mom doesn't breastfeed at the breast. Some moms who see those nipple shields at the store may think they need these *prior* to nursing and this will go on the baby registry "since I am going to nurse I can use these so I don't get sore nipple like my friends did". But it can lead to the slippery slope of breastfeeding problems. I am not against nipple shields, they do have a place. But there is no good reason to have them at Target. I am extremely disappointed in Medela and it definitely has effected the way I view them.

I just got back from hearing Dr. Jack Newman speak (He is a great speaker by the way! Loved his talk on Just one bottle: Does it make a difference?). He was asked about nipple shields and his response was basically not so in favor of them and they don't have a place in the early days, which is what happens in my area. I then get the calls of how to wean from them and it breaks my heart to hear moms say they hate having something between them and their baby and how they always have to nurse with it and it is annoying to find it and if they loose it and wish they didn't need it for every nursing. Most hate trying to wean from it because of the baby crying and getting upset so they just keep using it or wean. 

Kim Ann Lorber
[log in to unmask]
Breastfeeding Educator and mom to 3 breastfed boys


             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html