I've worked with a number of mothers who have used nipple shields for a variety of reasons... Most are, at first, hesitant to try the shields, but they soon figure out it makes a huge difference. They spend a period of time very happy using them. Then they start worrying that their child will be using a shield forever. I encourage them to just relax and not worry about it. Somewhere between 6-10 weeks, most babies wean themselves off the shield. Generally what happens is mom forgets it when she goes somewhere or more often, mom doesn't feel like getting it out for a middle of the night feeding and sleepy baby doesn't notice. Over the course of a few weeks, mom slowly stops using the shield, and then one day she realizes that she hasn't used it in a few days and that's that.
I realize this is just experience and not statistics, but I have to say that with every single woman who has used nipple shields, this has been how things have played out. In fact, it's pretty funny, but I will tell women that this is how it will play out and they generally don't believe me and then a month or two later, they call me and tell me that indeed, it has played out just like I said.
Joylyn Souter
--
And this above all
To thine own self be true
And then it must follow
As the night follows the day
That thou can be false
To no other man
---- brooke <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Is there an evidence-based answer to when and if one needs to
> wean from a nipple shield. If baby is thriving and mom is content,
> is there any rush? Are there any documented negative effects
> of using a shield for an extended period of time--or even for
> the duration of breastfeeding? I know in the past that the old-school
> shields caused milk-transfer issues and led to a lot of poor
> infant weight gain. But I am wondering about the newer silicone
> shields.
>
> I can imagine why many moms might wish to wean from them when
> it becomes possible to do so--convenience, removing the "barrier"
> between them and their little one, getting rid of the feeling
> that a crutch is needed, etc.
>
> But I was faced with the question today about when or whether
> it is necessary to wean the baby off of nipple shields and realized
> that while all the literature I looked at indicated that we should
> always have an eye towards weaning from them, no one ever really
> articulated why.
>
> I understand the risk of a woman who has not been educated on
> proper use having issues with milk supply and infant weight gain.
> But when used properly and appropriately and successfully, do
> the silicone shields really carry any longterm risks? Are there
> any oral development issues to consider when using longterm?
>
> Beyond the obvious psychological and aesthetic benefits of being
> able to nurse without a shield, I'm wondering if there are any
> concrete reasons why a mother should wean her baby from them
> if she doesn't want to. And if so, at what point is ideal.
>
> Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
>
> Best,
> Brooke Casey
> Northern California, USA
>
>
>
> --------------------------------
> Compassion is the deepest form of memory.
> --Eve Ensler
>
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