I have an article online that talks about this, and it is probably the thing
that I have written that has engendered the greatest response which has
mainly been "THANK YOU!" Women seem to be SO STRESSED OUT about getting off
the shield that it takes all enjoyment out of breastfeeding. Women have
written me and said that when given the license to just relax and be
grateful for the success they are having (which often was not happening
before the shield) and watching their baby grow and being proud of
themselves, they begin to see breastfeeding as a joy and not a battle. Then
they can approach dropping the shield in a much more positive and productive
way. After all, it seems, so much of dropping the shield just has to do
with the baby getting a little bit older and more experienced to where
whatever issue was causing early problems is not prohibitive anymore.
Of course this doesn't answer the original posters question about data on
extended use. But as long as the baby is growing and the mother is satisfied
with the experience and the baby is getting breastfed, I personally can't
imagine what could be wrong with it. I would imagine a relevant question is
whether there is any evidence of long-term contact with silicone, especially
if there is anything that involves mouth contact, but I think silicone is
considered pretty chemically neutral. I know that even the holistic folks
accept it as a safe alternative in bakeware and cooking, so that would seem
to me to be a good sign.
Nicki
-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Joylyn
Sent: Friday, January 08, 2010 8:25 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: weaning from nipple shields
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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