Lots and lots of debate on nipple shields going on here.   I want to bring 
up two points...
 
The first is that in all the posts I've read, I don't remember  reading a 
single one about making sure the mother knows how to put the shield on  
correctly.  Many moms that have been given a shield in the hospital or they  
bought it at Target or whatever don't know how to stretch it, turn it nearly  
inside out and smooth it over the nipple/areolar complext to make sure it is  
fitting snugly and well.  I can't tell you how many moms come to me with a  
shield -- I always ask to see how the baby does on the shield so I can watch 
her  put it on.  Some do it correctly -- others just pop it on the breast 
and  there is leakage, the baby doesn't get on well, and doesn't transfer 
well.   That to me is one of the most concerning things about using shields.   
Perhaps all of you are assuming that all mothers are taught this -- no, they 
 aren't.  And it is imperative whether she is getting a shield 2 days or 2  
weeks out.
 
Number two -- I would love to know where the idea came  from that 
"colostrum can't be transferred thru a shield."  Trish  Shamblin, among many others, 
just pointed that there is no research showing it  can be.  I would maintain 
that there is no research showing it can't  be.
 
Just for fun, I got out a new Medela shield and poured honey  into the teat 
portion...honey a friend gave us from good old Wheaton bees.   I didn't 
touch the shield to squeeze it -- and that honey just leaked right on  out thru 
the holes in the shield.  Colostrum is not as thick as honey --  and I can 
only imagine that if the baby is suckling at all, they will get  whatever 
mama has in her breasts.
 
True, that was not a scientific experiment, but I do think we  need to lay 
to rest the notion that babies can't get colostrum thru a shield --  
especially when we have to be careful to apply the shield well.
 
Please don't jump all over me about the use of shields in the  hospital in 
general -- these are simply my observations about what is being  talked 
about on this thread....
 
When you are writing shield policies for wherever/whoever you  are writing 
them for, make sure you include in the policies HOW to put the  shield on....
 
Jan Barger,  RN, MA, IBCLC, FILCA
Wheaton IL
_www.lactationeducationconsultants.com_ 
(http://www.lactationeducationconsultants.com)  






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

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome