Diane and others:  About nipple shields (and yes, the JHL did do a whole
issue on this in Dec)...my problem with them is when non IBCLCs or
non-trained LCs use them!!!!  We've got RNs with NO lactation training
handing these out like candy.  It's the cure-all and they give not
instruction.

Nipple shields can be very helpful, but often I find that time is as big of
a cure.  I don't mean the mother's time either....hcps need to be patient
in those first few days.  If we'd just stop jumping the gun and giving
bottles to babies who won't latch in the first 2-3 days, we'd avoid the
necessity to do all this hoop jumping on days 5-whatever.  Not all babies
come out like vacuum cleaners ready to hoover anything in sight.  This is
especially true if they've been drugged via labor, suctioned ad nauseaum,
and overstimulated.

: )Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC  email: [log in to unmask]   : )
: )HSR & Health Educational Consultant        voice/fax: 541 753 7340    : )
: )LLLLLLLLLLLLL**CHANGE THE WORLD, NURTURE A CHILD!**LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL : )