Hi all,

I am in the third week of a new outpatient lactation program for the local
community hospital (about 800 births a year).  So far so good.  My question
is about weaning from a nipple shield.  I have a mom who has gotten her
otherwise totally refusing baby to the breast consistantly all weekend with
a nipple shield.  She of course doesn't want to mess with success.  I would
like to start weaning from the shield before her marginal supply gets any
worse.  The baby did not nurse at all for first week accept  right after
birth.  Then he got excessively suctioned ( that is what she was told by
the nurse) and refused anything in his mouth for next thirty hours when
everyone panicked and mom felt she had to let them give a bottle.  She was
using a I*** hand pump occassionally.  I rented her a L****** which she has
only used occassionally because the baby is now nursing.  Any revolutionary
ways to wean from a silicon shield.  As I understand it you can't cut them
back gradually because of sharp edges?   We will try the old trick of
letting the baby start off on the shield and then try and slip it off.
This baby has a really short fuse and gets really mad very quickly so we
can't fool around with him too much.  Moms nipples are fairly short and
flat and not much helps bring them out.  Mom was using A****t bottles
before we tried the shield.  And still uses it occasionally to top baby off
if he doesn't settle after feeding.  I've never had a baby who is so easily
agitated before.  Mom says he is generally pretty easy going except at
feeding time.  She is watching cues closely and not stretching feeding or
anything like that.  Sorry this is starting to ramble.  I will be seeing
her tommorrow afternoon and would appreciate any tricks that have worked
for others.

Thanks

Lori Werrell, BA, IBCLC
Leonardtown MD  20650