>I would like your opinions and experience with using breast shields.  Our
>neonatalogist would like to order nipple shields for our preemie babies.  The
>adjustment to the breast is often very difficult with this group of babies.  I
>am all for it.  However, an older nurse here feels it would decrease the
>mother's milk supply too much.  I feel the shields should only be used as a
>last resort to obtaining a latch on.  I also feel the mom's supply will
>eventually decrease with the constant use of a pump.  What is the feeling out
>there.
>
>Thank you
>Shirley

Nipple shields have managed to get a bad name mainly because they are often
used wrongly (dished out with no supervision). If the baby is *correctly
attached*, even with a nipple shield in between, there will be good milk
transfer and it will not affect supply (which depends on the efficient
drainage of available milk). The only thing I would warn about is that the
feed may take a little longer than otherwise. If baby is just sucking on
the cone part, and not on the breast properly, then it will cause problems
and should not be used. I say to a mother that the baby should look like he
is attached in the same way as if the shield wasn't there - ie good
mouthful of breast, etc etc (you know the characteristics). The flat part
of the shield normally wrinkles, as baby's jaws should be over this part
and compressing it.

I agree that pumping has just as much, or more, potential to cause a drop
in supply than use of a shield. I guess one disadvantage of shields over
pumps is there may be more need for close supervision of the mother-baby
pair. With a pump and bottle, mum she can see what she is getting and
therefore what baby is getting, but with the shield she may think things
are OK when they are not.

I must admit I haven't worked with many premmies, but have had quite a lot
of experience with shields with term babies several weeks old.

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Joy Anderson B.Sc. Dip.Ed. Grad.Dip.Med.Tech. IBCLC
Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia Breastfeeding Counsellor
Perth, Western Australia.   mailto:[log in to unmask]
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