Debbie says.

> my recollection is a study reporting about a 37% decrease in potential
> production, I think with longer term use, ....if no one cites the research
> for you, you may need to do a search of LN archives.
>
I think if someone can find the research article, we'd see that the nipple
shield may have been the old latex "Mexican Hat" which is rather thick.  I
suspect that with the thin silicone shields, there isn't nearly the decrease
in milk supply that was demonstrated in older studies.  In fact, Paula
Meier's article in the JHL of May, 2000, addresses this very issue.

I think two things are important in using a nipple shield -- one is that mom
knows how to apply the shield -- "rolling" the shield on itself so as to get
as much of the nipple as possible in the shank of the shield, and that she
does some "insurance pumping" in order to make sure she has an ample and
robust milk supply.

The ultimate goal, of course, is transitioning the baby off the shield to the
breast.  Some babies take longer than others.  But this is a good tool that
is a great adjunct in the LC toolbox.  Certainly MUCH better than pumping and
bottle feeding expressed milk.  The insurance pumping mom does using the
shield is a lot less than full pumping to get enough for the baby to eat.

Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, RLC
Lactation Education Consultants
www.lactationeducationconsultants.com

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