Dear Lactnet Friends:

Here's the scenario: Baby is 3 months old. Mom contacted me for a
consultation because she was confused about baby's weight gain and unhappy
giving formula. Her pediatrician was okay with baby's weight gain. Baby's
pulmonologist was concerned and asked the mother to give one bottle a day
of formula along with breastfeeding.

Baby had been born early, and spent one month in a Level III NICU.
Breastfeeding was initiated along with frequent pumping and the use of a
nipple shield.

When I observed them nursing, baby had a 5-7:1 suck/swallow ratio. Baby was
working hard to get a bolus of milk to swallow.

The problem was that no one had told her how to put the shield on
correctly. She had been placing it over her nipple.  Once she was taught
the correct technique, the suck/swallow ratio changed to 1-2:1. Baby
stopped working so hard to get milk; breastfeeding improved and baby
started gaining weight more quickly.

I was amazed to see the difference after this one change.

The correct way to apply a shield is shown in this handout: <
http://www.lactationtraining.com/images/PDFs/handouts/Nipple%20Shields.pdf>

warmly,
-- 
Nikki Lee RN, BSN, Mother of 2, MS, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI, ANLC, CKC
Author:* Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Breastfeeding Therapy*
www.nikkileehealth.com
https://www.facebook.com/nikkileehealth

*Get my FREE webinar series *

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