Seeking help from the experienced
PTP. Baby 3 wk now. Always used nipple shield due to firm small
inelastic breasts/nipples. With fenugreek and pumping, devoted mom has
a good supply. I advised OK to wean fenugreek. Has reduced pumping
from 10 x daily to 5-6 x daily. Baby growing well and now loves
getting milk at breast with shield and no longer supplementing via
finger feed. Will work towards getting her to the breast.
I've checked my books and the Lactnet archives, and it seems that
there is no studies or consensus on use of silicone nipple shields and
milk supply. I'd thought that nipple stimulation was needed to make
milk, but of course moms of premies can make milk using a
pump/vaccuum. And I understand that "an empty breast makes milk" .
I interpreted the information I've gleaned to mean that nipple
stimulation is important to initiate production: But-- once supply has
been established, will emptying the breast with only the stimulation
through a shield be enough to maintain her supply as long as breast is
getting emptied? Of course, she'd like to stop pumping! She gets
anywhere from 5-50 ml when pumping, depending on how well baby nursed
last.
Thanks for your thoughts,
Melinda Harris-Moulton
IBCLC, ARNP


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