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Subject:
From:
Jan Barger <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 16 Sep 1996 09:08:34 -0400
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In a message dated 96-09-16 00:19:03 EDT Dani writes,

<<  I have not =
 experienced so much of a problem with nipple confusion from infants who =
 have used a pacifier as I have from infants who have been bottle fed. >>

Dani,
   I'm not so sure the problem is as much nipple confusion with pacifiers --
or even nipple preference.  There is a difference between bottle teats and
pacifiers -- one, as you pointed out, is to get nutrition; the other is for
non-nutritive & comfort sucking.  I agree that preterm babies in the NICU,
particularly those that are not receiving oral feeds NEED pacifiers if they
aren't allowed to suckle directly at the breast.  I think the problem with
pacifiers is that in full term infants they are used indiscriminately and
they stifle feeding cues.  Parents become addicted to them, and the study
that was done in Brazil indicates that longevity of bf is affected when
babies are routinely given pacifiers.

   I also think that when the staff in the nursery gives a pacifier to a baby
who is staying in the normal newborn nursery for the night INSTEAD of taking
the baby out to mom for a feed or a cuddle is giving the mother a message
that (a) pacifiers are necessary (b) the medical profession believes that
pacifiers are more efficacious than mom in soothing babies (c) mom's "need"
-- in terms of getting her sleep -- is more important than the babies "need"
-- that of feeding, suckling at the breast, or being cuddled, and finally (d)
the medical profession, in their infinite wisdom, can use an intervention for
the baby that may have long term ramifications WITHOUT mom's permission!

   I would recommend that in a term infant, the use of pacifiers be discussed
with the mother (it is a parenting issue, after all), and no pacifier be
given to an infant without the mother's informed consent.  And informed
consent means reminding parents about their own addiction to the use of this
device.

Jan Barger -- who was addicted to pacifiers with 2 of her 3 kids... :(

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