I am writing up a study of 834 mothers whose breastfeeding outcomes
were followed up for 6 months.  The mothers represent about 70% of
all mothers who gave birth in a private hospital over a 12 month
period. Mothers who suppressed lactation were not included in the
study. About 15% of the mothers studied were given a nipple shield
before day 5 because of attachment difficulties (with or without
nipple damage).  The study was initiated because of concern by LCs
in the local community (like myself) about the generous use of nipple
shields.

This is exiting data because of the huge sample size and 86%
compliance with interviews done at 5 days, 1 month, 3 months and 6
months (unless the mother had ceased breastfeeding earlier).

Please email me privately with ideas about what approach I should
take to write this up.  Suggested references also appreciated.  We
have a good selection on nipple shields, but more general references
on breastfeeding outcomes and early attachment difficulties would be
appreciated.  You never know what you've missed even after doing a
literature search.

Sorry, no preliminary data available yet, but I was impressed with a
report of one mother with inverted nipples who breastfed a Down's
baby using a nipple shield for nine months  - until one day her
nipples "just popped out".  She threw away the shield and kept going
for many more months.