Greetings! My name is Tiffany Holmes and I am a junior nursing student
at the University of North Dakota. I am currently taking a childbearing
class and will soon be doing a clinical rotation on the OB unit. I am
also taking a family community class in which I am following a pregnant
woman throughout her pregnancy. I joined this listserv a few weeks ago
and have enjoyed learning about the different topics that have been
discussed so far.
I am interested in nipple confusion with bottle fed and nursed
infants. I am currently following a pregnant mom that is very
interested in nursing. She will be returning to work soon after the
baby is born, therefore others will be providing care for her new child.
I have read about the nipple confusion that an infant may experience
due to the different ways the baby sucks on the teat versus the nipple
of a bottle. According to Neifert, Lawrence, and Seacat (1995), when an
infant is alternated between the teat and the bottle nipple the infant
may have difficulty nursing and show preference of the bottle nipple. I
understand that often times mothers need to return to work or are not
always going to be right there to feed the infant. This is where the
concern for nipple confusion is seen.
In a study done by Gupta, Kuldeep, and Chattree (1999), they
found that cup feeding is a useful alternative to bottle feeding in
preterm or low birthweight infants that are unable to suckle from the
mother's teat. This study showed that with increased gestational age
also increases the chances of being able to breastfeed early. Using the
cup method was a useful alternative to bottle feeding without causing
nipple confusion. Fifty-six percent of the infants in this study were
discharged on only breastfeedings.
According to Fisher and Inch (1996), they do not support the view that
the infant forgets how to feed from the breast when given the bottle.
They found that the only difference in the sucking to be superficial, in
which the infant is using the same sucking action, but the effect is
different against the different surfaces that it comes in contact with.
My questions are in your profession has nipple confusion been a
concern for the infant who is breastfed and bottle fed and should only
one type of feeding method be used? If a mother wants to feed her
infant breastmilk, should she pump and then bottle feed or breastfeed or
is she able to do both without having concern for nipple confusion?
Thank you,
Tiffany Holmes, SN
References
Gupta, A., Kuldeep, K., & Chattree, S. (April, 1999). Cup feeding: an
alternative to
bottle feeding in a neonatal care unit. Journal of Tropical
Pediatrics, 45, 108-110.
Fisher, C. & Inch, S. (July 1996). Nipple confusion-who is confused?
Journal of
Pediatrics, 129(1), 174-179.
Neifert, M., Lawrence, R., & Seacat, J. (June 1995). Nipple
confusion: toward a formal
definition. Journal of Pediatrics, 126(6), 125-129.
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