I asked Nancy Mohrbacher, an author of BAB, about the silicone shields and
their effect on milk transfer and production:
<<Hi Deborah,
Your question does not have a simple answer. No research has been done to
determine the effect of the thinner shields on milk transfer or milk
supply. So there is no objective answer.
However, prior to my coming on with Hollister this January I was in private
practice for 10 years and have worked with many mothers using nipple
shields. In my clinical experience, if a baby is breastfeeding well with a
shield, I have not seen this cause a reduction in milk transfer or milk
supply. The operative words here are "a baby is breastfeeding well." It
is possible for a shield to negatively impact milk transfer and supply if a
baby is not latched onto it well or if the baby is simply not breastfeeding
well with or without the shield. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that
the mother's milk supply will be negatively impacted if the breasts are not
well drained.
So in my experience, if a baby is able to drain the breasts well with a
shield, this should not cause a drop in milk production. If a baby is not
able to drain the breast well with a shield, a lower milk supply can
result, especially if the mother is not also pumping. When I was in
private practice, whenever I did a home visit, I did test weighs to make
sure the milk transfer was good before I left a mother with a nipple
shield.
Hope this helps,
Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC
Lactation Education Specialist, Hollister, Inc.>>
and from Nancy, a reference to and comment about:
<<Paula Meier's study showing milk transfer is greater with premies with the
nipple
shield than without (Meier, Nipple shields for preterm infants: effect of
milk transfer and duration of breastfeeding. J Hum Lact 2000;
16(2):106-14). But, of course, we don't know yet if this applies to
full-term babies.>>
Debbie Tobin
RN BSN IBCLC LCCE
Springfield, Virginia USA
In the Fairfax County suburbs outside the Washington DC beltway
<A HREF="www.BestBreastfeeding.Info">www.BestBreastfeeding.Info</A>
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