I personally tried LatchAssist and did not find it helpful. Maybe it's  
something about my nipples in particular, but although the LatchAssist  
drew them out, as soon as I removed the device, my nipples just went  
flat again. In general, with my nipples (which are flat regardless of  
edema, although they were more taut and less elastic when I was  
engorged) the condition of the breast is more important in latching  
than the prominence of the nipples. That is, when my breasts are  
engorged or very full and firm, latching is difficult and painful,  
even if the nipple has been drawn out; by contrast, latching is much  
easier when my breast is soft, even if the nipple isn't drawn out. But  
I don't know if this a function of me and my babies or true for others  
as well.

I also felt that it was difficult to control the suction of the  
LatchAssist; if I let it out too slowly, it didn't really draw out the  
nipple, but if I let it out too fast, it was painful. I imagine that  
was the same problem with the "bicycle horn" pumps; it really does  
seem like a mini version.

Funny story about IVs: with baby #2, I (unintentionally) didn't leave  
for the hospital until the head was already crowning. So needless to  
say, I arrived raring to go! I basically met my midwife, ran into the  
triage room and pushed the baby out. My husband almost missed the  
birth because he was parking the car. Anyway, the next morning, a  
nurse came into my room and said "I'm here to check your IV." Me: "I  
don't have an IV." Nurse: "No IV??!! How can you give birth with no  
IV?" I hadn't had time to take off my socks, let alone have an IV  
inserted. It really seemed that she had never heard of anyone having a  
baby without an IV!

Jennifer
(lurking and learning)

On Aug 6, 2008, at 8:55 AM, Susan Burger wrote:

> Dear all:
>
> Here's my concern from my little portion of the world in Manhattan  
> --- I see lots of mothers
> who have been told their nipples were flat and given devices in the  
> hospital.  Because I am
> seeing them on day 3 or later --- I know their nipples look  
> differently than they did in the
> hospital.  I'm assuming that much of what is seen in the hospital is  
> engorgement because
> there is still the pervasive belief that moms should send them to  
> the nursery at night and/or
> edema of the breast from IV fluids which are almost universally  
> used. As near as I can tell
> this device might not be helpful at all for women with edematous  
> breasts.  And, it feeds
> right  into the "attach" to the nipple idea that still is quite  
> widespread.  To be honest, in my
> post day 3 world --- I haven't seen any of the devices to "draw out"  
> the nipple really work
> for "flat" nipples.
>
> Best, Susan

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome