A couple of people have mentioned that the use of breast shells during
pregnancy might trigger preterm labor.  I don't believe there is one shred of
evidence for this.  You could discuss it with the mother -- if she has been
told that she is not to allow water to fall on her breasts during a shower,
if her husband has been told that there is to be no love-making, and
certainly no breast play because of the potential for preterm labor, then --
well, maybe.

But how on earth can slight pressure on the areola around the nipple increase
oxytocin enough to stimulate labor?

If mothers can breastfeed through pregnancy, if they can have intercourse,
and presumably have orgasms, if they can do Hoffman techniques (dumb, but we
encouraged it for years), then what's the big deal about breast shells????

I personally don't use them because I don't think they work, and if there are
flat nipples, I prefer the inverted syringe.  But YMMV.

Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, RLC
Lactation Education Consultants
www.lactationeducationconsultants.com

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