LACTNET Archives

Lactation Information and Discussion

LACTNET@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM

Options: Use Forum View

Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
"Barbara Wilson-Clay,BSE,IBCLC" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 8 Feb 1997 20:26:56 -0600
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (42 lines)
 My experience weighing babies on shields and monitoring their weight
closely has been that they do not suffer problems with growth.  Of course, I
supervise them so that a comprehensive plan to increase milk production and
intake is part of the therapy, so perhaps that is the reason why I don't see
problems. I continue to maintain that the shield should not be the first
intervention tried in a problem nursing situation.  Their use should be
supervised, and weight carefully monitored. A good study which looks at and
tracks weight gain in shield using babies would be useful.

You know, the fact that there is a potential for reductions in the flow thru
the shields may actually be a benefit in certain circumstances.  For
instance, some orally-defensive kids who find feeding stressful enough to
begin breast refusal behavior often have immature neurological systems. If
matched with a mom with strong, forceful letdown and copious milk supply,
they wind up oxygen starved while feeding because they can't organize the
suck-swallow-breathe rhythm well enough to prevent aspiration.  It may be
that by capturing the spray inside the shield and leaking it out thru the
holes at a bit slower rate would be a deliberate therapy which might assist
such infants until  maturity improves.  Trying to  understand what you are
looking at (ie what is wrong with the baby) is part of the deliberations
when chosing a plan to remediate feeding problems.   Not that I NEVER just
throw up my hands and guess:)  But part of why we are supposed to be around
in the first place is to provide expert opinion in the appropiate and
specific use of equipment.

Infants do habituate to sensations, and part of the solution is to continue
to provide a variety of other sucking experiences during shield use.  Like
also allow finger sucking, pacifiers, the soft breast, various kinds of
bottle nipples (remembering that firmer texture and fewer, smaller holes
will keep flow rate slow.)

I would like to hear from people on Lactnet about innovative ways they are
using equipment, what there equipment rationals are, and discussion
especially about the ethics of equip. use.

Barbara

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Private Practice, Austin, Texas
Owner, Lactnews On-Line Conference Page
http://moontower.com/bwc/lactnews.html

ATOM RSS1 RSS2