"As a hospital LC I have a question about this. I feel that if I let a baby
go home that is not latching this baby has a high chance of being switched
to formula. I would rather send the mom home with a shield, a pump and
informed consent about the shield than take a chance of the losing
breastfeeding all together. I agree that this is not ideal but in a
hospital where we are not allowed to show the family finger or cup feeding
it does seem the lesser of two evils."



My feeling as a hospital LC is that this is very risky business.I'd be working
to get those anti-cup and finger feed policies changed...but in the meantime I
think I'd rather let them bottle feed than start a shield before the milk is in.
Why? I've never seen a baby effectively extract colostrum through a shield. If I
were to start a shield at this stage...I'd be very concerned about the baby's
hydration and the mom's supply. If I am going to use a shield anyway....why not
use a bottle (like a Haberman, Avent...) and then work back to the breast with a
shield once the supply is established with effective pumping?

Again, I'd be seriously working on policy changes too. What about SNS at breast?
The soft cup feeder? Really, why would a hospital want to ban such safe devices
and endorse the shield with it's documented risks????

Susan Keith-Hergert RN, MS, CPN, IBCLC
Mercy Health Partners
Cincinnti, Ohio

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