Here are 2 fairly recent studies on nipple shield use.

Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18, 2949-2955  Reexamination of ultra-thin 
nipple shield use, infant growth and maternal satisfaction. by Ilana RA 
Chertok Pulished 2009

AWHONN Volume 35, Number 2 March/April 2006  A Pilot Study of Maternal and 
Term Infant Outcomes Associated with Ultrathin Nipple Shield Use by Ilana R. 
Chertok, Jeanne Schneider, and Susan Blackburn.

 HTH

Donna Goggin-Dolwick, RN, BSN, IBCLC



---- brooke <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Is there an evidence-based answer to when and if one needs to wean
> from a nipple shield. If baby is thriving and mom is content, is there
> any rush? Are there any documented negative effects of using a shield
> for an extended period of time--or even for the duration of
> breastfeeding? I know in the past that the old-school shields caused
> milk-transfer issues and led to a lot of poor infant weight gain. But
> I am wondering about the newer silicone shields.
>> But I was faced with the question today about when or whether it is
> necessary to wean the baby off of nipple shields and realized that
> while all the literature I looked at indicated that we should always
> have an eye towards weaning from them, no one ever really articulated
> why.
>
> I understand the risk of a woman who has not been educated on proper
> use having issues with milk supply and infant weight gain.
> But when used properly and appropriately and successfully, do the
> silicone shields really carry any longterm risks? Are there any oral
> development issues to consider when using longterm?
 .
>
> Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
>
> Best,
> Brooke Casey
> Northern California, USA
>
>
>
>

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