Hi Jean,

I, too, use the toothpaste tube analogy, when I instruct about hand
expression.

I agree with you, I don't think we would easily be able to transition the
term "teat" into the discussion of breastfeeding with the general
public. But I think we can begin to talk about the nipple and areola
working as one unit, and how that unit changes shape inside baby's mouth.
Most moms have already heard quite a bit about the "baby has to take the
*whole* areola into his mouth and not just the nipple" (even though we know
this is phrase is really not accurate).

I also sometimes use the analogy of the coffee stirrer "straw" and a
regular drinking straw (hospital patients in my area usually are familiar
and use these tools) to explain how the milk ducts are very small and can
be compressed by edema, and how they expand/enlarge at milk ejection.

Do we have an IBCLC Hall of Fame? I think Jean needs to be there!

Laurie Wheeler RN MN IBCLC
Mississippi USA

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