Barbara,

Thanks for the balanced and informative post on appropriate use of the
proper kind of nipple shields.

I think some people might be confused by information based on old
references about other kinds of shields, one of which I know is still
made. (The one with a glass or clear plastic base, and a rubber
bottle-type nipple, available from Galtak in Canada.)

I would like to know if you have more information on the exact dimensions
of the 2 (I think) that Medela puts out and the 1 (I think) that
Hollister puts out.

What other brands of silicone shields are being sold, say in Walmart,
etc.? I recently had a client who had purchased silicone shields with
only a sort of butterfly shape, that is only 2 sides of a small amount of
the outer circle the others have. She said they did not work very well.
She liked the Medela large one better.

I suppose it is necessary that the nipple portion be firm enough not to
collapse, and to offer a firm enough surface that the milk sinuses
compress themselves against the inner ring when suction draws the nipple
in.

But I keep worrying about it encouraging "prissy lips". I have not seen
enough of its use to determine if in fact babies can learn to extend
their tongues and milk the shielded areola. It would seem that this might
be an important part of teaching about their use.

Can anyone else add to this discussion?

Jean
*******************
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio USA

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