It is funny that this topic suddenly came up.   I got a call from a mom that 
I assisted 17 months ago.  No frenum  problems, no nipple issues--except what 
most of us would call breast  aversion.  I did what most of us would do at the 
time.  Mom  lifted the blouse, and baby would scream--so a nipple shield did 
the  trick.  This is my only case where for whatever reason (mom or baby) 
never  got off the shield.  At 17 months she is still using the shield, and weight 
 gain has NEVER been an issue!   I would imagine that there were  probably 
many times where they could have weaned off of it, but I am thrilled  that this 
child is breastfed this long, and if the nipple shield is a crutch, it  is a 
pretty good one.
 
    Sometimes you need to decide "who owns the  problem".  If this dyad is 
happy and weight gaining with a nipple shield  for OVER one year who am I to 
tell them that they are missing out if they don't  go "au natural".  I told her 
that she was awesome!
 


Debbie  Albert, RN, Ph.D., IBCLC, RLC
Tampa Lactation Counseling
Tampa,  FL 



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