Bless you!  

Thanks for coming out of the closet (lurking, that is) and letting them
have it!  I really get upset whensome say it's because we don't have the
skill needed to get a baby on that we use nipple shields.  I've gotten all
sorts of babies on - but lately the moms have had such damaged nipples that
the choice has been - pump and bottle feed until tissue is more healed and
mom can stand it, or use the nipple shield.  One mom had come to me as a
last resort.  She was NOT going to put that baby to the breast one more
time - and looking at her nipples I couldn't blame her.  She WAS able to
put the baby to the breast and smile once the nipple shield was in place -
and a week later was nursing without it.

Perhaps someday we'll be able to prevent the tongue suckers and tongue
thrusters - though I doubt it as they seem to come from 'in utero' that way
-  but at least if we can use the shield to lower that tongue in back or
prevent the scraping of tongue against damaged tissue - go for it!

I also was a Leader for 11 years and have been an LC for 10 - 21 years
total - and have learned a lot from watching moms.  I give them what they
want:
        I want to breastfeed without pain
        I want to give my milk to my baby in the simplest way possible
because my brain went out with the placenta and I can't cope with a process
of a) offer baby the breast  b) it hurts too much so c) Dad or grandma hold
baby while I d) pump so that e) grandma, dad or I give milk with f) cup or
g) syring or h) SNS

Skip b through h and use nipple shield on mom...

Perhaps if I saw moms later - I see them day 1 to 4 in the hospital - I'd
get the more dedicated moms who are willing to do all this and have
recovered enough from labor and postpartum hormone hurricane to cope with
all the above steps.  

In my case I either fix it now or they quit - later on they may call for
relactation - about 2 to 4 weeks later - but I HATE relactation cases 
unless they are adoptions.  

Well - thanks again for your "confession".  

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC, LLLL
Puerto Rico
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