I saw this article.  The great thing about this study was - they didn't start pacifiers until 2 weeks of age, they gave a specific pacifier (one-piece, silicone) with directions on how to sterilize but they didn't restrict the mother from getting a different one.  I have never seen a pacifier study that took into account the type of pacifier.  I HAVE seen certain styles and shapes of pacifiers in my 23 years of practice that exacerbate breastfeeding issues.  To me, this is one of the pitfalls of "studies" that don't control for enough of the variables because they don't even recognize something as a variable!  I don't think this means we should just throw our hands up and say no use even trying, but it should be a cautionary tale! 

-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mary-Jane Sackett
Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 5:23 PM
Subject: Study on Pacifiers

 
Dear Listmates,
Did any of you see this study?  
_http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/711283_ (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/711283) 
 
Does the Use of a Pacifier Influence the Prevalence of Breastfeeding?
Jenis AG, Vain NE, Gorestein AN, Jacobi NE, Pacifier and Breastfeeding Trial Group. J Pediatr. 2009;155:350-354 The investigators concluded that pacifier use does not alter the prevalence  of exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months of age among infants born at term who had  successful breastfeeding established at 2 weeks of life.  
In my practice as a hospital based LC, I quote the AAP statement from their  breastfeeding paper that "Pacifier use is best avoided during the initiation of  breastfeeding and used only after breastfeeding is well established." 
 I do not encourage their use and recommend discontinuing their use when the baby  is having latching/feeding issues. 
I find this information from the article really  interesting: Of note, only 67% of the infants in the pacifier use group  actually used a pacifier, but 40% of the infants in the no-pacifier group also  used a pacifier.  
This gives one pause for thought about the usefulness of this study. 
Mary-Jane Sackett, RN, IBCLC,  RLC           Pittsfield, MA  (western 
Massachusetts) 


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