>I will, next time this situation appears, feel reassured if the baby
>appears to latch on okay with the shield - when you say the flat part
>wrinkles, do you mean sort of folds back over the baby's upper lip?

Yes, often that does happen. I know some people get all worried about it
blocking the baby's nose, but it is usually OK. Sometimes it doesn't
actually fold back, just wrinkles.

The last mother I saw who was bf with a shield
>w/o supply problems did in fact have this happen. I honestly don't think I
>have been observant enough in the past - I have just thought 'shield - oh
>no'.

I think this is a common response!

>My main concern with shields remains the fact that they are given to help
>with a latching  problem, instead of skilled help, and the shields  allow a
>*spurious* latching success...the baby has *something* in its mouth and
>gets milk out *somehow* and everyone is supposed to cheer and think all is
>well.  It so often is not.

I agree wholeheartedly. That's why I make a big deal about *how* the baby
is attached.


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Joy Anderson B.Sc. Dip.Ed. Grad.Dip.Med.Tech. IBCLC
Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia Breastfeeding Counsellor
Perth, Western Australia.   mailto:[log in to unmask]
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