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Lactation Information and Discussion

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Subject:
From:
Margery Wilson <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 22 Feb 1996 12:09:17 -0500
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Beth, my feeling about nipple shields is that they should be banned from
hospital use and limited only to use by lactation specialists. My reasons
are that (as you note) they often lead to increased problems with
breastfeeding, nipple confusion, and they can decrease the rate/amount of
milk transfer (so can contribute to slow/low weight gain and decreased milk
supply). They seem such an easy solution--reluctant nursers often latch on
easily when offered a shield, mom's nipples seem less sore (at first). I've
no doubt why they are so popular in hospitals! Nurses who have little or no
background with lactation are trying to solve the problem using the only
modality they understand: artificial teats. (Imagine what the easy fix would
be on the urology floor with male patients :o) -- do you think they would
have them in each patient's supply kit?)

I have had a few cases (three) where nipple shields were the only
intervention that worked to get the baby "back to the breast." However, that
is in the course of six years. Follow-up with shield use is imperative until
the baby has been weaned from the shield. Unless hospital staff can provide
in-depth patient education about the risks *along with* regular follow-up
(ha, ha, ha!) nipple shields should not be used. Instead, referral to LC
should be the protocol when a patient has nipple pain or when a baby is not
feeding well.

Keep working--it sounds like you are a candle shining in the darkness.

Margery Wilson, IBCLC
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
[log in to unmask]
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

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