>Thanks again for this technique - I'm hoping it will avoid the part where
>the shield sometimes folds up and the baby is left chomping on just the
>plastic "nipple" bit so you have to start all over again ...

A couple more bits from the ILCA nipple shield "play session":

Most felt that the shield curling back over the baby's face (not, I think,
what's described above) is a concern for the mom but not at all for the
baby.  Solutions were: just let it happen since the baby is still well
attached and breathing fine;  put a dot of Lansinoh north, south, east, and
west under the shield to act as glue; tape the shield at the outer edges
with 2 or more pieces of surgical/hair dresser tape.

Most used the premie shield only rarely, when it seemed to match the mom's
nipple size better than the regular one did.  Some said they had never used
a premie shield.

The description someone else gave on lactnet - simply inverting both the
rim and a portion of the "nipple" before putting it on - seems to work
about as well as stretching the base of the "nipple". Thank you, and I'm
sorry I deleted your name!!

Diane Wiessinger, Ithaca, NY