Dear Toni, I think your mom's problem has more to do with oversupply and overactive MER than it may have to do with the shield. You stated that the baby chokes without the shield - he is not likely to want to go to the bare breast if the experience is always unpleasant. The shield is acting as a buffer between the baby and this mom's powerful milk flow . Have mom work on the milk supply/MER issue so that breastfeeding will be more pleasant for this baby. Keeping the baby on the same breast for several feeds in a row, while pumping to comfort on the other side, is one way to reduce an overabundant milk supply. Positioning the baby so that he is above the breast during a feed helps to prevent choking. Perhaps it would be best for now to try removing the shield at the end of the feed when milk ejection should be ebbing. If baby will take breast at that time, she could try expressing/pumping off initial fast flow and see if baby will then go to breast at once or at least, more quickly. If moms supply is really huge, she could even try drinking sage or parsley tea for awhile (but be careful, her supply could drop quickly if she is really sensitive to the tea). Sharon Knorr, BSMT, LLLL, IBCLC Lactation Consultant Services Rochester, New York mailto:[log in to unmask] _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]