Nipple Shields – To Use or Not To Use?

I used to hate nipple shields and never used them. My bias was based on literature that came out many years ago that indicated they caused nipple damage, usually because they were used incorrectly. They also contributed to lazy latches with ineffective drainage of the breast leading to a subsequent decreased milk production and infant weight loss. I basically just steered clear of them, thinking that no good could come from using them.

Then a few years ago, I attended a conference hosted by the Rhode Island Breastfeeding Coalition (RIBC) on “The Challenges of Breastfeeding the Near Term Infant.” The speaker was Molly Pessl, RN BSN IBCLC, and she changed my mind about nipple shields. She taught us all how they really get the baby who isn’t quite term in their development nursing at the breast. These babies look like they should be able to nurse without difficulty, but developmentally, they are not quite there and the shield makes all the difference. Many of them were bottle fed and were used to plastic. The plastic shield tricks them into getting on the breast and its firmness makes it easier for them to drain the breast when used correctly. I started using them in these circumstances and found that she was absolutely right! Christina Smillie MD, FAAP FABM, who spoke at another RIBC conference on “Baby Led Breastfeeding” agreed with this use of the nipple shield, and supported anything that gets the baby nursing directly from the breast.

Now I sometimes feel as if I am passing nipple shields out like candy. I don’t leave home without them. They are always the last resort, after first assessing the situation and trying to get the baby to nurse without it. I make sure the family is aware of all the contradictions and side effects of improper use, and agrees to frequent weight checks and follow up with me. I explain that use of the shield is a temporary thing. I find that usually after about 2-3 weeks of good nursing and weight gain, the baby doesn’t need it any more. They wean easily and all those difficulties in the beginning are a distant memory. Once they understand all that, we give it a try….

I have had many moms burst into tears when I help them latch their baby on the breast with the shield. They are thrilled to see milk in the shield and so proud of the intake we are able to measure on my scale. The swallowing they witness is much stronger than what had been happening without the shield, if they were ever even able to get the baby on the breast! The family is happy, and then so am I.

There are two other situations in which I use nipple shields. One is for the mother with flat or inverted nipples. That is probably not a surprise to anyone. It provides the baby with something to latch onto without causing the mother any pain. I also use them for babies who latch without incident, look absolutely perfect on the outside, and despite numerous suggestions on positioning and support , still cause their mother pain. I never am really sure why this happens and nothing fixes it. But the shield does. Mom nurses pain free, and like the other situations, the baby eventually weans off it.

So this is all good, right? When used in these situations and while working with someone knowledgeable about breastfeeding and infant growth and development, it really does fix problems and get the baby nursing. However, now I am running into a much bigger problem.

You can get a nipple shield anywhere - Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc. As a result, I am seeing moms at 3 weeks post partum, who brought a shield to the hospital after buying it in the store and started nursing with it immediately after birth. They never even tried to latch on their own. They assumed that since it was in the store, it was just one more thing they had to have to breastfeed. I am called in because the baby isn’t gaining weight, mom reports she has no milk and had to start supplementation. And at this point, there is not a lot I can do. The hormonal response that establishes and maintains a woman’s milk supply has come and gone. The window of opportunity to get things off to a good start has been missed. It is heartbreaking to have to tell a mom this and have her realize she probably never needed to use the shield in the first place.

What has typically been happening in situations like this is that the baby has spent a tremendous amount of time at the breast, using the nipple shield as a pacifier. The shield slides in and out of the baby’s mouth, and the breast is not drained. I see this immediately when I ask the mom to show me what she has been doing. The only milk the baby gets is from the mom’s letdown. Mom interprets the length of time at the breast as a good thing, not realizing that the baby is wasting calories with all the ineffective sucking, and not gaining weight. The ineffective draining of the breast then causes her milk to dry up, as you have to remove the milk in order for it to be replaced.

The key to all this is that these feeding devices are intended to be used under medical supervision. While it clearly states that on the packaging, it is on the back and the last thing mentioned, after stating all the things a nipple shield is good for. I have complained to the manufacturer about this, and have been told that they are working to make that statement more noticeable, but will continue selling them in retail stores.

At HBHM Inc., we have a very specific protocol that we follow when using shields with a family that involves frequent follow up and weight checks. I don’t want to be responsible for providing someone with something, that when used incorrectly and without guidance, can have such grave consequences. I will let the manufacturers and retailers get the credit for that!