Nipple shields
Nipple shields
A nipple shield is a thin flexible silicone cover which a mother places over her nipple before breastfeeding her infant. They can be helpful in some cases of nipple pain or attachment problems.
Biomechanical analysis of the three recommended breastfeeding positions.
These researchers from the Department of Medical Rehabilitation sought to investigate the biomechanical costs associated with three different breastfeeding positions.
Positioning and Attachment
In the early weeks, it is common for breastfeeding women to experience some nipple pain that ceases after the initial attachment. Severe nipple pain, pain that continues beyond the initial attachment or any signs of nipple damage all require investigation. Nipple pain is a commonly reported reason for early breastfeeding cessation. The most common cause of nipple pain is suboptimal positioning and attachment. Hence, supporting women to establish good positioning and attachment is important to help women reach their breastfeeding goals.
Nipple Shield use — where are we up to in 2019? Dr Kate Naylor MBBS (Monash), FRACGP, IBCLC, Cert IV Breastfeeding Education
There is reference to mothers using nipple shields as far back as 1550. The original nipple shields were made of bone, cow skin, pewter, glass or tin. These early shields were conically shaped with several holes in the tip; they provided a physical barrier between the mother’s breast and the baby’s mouth, therefore decreasing pain with latching. By the 1850s they were made of rubber and, in the 1950s, they were made of latex (Powers, 2012).
