What is a breast shield?

2023 Author: Anita Thornton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 11:16

What is a breast shield? The name of a bird or a breastfeeding accessory? Some practical explanations on this breastfeeding aid.

Breastfeeding is a privileged bond created thanks to the warm contact that the mother establishes with her baby. However, some new mothers experience difficulties in the first moments of breastfeeding and many are in doubt. The advice that comes from both sides and the contradictory information provided in books and especially via websites further plunge mothers into a whirlwind. Should I continue breastfeeding? Why is baby sulking my boobs? In order for baby to finally take the breast, some mothers opt for the use of a breast shield. But what is a breast shield?

A breast shield

By definition, a breast shield is a molded silicone and sometimes even rubber tip that adjusts to the shape of the breast and nipple so that baby suckles directly from the breast interposed thanks to this accessory. It is also sometimes called "silicone shield" or "nipple shield".

The Right Size

Like bra cups, breast shields come in many sizes. It is essential toselect a well-sized one. If the breast shield fits well, the milk ducts are not overly compressed and the breast empties optimally. Thus, the resulting milk production is maintained.

However, if the size of the breast shield is inappropriate, either too small or even too large, the ducts can become blocked, the breast has not been fully emptied and the milk let-down reflex can be impaired. be altered and even inhibited. Also, if the breast shield is not properly adjusted, it can result in some friction, which in the long term can cause various lesions in the nipple area. These lesions then become a privileged gateway to infections and, as a result, to mastitis.

Frequent reasons for use

Some moms are offered this alternative when their nipples are sore and sore or when the nipples are flat or inverted (digging inwards). It is therefore generally used to screen pain. However, under no circumstances should it be used to compensate for nipples deemed "non-compliant". Ultimately, the shape of the nipple at rest has no bearing on breastfeeding success. However, it is preferable not to use a breast shield in the first days and especially to do so only as a last resort. The breast shield may offer a quick solution like a bandage on this sore, but it should not become a permanent accessory for breastfeeding. By using this device, baby does not learn todrink directly from the breast. If necessary, call on a lactation consultant to tell you if the breast shield is an adequate solution in your situation. Otherwise, in order to reduce the intensity of the pain linked to the arrival of the ejection flows, use it only at the start of the feeding.

Interesting alternatives

If you want to use a breast shield in case you suffer from sore or sore nipples, it is better to identify the root cause of this inconvenience first. Very often, the causes of injuries stem from poor positioning at the breast. Also, a pure lanolin cream (Lansinoh, PureLan, etc.) can temporarily soothe you. Refer to a lactation consultant if this situation arises.

If the breastfeeding mother has flat or inverted nipples, direct sucking at the breast by a baby or using a breast pump is more effective than that obtained with the use of a teat. It makes the nipple more erect and the surrounding tissues more flexible. The infant, having only known this type of nipple, will probably end up getting used to it in the medium or long term. Moreover, it is stipulated that if the mother has an abundant milk production, regardless of the type of nipple, baby will in most cases finish latching on when he is between four and eight weeks old.

You can also use the breast pump technique, which consists of expressing milk on a regular daily basis and then giving it to the baby viaa spoon, a syringe, a dropper, a finger or a bottle as a last resort. Your baby will still receive breast milk without acclimating to a different sucking pattern and the mother's milk supply will be maintained. She will therefore be able to attempt a return to the breast once the wounds have healed or when baby is more competent at adapting to the shape of the nipple.

The risk of confusion

Like the bottle and the pacifier, the teat can cause infants to confuse this type of teat with the nipple. The sucking technique that the latter must perform with a breast shield is different from that directly at the breast. The breast shield will fill with milk, following the repetitive movements of the jaws and he will have to perform the same swallowing maneuver that he would do to drink the milk from a bottle. When the mother tries to put him back directly to the breast, she could encounter certain pitfalls. He could have become acclimated to this type of sucking and could injure the mother's nipple or at worst, sulk outright at the breast.

Other risks

Other potential problems are related to the use of breast shields, including the following:

A decrease in milk production
Disturbance of the baby's sucking technique
The appearance of cracks, engorgement and/or lymphangitis
The mother's fear of not having “compliant” breasts
Thedependence of the baby on the accessory

Conclusion

At the end of the day, it's important to keep in mind that breastfeeding should never be painful. In order to transform this wonderful gesture into a positive experience, it is essential to surround yourself with encouraging people. You can then go to a breastfeeding drop-in to talk to other moms who may have gone through the same situation as yours. If, despite all your efforts and using the breast shield, your breastfeeding does not go as you wanted, meet with a lactation consultant, instructor and/or breastfeeding godmother. Never be alone with a problem like this. A simple repositioning or the addition of an accessory such as the breast shield could be useful and allow you to continue breastfeeding for as long as you wish. The role of the person who proposes the use of this accessory will also be to accompany the mother in disposing of it afterwards.