Human breasts and nipples come in different shapes and sizes. The function of the mammary glands remains a constant, but their form has great variability. It is a modern paradox that the visuals often stop breastfeeding success in its tracks.

Never before in human history has there been such a lack of faith in the packaging and delivery system of direct breastfeeding. 

Nipple Shield  

Nipple Shields are fake silicone nipples which a mother can use over her own nipple. These nipple “condoms” are intended to protect the mother’s nipples. In some instances, they are used if the nipples are less prominent or inverted to get the baby onto the breasts.   

The problem with shields is that they are huge and get dirty; they can complicate the latch issues by not helping the baby to learn to latch directly onto its mother’s breast.  They have been associated with low milk supply. The baby using the shield with a shallow latch gets a diminished amount out of the breasts and over time this has a negative impact not only on intake, but on overall milk production.  In addition, this poor latch can cause bruising beneath the areola and increased intake of air by the baby.

SNS

Gadgets such as tube feeding systems (SNS)  have gone in and out of fashion over the past 20 years.  They can interfere with getting a proper latch. When the system is used at the breast, babies can learn to by-pass a deep latch, opting instead to sip while hanging out on the tubes and their mother’s nipples. 

A mother can experience a sense of redundancy, guilt, overwhelm and increasing nipple soreness when using the SNS. She is breastfeeding and pumping, often supplementing with formula; her focus is on ensuring intake of measurable volumes rather than perfecting her latch.

There are instances where the use of both Nipple Shields or the SNS may be appropriate. However, these tools were never meant to be the first line of defense. They were intended to be a bridge to success while the fundamentals of latch and Conscious Breastfeeding connections are optimized.

Beware of these nipple add-ons. They will have an impact on the quality and duration of your breastfeeding experience.

Survivor is a popular television program here in the States that has run for 16 seasons.  It’s motto is outwit, outplay, outlast and be the ultimate survivor.  The season finale is today, Mother’s Day.  It has been quite fascinating to watch as the final four women used a great deal of cunning and collaborated to eliminate all of their stronger male challengers. 

Watching Survivor made me wonder…

What if the contestants were all nursing moms, babies and their partners?  What would they do without pumps, bottles, nipple shields, supplemental nursing systems and weighing scales?  Would they survive?  How would they know what their baby’s percentile was out there in the wilderness?  Would bottles of formula drop out of the trees along with the coconuts? 

You might recall a news item from a few years back about an African mother  caught in a flood who sought refuge, labored and delivered her baby in a tree.  Although not ideal, birth and breastfeeding began there before she was rescued by the South African military.

Breastfeeding may be natural, but it is definitely a learned behavior.  Peer pressure, combined with token support, leaves many mothers vulnerable to advice and interventions which can destroy their confidence.  Doubts about their milk supply and a sense of being overwhelmed by the work load may cause them to waiver in their desire to continue breastfeeding.

Modern mothers need to outwit, outplay and and outlast the pseudo-science which has been embraced by the medical and lactation establishment and the ubiquitous and clever marketing of formula by the drug companies.  

You should not have to “survive” breastfeeding.  When in doubt, reflect upon what you would do were you on a desert island?  Get back to the basics.

On this Mother’s Day celebrate the power and mystery of your female body which enables you to nurture your baby in the womb and beyond through Conscious Breastfeeding.