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.

In the Celtic calendar, 5.01, May Day, marks the mid way point between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice.  According to Selena Fox  in her 1997 workshop ”…it is a time of divination and communion with Fairy Folk/Nature Spirits.”

May Day started for me with a tearful message left on my answering service.  This “Mayday call” signaled the distress of yet another new mother and the imminent end of her breastfeeding journey.  In spite of having hired several lactation experts, she had never had a successful latch until she had worked with me on the previous day.  Her confidence had been shaken by weeks of frustration and lack of progress.  She had been pumping and using gadgets (nipple shield, SNS) since her daughter’s birth and was discouraged from thinking she would ever be a successful breastfeeding mother.  She now knew it was possible.  However, she was truly at her wits end because she could not replicate the latch on her own. 

This mom, baby and her husband had embraced the principles of Conscious Breastfeeding but the habits of several weeks were hard to change overnight.  A lot of tears were shed.  Patience and consistency were required to teach her daughter the skill of breastfeeding.  Invoking my inner Irish and the energy of the day, we worked together as a team to rebuild this mom’s confidence and establish new Conscious Breastfeeding Connections.

May Day ended with a very different call from this now joyful breastfeeding mom.   With a nod to the Fairy Folk, the magical alchemy of nature, nurture and our combined intention had brought success.