Nipple shields for breastfeeding: how to use, sizes, types and brands

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History of overlays

Breast pads for breastfeeding women are far from a modern advancement. The use of these protective and feeding devices began in the 16th century. Since this century, medical literature contains descriptions of silver tips with holes placed on the breasts of a nursing woman and protecting her tender nipples from baby bites.

Subsequently, the functionality of breast pads expanded; they performed not only a protective role, preventing damage to the nipples during feeding:

Breast shields began to be used for flattened nipples.
They covered the nipples during periods of treatment with ointments for cracks and inflammation.
A breast pad without holes was placed to protect clothing from leaking breast milk.
Anatomically “human” shaped craftsmen’s products were applied directly to cows’ teats or vessels with expressed milk.

Craftsmen tried different materials to create ideal breast pads; sometimes these experiments, due to lack of knowledge about the properties of the materials used, negatively affected the health of breast-fed children. For example, lead products have caused brain damage in infants.

Onlays were made from wax, carved from wood and bones, cast from tin alloys and silver, and blown from glass. At the beginning of the 19th century they began to be produced from rubber, then from rubber. With the development of technology, models began to become thinner and thinner, and modern latex and silicone replaced unpleasant-tasting rubber.

Main types of breast pads

There are three types of breast pads:

Rubber. Today there are very few of them on sale and doctors do not recommend their use. They are identical to bottle nipples, but are attached to a plastic base. Sometimes there is also a glass base. There are many disadvantages of this design: the baby is far from the mother’s breast, poor stimulation of the nipple, frequent leakage occurs, which prevents the baby from receiving the required amount of milk.
Latex. Not particularly popular, despite the softness of the material. Such products have a yellow tint. They do not have wear resistance and absorb foreign odors. They also have their own specific smell and often cause allergies in infants.
Silicone. Today - the most relevant and safe. They are hypoallergenic and do not wear out quickly. The thin material allows the nipple to be stimulated during feeding, which promotes good milk production.

Large selection of nursing pads here. Choose!

Pads and bottles

Despite the presence of a “barrier” to feeding in the form of thin breast pads, this method of organizing breastfeeding cannot be equated to bottle feeding.

When feeding with the help of this accessory for breastfeeding, the baby works very hard, stimulating the breasts in exactly the same way as if feeding took place without a silicone assistant.
The use of ultra-thin pads makes it possible to bring the feeding process closer to “natural” in terms of sensations and efforts on the part of the baby. If a young mother has resorted to the help of a silicone “assistant” because of problems with her baby’s nipple latching, then she will soon be able to painlessly breastfeed her baby without this barrier.

When are they used?

Despite advertisements from manufacturers and recommendations from friends, you must make every effort to set up the hot water without using pads. Only if all methods do not help, you can turn to them. However, you should regularly try to feed your baby without these products and, if successful, immediately discard these accessories.

The use of the products is shown:

At the very beginning of lactation. First-time mothers sometimes require breast shields to reduce the pain of breastfeeding. If the baby attaches incorrectly, the baby does not latch onto the nipple properly, sucking “in vain,” causing severe pain. The covers will help ensure the desired position of the nipple in the baby’s mouth.
When refusing breastfeeding. If the baby was bottle-fed in the hospital or you used formula while waiting for the milk to come, the baby may flatly refuse to work on expressing your nipples. The shape of the pads is similar to bottle nipples, so the baby will not notice the “catch” and will start sucking on your breast.
Protective products are used for cracked nipples, when the feeding process causes unbearable pain to the mother.
If a child has suffered a severe birth injury or was born prematurely, he often does not have enough strength for high-quality or sufficient suction. The breast pad will make the process of learning to suck easier.
During the teething period, babies can quench their itching by applying pressure to the nipple, while causing unbearable suffering to their own mother. Protective breastfeeding covers will solve the problem by reducing pain during feeding.
If your baby has a short frenulum, a breast shield will allow you to position the nipple properly in his mouth and provide enough nutrition without trapping air.
Breastfeeding mothers who have flat, inverted or, conversely, too large nipples will be able to correct their shape with the help of breast shields.
Some women use breast milk covers to collect breast milk, which is gentler than using vacuum or electric breast pumps.

How to choose the right breast pads?

There are many manufacturers of breastfeeding pads: Avent, Medela, World of Childhood, etc. Even the most experienced mothers can get confused by the variety of companies. When choosing nozzles, consider the following:

Some breast attachments (for example, Avent, Medela, Chico) differ in sizes S/M/L. The sizes differ according to the diameter of the nipple. S is less than one centimeter, M is one centimeter and L is more than one centimeter.
Each of the overlays has a base. It is necessary to pay attention to the shape of the base, which comes with one or two recesses. Women try to choose a base shape so that the baby's nose can feel the mother's breasts.
It is very important to pay attention to the shape of the nipple shield. It should be significantly higher than the mother's nipple. During feeding, the woman's nipple increases in size and is pressed against the nozzle. During feeding, the nipple should fill the entire cavity of the pad, but if this does not happen, it is too large.
Silicone pads are one of the most popular today. This is due to the fact that they are odorless, very thin and hypoallergenic.

Each person individually chooses a manufacturer of pads based on the physiological characteristics of the child and mother, as well as the financial situation of the family, since the cost of these products has a wide range of prices.

What harm could there be?

Breastfeeding specialists and pediatricians are generally of the opinion that protective accessories are a temporary measure to preserve breastfeeding. A nursing mother needs to make every effort to establish the traditional way of feeding and abandon these auxiliary products.

The use of “barriers,” in addition to their benefits, has a number of negative consequences, which sometimes outweigh the positive aspects of these accessories.

It is noted that when using these products, milk production is almost halved due to insufficiently intense breast stimulation by the baby.
Getting used to the breastplate, the baby sucks very intensely, without leaving the breast for a long time, and to make his work easier, he begins to suck the milk “vacuum”, as if from a bottle.
No matter how tightly you hold the accessory, milk will still leak under it, because of this the baby will not get enough to eat and the feeding process will drag on for a long time.
Using a breastfeeding shield can cause air to be swallowed, which can cause painful colic.
Long-term use of feeding devices leads to addiction in mother and child.

Types

Modern protective pads are made from the following materials:

Rubber. Such protective pads have an unpleasant taste and odor that may not be pleasant to the baby. As a rule, they are not used by themselves, but require attachment to plastic bases, which distances mother and baby during feeding.
Latex. This material is very soft, so it wears out quickly, and is also capable of accumulating odors. Latex products can cause allergic reactions, so they are not suitable for all babies.
Silicone. Products made from this material are harmless, do not absorb odors and do not cause allergies. Silicone chest pads, despite their thinness, have incredible wear resistance.

Where can I order breastfeeding pads with delivery?

You can purchase silicone pads at the online pharmacy “Your No. 1”. Our network has established itself well in the pharmaceutical market thanks to high-quality products and a high level of service. The electronic catalog presents a large assortment of products for pregnant and nursing mothers from the pharmacy, including pads.

All products meet quality requirements and are safe for the baby and his mother. You can find linings from both domestic and foreign manufacturers. Another advantage of purchasing at the Vasha No. 1 pharmacy is affordable prices. Products come directly from manufacturers, so there is no additional markup.

Selecting linings

Before you choose a model and start using it, it is important to determine the appropriate size of pad that you need. Each manufacturer has its own size chart, but in general the models are divided into 3 groups:

The smallest ones are intended for premature babies or for mothers whose erect nipple diameter is less than 1 cm.
The medium size is suitable for nipples whose diameter when tense is 1 cm.
Large protective models are designed for mothers whose nipples are more than 1 cm in diameter.

Before you go shopping for breast shields, prepare a ruler, stimulate the nipple and measure its diameter. These measures will help you not to get confused in the variety of models and choose the right size.

Are you unsure whether the pad size is right for you? You can buy the entire size range at once if the price of the products does not scare you. This way, at home in a calm environment, you can try out all the products and understand which one suits you best.

When trying on, the nipple should not reach the holes in the cover;
When feeding, the nipple stretches and reaches the holes, and the areola fills the entire space of the base;
the base of the pad should fit well to the skin around the halo;
when your baby stimulates a nipple with a shield during feeding, you should experience a feeling of a rush of milk;
the correct thin pad is practically not felt by either the mother or the baby during feeding.

Usage

Before using a new product, it must be thoroughly washed, sterilized and cooled.
Stimulate the nipple until it becomes erect.
Turn the cover out a little while holding it at the base.
Place the base of the product against the skin around the halo so that the cutout is on top, and allow the pad to straighten out. It is better to press the slightly damp accessory, so it will fit more tightly.
Make sure that the child captures the entire halo with his lips, as with normal breastfeeding.

Recommendations

After each use, the accessory should be washed and sterilized;
since boiling hardens latex and silicone, it is better to steam washed products for at least 5 minutes;
if you plan to feed your baby outside or at a party, you can put the pad on under your bra in advance;
during night feedings, it is better to turn on a soft light to be able to observe how the baby grasps the nipple with a silicone product;
Feeding with a “barrier” can lead to a decrease in milk production, so monitor the condition of the baby, its weight gain and frequency of urination;
At the first opportunity, stop using these products: when the pain disappears, the baby learns to properly grasp the areola or your nipple stretches out enough.

Rules for using and caring for the product

The following guidelines must be followed when using nipple shields:

Before first use, the device must be disinfected. This can be done using regular boiling. It is advisable to carry out the procedure every 3 days. Boiling too often will cause the silicone to lose its properties and become rough. An excellent alternative to boiling is using a steam sterilizer. With its help, the procedure can be carried out daily.
If you ignore sterilization of the pads, pathogenic microorganisms will accumulate on their surface, which can cause various diseases in the child.
To make the product stick to the breast better and make it more convenient to put on, the inner surface can be lubricated with a few drops of expressed milk or ordinary boiled water.
The edges of the product are carefully bent outward, the excited nipple is inserted into a special recess.
The device is pressed tightly to the chest, and then smoothed with your hands to remove air bubbles.
During feeding, the baby's mouth should be open wide enough and clasp the areola, and not the nipple itself. Otherwise, the cover may slip.
It is advisable to hold the product with two fingers until the baby is full.
You need to pay attention to the location of the cutout of the lining - it should be near the child’s nose.

After each use, the product must be washed with boiled water and soap and then dried thoroughly. It is better to store nozzles in a special container, which is supplied with them by the manufacturers. Alternatively, you can use a clean towel.