Breast milk is the he althiest and most affordable food for a newborn. To the great disappointment, sometimes there are difficulties that are not related to the amount of milk. To maintain lactation and give the baby milk, mothers use many different tricks. Nipple shields are also used.
Use such a product is possible only in certain situations. As this can lead to early termination of breastfeeding and other complications.
Overlays
Nipple covers for feeding are special latex or silicone products. They are used to make breastfeeding easier.
To my great disappointment, the unjustified use of overlays often not only does not solve the problem, but also gives rise to certain violations of the specified process.
What are overlays? What are they needed for?
Nipple covers for breastfeeding are products made from unnaturalmaterial that exactly repeats the shape of the nipples and part of the chest. They are needed to protect the nipple and facilitate the sucking process. There are holes on the nipple pads for this purpose. Of these, milk enters the baby's mouth.
Pediatricians and gynecologists recommend using the presented product only when it is necessary to maintain breastfeeding and otherwise it is impossible.
Use these products in the following situations:
- The unusual structure of a woman's nipple. For example, it can be large or completely flat.
- There are questions about lactation at the stage of its occurrence. Already after childbirth, the mother may feel not very pleasant sensations. Because of this, it will be wrong to apply to the baby’s breast, which will cause a small amount of milk to come out.
- The birth of a premature or physically weak baby who cannot suck milk.
- Abnormal structure of the baby's oral cavity. For example, a short bridle length.
- Baby refuses mother's breast, requiring bottle feeding. This happens with complicated childbirth, when a woman and a baby are not separated for a long time. Nipple shields are similar to a pacifier. However, the baby will have to make some effort to get milk.
- Great sensitivity of a woman's nipples, then even the touch of the baby's tongue will cause discomfort.
- The appearance of cracks on the nipples due to incorrect application or violation of the rules of care. howonly heals, nipple shields can be discarded.
- Teeth growth period. At this stage, the baby may squeeze the nipple with its gums very strongly or bite it.
When a woman decides to use silicone pads on her nipples, she must go for a consultation with a gynecologist and control the process all the time so that there are no further problems.
Types of products
Manufacturers of goods for children offer mothers a huge range of such items. Nipple covers, reviews of which are different, are made from a wide variety of materials. Each of them has its own disadvantages and advantages. Let's take a look at each material:
- Rubber. The pads are fixed at a distance of 25 mm from the breast to a special nipple made of glass or plastic. As a result, it becomes difficult to stimulate the nipples, milk can flow out. When using rubber pads, children cannot receive hind milk. For this reason, they are rarely used.
- Latex overlays. Made from rubber. The child feels the nipple in his mouth. But latex products have certain disadvantages: the soft material is very easy to damage, it collects and breeds bacteria. These Avent nipple covers become unusable very quickly. Also, if used improperly, they can cause infections in the female nipple and the child's body. Among other things, latex can cause allergies in certain children.
- Silicone pads. Made from the latest material, which is safe not only for the child, but also for the mother. Medical grade silicone is non-allergenic. Linings made of such material have a long period of use. Medical grade silicone is resistant to mechanical damage and bacterial colonization. Products from the presented material are extremely thin, provide the necessary stimulation, but at the same time reliably protect the female nipple from the baby's gums.
Silicone pads are considered to be very reliable and safe. Since products made of latex or rubber have actually ceased to go on sale.
Sizes
There is also a difference in the size of the nipple covers. They often have three options:
- S - when the diameter of the erect nipple is slightly less than 10 mm.
- M - when the nipple is about 1 cm.
- L - a woman has a very large nipple, more than 1 cm.
What can the use of overlays lead to?
There are certain consequences of using nipple shields while breastfeeding:
- In the process of conducting research, scientists have identified the negative effect of overlays: it is noted that milk production is reduced by 50%. This is due to the fact that the pads can disrupt the "mother-child" contact at the psychological level. Because of this, the formation of oxytocin (the hormone of pleasure), which serves to relax the milk ducts and stimulates milk production, is disrupted.
- The thinnest silicone nipple coverswith prolonged use, they will cause a violation of the sucking mechanism. The baby begins to suck a little faster and harder, because of this, the pauses will become longer. Such sucking is characteristic of the stage when lactation comes to naught. There is also a violation of the sucking technique: the child squeezes his jaws very tightly, sucks using the "vacuum" type method.
- Feeding takes a little longer with the pad. Milk will leak under it, and the child will stop eating. Also, in order to get the dose of milk necessary for complete saturation, when using nipple covers for feeding a baby, it will be located at the mother’s breast a little more than it should be. Certain babies get tired of suckling and will simply fall asleep half-starved, resulting in weight loss.
- When sucking from the pad, the child swallows air more often, which will cause very strong flatulence, colic or spitting up.
- Not very comfortable to use at night or while walking.
- Sleeves, if not properly sterilized, sometimes transmit infection to the nipple. Women who use pads for a long time are often prone to breast candidiasis.
- With long-term use of overlays, it becomes addictive not only for the mother herself, but also for the child.
Top Manufacturers
Silicone overlays have become wildly popular with moms who are breastfeeding their babies, there are plenty to choose from. A large number of very popular manufacturers of goods for children offer this type of product. In general, the principlethe device and functioning of the overlays is identical, it will differ only in details. However, they can play a decisive role in the comfort of use. For this reason, when the first option does not fit, you need to try the others.
Avent Overlays
Avent nipple protectors are made of very soft silicone, which has neither taste nor smell. The dimensions of the specified device will be standard - 21 mm. The pads make it possible to protect injured nipples well, while not ceasing to feed the baby and stimulate milk production. The kit comes with a pair of pads. They are necessary during lactation, the refusal of the baby from the breast, with cracks in the chest and injuries after childbirth, as well as during teething. The pad will also be a good helper for the wrong shape of the nipple.
Medela
Swiss-made pads, made of silicone. They enable the child to suck milk very easily and conveniently. The device has special cutouts. They make it possible to maintain olfactory as well as tactile contact with the mother during feeding. The thin layer of silicone and the absence of a certain taste help to avoid certain difficulties with the adoption of the specified device by the baby.
Canpol babies
Silicon pads manufacturer from Poland. Sold in universal size. The pads are made of good material, soft to the touch. Meet all European quality standards. Complete with twoThe pads also come with a container for easy storage. The manufacturer says that before the first use, the product should be sterilized by boiling it for a couple of minutes in clean water. Both small and medium sizes are available for purchase.
Pigeon
Manufacturers of the specified overlays - Japan. They are also made of silicone, fit well to the nipple and give excellent feeding. Sold in a set of several pieces in sizes M and L. The set also includes a container for comfortable and hygienic storage of the product. At the end of the protrusion under the nipple there are several holes, which enable the child to receive milk from the mother's breast. Separately, it is worth mentioning a very attractive price for products.
How to choose?
In stores for children, as a rule, there are several different products of this kind. Therefore, sometimes it is difficult to find the right thing, which complicates the purchase process.
You can define a couple of criteria that you need to pay attention to when choosing a product:
- Material. Silicone products are the best, as they are safe and have a long service life.
- Size. The product must meet all the parameters of the nipple. To determine the required size of the lining on the nipples is possible only empirically. That is, the nipple must fit well into the product, and there should not be any pressing discomfort. There must be a small gap between the lining and the chest. Since the stimulation of the nipple changes andstretches forward a little. But at the same time, the overlay should not slide off it.
- Quality. The overlay must have a flat and dense surface. Moreover, it should be odorless. The seller must have all the certificates that will speak of the complete safety of the manufactured and sold products.
- Number of holes. It takes into account both the age and the strength of the child, and the intensity of lactation. The more holes, the more milk the baby will take. However, if the baby is weak and there are many holes, then he may not have the strength to get the right amount of milk.
