Nipple Shields: A Review of the Literature
Breastfeeding Medicine
McKechnie, A. C., & Eglash, A. (2010).
Breastfeeding Medicine, 5(6), 309-314.
This review investigates the effect of nipple shield (NS) use on physiologic responses and mothers' experiences in breastfeeding infants.
National Institute of Nursing Research; Gwendolyn H. Shapiro-Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship
1980-2009
Published, English-language studies (not further specified)
13
<div>"The current literature does not support many of the current practices regarding [nipple shield] NS use. The available evidence does not demonstrate that NSs are safe in the long term for milk supply, infant weight gain, or duration of breastfeeding. Rather than assuming that NSs are safe until proven otherwise, healthcare providers should consider NSs an unknown risk and limit their duration of use whenever possible, until further evidence demonstrates their long-term safety" (p. 313).</div>
<div>"Mothers' subjective reports suggest that they had positive experiences using an [nipple shield] NS, with most mothers continuing to nurse after discontinuing NS use. Given the small sample sizes, limited follow-up time, and lack of meaningful statistical measures, these studies should be cautiously interpreted" (p. 313).</div>
<div>"None of the reviewed studies provided evidence that routine [nipple shield] NS use in premature infants is necessary to improve intraoral pressures. Based on these studies, NS use in the premature population should not be routine, but should be considered in cases where infants have demonstrated persistent difficulty with sustained breastfeeding and milk transfer. Milk transfer while using NS should be assessed, and NS use should be discontinued if milk transfer is not good" (p. 313).</div>
