Nipple Confusion

There is some debate concerning whether nipple confusion exists, Sally Inch at Baby Centre states that she is “not aware of any evidence that a baby will forget how to breastfeed if he is given something else to suck.” However, anecdotally, many mums who have suffered with a baby with feeding difficulties would say that it DOES exist, and can be a huge cause for concern.

It is easy to see the thinking behind the claim that ‘nipple confusion does not exist’ if you understand that the problem is usually a poor latch. Nipple confusion generally improves when a better latch is discovered by mum and baby, but the term is still useful because it emphasises that using alternative nipples and teats does not help baby to learn how to latch on better.

Additionally, using bottles or nipple shields during the first weeks of a baby’s life may not give the best stimulation to the breast during the important time when breastfeeding is being established.

Many websites and other sources of advice simply state how to avoid nipple confusion occurring in the first place. Unfortunately, not many explain what to do if you think your baby is suffering from it!

Here I’ll look at a few strategies for dealing with nipple confusion, hopefully giving you some ideas that might work for you and your baby.

• It might be worth going cold turkey on nipple shields and dummies. Practice makes perfect – your baby needs to learn how to latch on properly, the more practice s/he gets, the better it will go and the less time it will take!

• Using a feeding cup, syringe or a spoon instead of a bottle to feed baby if s/he needs supplements means s/he doesn’t need to use artificial nipples.

• If baby is getting frustrated trying to latch on, try expressing a little milk with a pump or by hand. Sometimes babies are frustrated at the amount of work they have to do to start the let-down reflex, if you can start the flow of milk for your baby s/he may find it easier to latch on. This also works if you have very engorged breasts and baby is having difficulty getting enough breast into his/her mouth.

• Another idea if baby is getting frustrated is taking baby off and soothing him/her away from your breast, perhaps over your shoulder for a bit of a burp, or give baby to someone else for a minute or so. Sometimes babies need a little time to calm down before trying again, and being near the breast can be frustrating because they can still smell the milk they can’t get at!

• Breastfeed regularly to give baby lots of practice and to increase your supply. This may be every hour in the first weeks, up to every two hours. (P.S. This is quite a natural amount of feeding for a breastfed baby)

• Give lots of skin to skin contact when feeding, this is calming to the baby and a fab way of bonding.

• Check baby has a good latch, all of the nipple and most of the areola should be taken into baby’s mouth, and baby’s lips should be spread out all the way around the latch, not sucked into his/her mouth.

• If you’re unsure about how baby is latching on, seek out someone to check it out in person – your midwife, health visitor, breastfeeding councillor or your local breastfeeding group! Having someone watch your baby feed can sometimes be the best way of figuring out a solution or re-assuring you that everything is going well. Make sure you feel comfortable with whoever is supporting you, if one person doesn’t work for you, try someone else.

I hope this list has given you a few ideas for fighting nipple confusion, please post a reply if you have anything to add!

references:

Dr Sears
breastfeeding.com