Pregnant women are told that they must buy breastfeeding pads. But the opinion is wrong, because the difficulties that arise during feeding are temporary. However, there are situations when the use of such overlays is mandatory. Pregnant and nursing mothers can quickly order this type of product through our catalog, and then pick it up at one of the branches.
When their use is necessary
Sometimes a doctor prescribes breastfeeding pads, because there are a number of situations when you can’t do without them:
- For very severe pain that occurs during feeding. Especially if this was the woman’s first pregnancy. Nipple cracks heal slowly, and in combination with a low pain threshold, they can lead to the mother’s refusal to breastfeed. Therefore, in order not to switch your baby to formula, you need to use pads.
- If the baby has a short frenulum of the tongue. Because of this, his tongue takes an active part in the feeding process, but cannot properly grasp the nipple. This causes difficulty in the lactation process. Therefore, in order not to cut the frenulum, the mother uses overlays.
- If the baby belongs to the category of “special” children: born prematurely, has a weak central nervous system. In such newborns, the process of sucking and swallowing is impaired, so they do not receive enough breast milk in the required volume. But the pads help to cope with this problem and not transfer the baby to formula.
- If the baby has been drinking milk from a bottle for some time, it is likely that he will get used to the nipple and will refuse his mother's breast. In this case, a breast shield will help resume the process of breastfeeding.
In all of these situations, breastfeeding shields make lactation easier. This also allows you not to transfer the baby to artificial nutrition too early. For pregnant and nursing mothers, the price of goods in our pharmacy is low.
How to choose an overlay?
So, in stores you can buy a variety of models of medical accessories, so it’s not always clear to mom which ones are the best. It is extremely difficult to give the only correct advice on choosing nozzles.
Most likely, a nursing mother will have to buy several devices from different companies at once, put them on the nipple and feed the baby. If the sensations are pleasant for both participants in the process, then the choice was correct.
- Size matching the papilla. The female mammary gland and the breast pad must match in two respects - shape and size. That is, you need to choose a “substitute” that is suitable in height and base. The size of the base should allow the nipple to fit inside.
- Filling the entire space of the “cap” with the nipple. As soon as the baby begins to suck, the papilla takes up at least 2/3 of the volume of the device. The ideal option is if the nipple rests against the holes at the end of the accessory.
- Tight fit to the skin. In a well-chosen product, the base is in close contact with the areola, that is, it turns into the mother’s skin without causing discomfort to the sucking baby.
- Number of holes. The number of holes determines how much milk the baby receives for each individual sucking movement. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the width of the holes. If the flow of milk is too strong, the baby will begin to choke.
- The woman feels a surge of milk. At the very first sucking movements of the child, the mother should experience a feeling of fullness in the breast. If this happens, then the purchase is correct.
According to experts, you need to choose the thinnest, skin-like devices. Only silicone nipple covers (Avent, Medela) fit this description. Latex products will be less comfortable for the baby and mother.
Disadvantages of using them
Despite the fact that they help create comfortable conditions for a nursing mother, there are also disadvantages to their regular use:
- are addictive in mother and baby. Then the child refuses to take the mother's breast without this device. But a woman’s nipples remain hypersensitive and there is no adaptation to the natural sensations of feeding;
- the pad is made of materials that do not allow air to pass through, which can cause digestive problems in the baby;
- they need to be specially cared for and sterilized each time to avoid infection;
- overlays are impractical to use. They can tear and are inconvenient to wear outside when the need for feeding arises;
- due to little stimulation of the nipples during feeding, the amount of milk decreases.
Therefore, many experts agree that pads should be used only as a last resort.
Basics of using pads
After purchasing pads, mothers may not always understand how to use them. What should you do first? Below we have provided a step-by-step process for using the overlays.
- The pads are sterilized.
- The nipple must be tensed.
- The product is turned outward and can be slightly moistened.
- The shield is then placed against the nipple and then pulled towards the breast.
- It is necessary that the product is pressed tightly.
- It is important to ensure that the cutout is in the front.
- You can drop a little milk on the nozzle to stimulate your baby's appetite.
The technology for attaching the baby to the breast should be the same as without pads. The baby's mouth opens wide and clasps the area above the areolas.
It is important to look at the baby’s weight during such feeding. If the child is malnourished, then it is necessary to change the pad or abandon it.
Varieties
They are divided into three groups, depending on the material used for their manufacture:
- rubber, but today such products are rare and doctors do not advise using them. Because they do not provide a proper fit, which is why some of the milk leaks out and the baby does not receive enough of it;
- Latex pads have a more pleasant tactile sensation than rubber pads. But they are also not recommended to buy, because they quickly become unusable and absorb foreign odors;
- Silicone products are the most suitable option. They are hypoallergenic and promote active stimulation of the nipple.
Today, manufacturers of products for children and nursing mothers offer a large selection of breastfeeding pads.
Types of overlays
Nipple covers can be as follows:
- Rubber
- Latex
- Silicone
Today, buying rubber pads is the most difficult thing. They are not always successful in design, which is why they have practically ceased to be sold. Rubber pads do not allow stimulation of the nipple and areola, so the milk begins to disappear. Also, rubber products often accumulate milk at the very bottom, and as a result, the baby does not receive it.
Typically, modern overlays are made of either latex or silicone. The silicone pads are very thin, which allows the baby to stimulate the nipple and areola. Such pads are very popular; they do not lead to allergies.
Latex pads are used less frequently, but still many mothers also love them very much. In particular, such pads are soft. However, over time they begin to tear. They usually work well as disposable items.
How to properly care for products
The pads must be sterile because the baby comes into close contact with them. This is also necessary to ensure safety for the health of the nursing mother, because there may be cracks in the nipples. Following all care recommendations will help you avoid many problems during lactation. But frequent sterilization can lead to damage to the product.
- Before first use, it is necessary to sterilize the pad. It needs to be boiled for several minutes.
- After each feeding, it should be washed in warm, soapy water and dried.
- Products need to be boiled every other day for three minutes.
If a nursing mother has a steam sterilizer, then the process of caring for the pads is simplified. This method of treatment is gentle and can be done every day.
Care and storage
Nipple shields must be constantly inspected and cleaned to prevent intestinal disorders in the baby. However, it is not recommended to boil “caps” made of silicone and latex too often, otherwise they will become hard. How to use it correctly?
- After purchasing a breast pad for your mother, you need to immediately sterilize it, that is, boil it for a couple of minutes.
- As soon as the child eats, the device is washed in soapy water and dried thoroughly.
- Nipple covers should be boiled regularly, every two days for a few minutes.
- If the house has a special sterilizer, then boiling is avoided. Steam sterilization is a more gentle procedure, so silicone or latex products will not soon become hard. Sterilize every day for 4-6 minutes.
- The devices are stored in a special container, which is usually sold as a set.
It is important to understand that you should not wash your mammary glands too often; they are already clean. But the issue of hygiene of silicone products should be approached thoroughly, since pathogenic bacteria actively develop in their cavities moistened with human milk.
Recommendations for their use
Breastfeeding shields are not a must-have item that every breastfeeding mom should have. If the doctor decides that their use is necessary, then after solving the problem the baby needs to be weaned off them. To do this, the mother should put the newborn to the breast during sleep or quickly remove the device during feeding.
You can also make using the pads uncomfortable for your baby. And you shouldn’t start using them without an objective reason. If the child does not have difficulty feeding, gains weight, and the mother does not experience discomfort, then these products are not needed.
Breast pads for feeding
The first problems with breastfeeding most often begin in the maternity hospital, especially if the child is brought to the mother only “for dates.” By nature, newborns are not designed for such short periods of communication with their mother, so very often the baby begins to “rebel” with any attempt to attach him to the breast. Inexperienced mothers begin to panic and run to doctors for advice. They, in turn, offer two standard ways to solve this problem: either express and bottle feed, or try nipple shields. It is also recommended to use breast shields for sore nipples, inverted or flat nipples.
Nipple shields are made from thin silicone or thicker latex, and they cover the nipple and areola while the mother feeds the baby.
The child eagerly begins to suck on the cover because it is easier - it sticks out better, and because it resembles the pacifier from which he was repeatedly fed while he was crying all alone in the children's department. Mom sighs with relief - finally, things are getting better, not suspecting that she is only postponing the baby’s weaning to the breast for an indefinite future and, in fact, is dealing a serious blow to breastfeeding.
The thing is, there are two problems with nipple shields.
The first is that when the shield is in place, the breast does not receive enough stimulation that occurs when the baby sucks directly at the breast. This in turn leads to a decrease in milk supply and weight loss in the baby.
The second is that the baby remembers how to suck on a silicone nipple and it is almost always very, very difficult to wean him off the nipple.
As a rule, mothers call me with a complaint that the child hangs on the chest for a long time, often cries or, on the contrary, sleeps all the time and almost always does not gain weight well. Unfortunately, often mothers are not ready to immediately remove the pad and patiently offer the breast to the baby when he screams and spits it out. Sometimes relearning takes several days of hassle and painful attachments, but the most patient and determined are always rewarded, first of all, with the grateful eyes of a child who has finally learned what it means to really suckle.
So, if you have sore nipples or difficulty latching, don't take the easy way out and avoid breast shields. Remember that the shape of your breasts or nipples does not affect your ability to breastfeed, and the baby will accept any breast if the mother acts competently and managed to avoid pre-breastfeeding from a bottle in the hospital.
It's better to work directly on solving the problem:
1. Invite a breastfeeding consultant to show you how to properly attach your baby to the breast.
2. Regain your baby’s trust: carry him as much as possible in your arms (in a sling), preferably “skin to skin”, sleep together day and night, cancel all stressful situations (trips to the clinic, visits from relatives and friends, walks, massage, etc.)
3. Express milk regularly (every 3 hours) and feed your baby with a cup, spoon or pipette until he begins to latch on. To satisfy the sucking reflex, you can offer to suck your finger. Naturally, bottles and pacifiers are contraindicated.
4. If there are still linings and you cannot remove them immediately, cut off the tip of the lining 1 mm every two days. In this way, the baby can gradually adapt to new conditions. But this is a last resort for those who have been feeding through a pad for more than 2 months.
Remember that only your unwavering desire to breastfeed and self-confidence is the key to solving any problems in establishing breastfeeding. Of course, there is still something you need to know about this process, but I think readers of my blog already know the basics
Where can I order breastfeeding pads with delivery?
You can purchase silicone pads at the online pharmacy “Aptstore”. 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 from Aptstore is affordable prices. Products come directly from manufacturers, so there is no additional markup.
