Nipple Confusion
What it is and How to Avoid it By
Elaine
 What is Nipple Confusion? It is a problem that arises when a breastfed baby is given an artificial (rubber or silicon) nipple and must try to learn to nurse both from his mother's breast and the bottle nipple. While seemingly similar, these two feeding methods require completely different mouth and tongue motions and swallowing skills. In breastfeeding, the baby needs to take as much of the nipple and areola into his mouth as possible to 'pump' the milk from the milk ducts. In bottle feeding, he uses his lips to grip the tip of an artificial nipple. Some nipples do better to imitate a natural breast, but none are quiet the same. In breastfeeding, the baby must place his tongue beneath the nipple and use it to help create the 'vacuum' needed for nursing and to pump and swallow the milk. In bottle feeding, the baby must place his tongue in front of the nipple and uses it to stop the flow of milk while he swallows. In breastfeeding, the baby removes milk from the breast by a combination of sucking and pumping the milk from the milk ducts. When the baby stops sucking and pumping, the milk stops flowing. In bottle feeding, the milk flows fairly readily from the nipple once an initial suction is created and then the baby simply controls the flow by placing his tongue over the holes in the nipple. This is not to say that either feeding method is 'wrong' ... only that they are very different, and that a baby must learn whichever method he is to use. Expecting a tiny baby to learn both methods and to be able to switch back and forth between the two can be extremely frustrating to both baby and mom. In Dr. Jack Newman's article Breastfeeding Myths, he discusses nipple confusion as NOT being a "myth": (text from his article follows in italics) 9. There is no such thing as nipple confusion. Not true! A baby who is only bottle fed for the first two weeks of life, for example, will usually refuse to take the breast, even if the mother has an abundant supply. A baby who has had only the breast for 3 or 4 months is unlikely to take the bottle. Some babies prefer the right or left breast to the other. Bottle fed babies often prefer one artificial nipple to another. So there is such a thing as preferring one nipple to another. The only question is how quickly it can occur. Given the right set of circumstances, the preference can occur after one or two bottles. The baby having difficulties latching on may never have had an artificial nipple, but the introduction of an artificial nipple rarely improves the situation, and often makes it much worse. Note that many who say there is no such thing as nipple confusion also advise the mother to start a bottle early so that the baby will not refuse it. In his article Breastfeeding - Starting Out Right, he goes on to say... 3. Artificial nipples should not be given to the baby. There
seems to be some controversy about whether "nipple
confusion" exists. Babies will take whatever method gives them a
rapid flow of fluid and may refuse others that do not. Thus, in the
first few days, when the mother is producing only a little milk (as
nature intended), and the baby gets a bottle (as nature intended?)
from which he gets rapid flow, he will tend to prefer the rapid flow
method. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that one
out, though many health professionals, who are supposed to be helping
you, don't seem to be able to manage it. Nipple confusion includes
not just the baby refusing the breast, but also the baby not taking
the breast as well as he could and thus not getting milk well and /or
the mother getting sore nipples. Just because a baby will "take
both" does not mean that the bottle is not having a negative
effect. Since there are now alternatives available if the baby needs
to be supplemented why use an artificial nipple? But what if your baby has already been given bottles? Perhaps in
the hospital against your best wishes... or perhaps because of a
condition which prevented the baby from nursing for a while? Is all
hope lost? Absolutely Not!
Please note, these are my thoughts and opinions
only. I am not a medical expert. Please use this
message as a starting point for your own information gathering quest
... and consult your own doctors for specific medical advice. |
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If at all possible delay introducing the bottle until the baby has
well established nursing and latch on skills.
The
