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PACIFIERS
by Anne Smith
Ask Anne..
PACIFIERS
by Anne Smith, IBCLC
Question:
I nursed my first child for a year and plan on breastfeeding my new little
bundle of joy. However, I can't remember how long I waited to introduce a
pacifier, so that it would not interfere with breastfeeding and cause "nipple
confusion." Please offer your suggestions. Thanks!
Answer:
Many babies switch forth effortlessly between breast and bottle from day one.
Others become "nipple confused" if artificial nipples are introduced during the
early days of nursing, because the mechanics of breast and bottle feeding are
quite different. Babies who suck on artificial nipples may not suck correctly
when they go on the breast, causing sore nipples. The risk of nipple confusion,
whether by introducing a bottle or pacifier, is greatest during the early days
of nursing. Breastfeeding is a learned behavior, in most cases, although there
are some babies who seem to be born knowing exactly what to do. Although sucking
is a newborn reflex, the mechanics of effective latching on aren't.
It usually takes a couple of weeks, and sometimes longer, for mothers and babies
to get really good at nursing. By that time, any problems you had in the
beginning, such as engorgement or nipple soreness, should be pretty much
resolved, and your baby's pattern of weight gain should be established. If
nursing is going along smoothly, there should be no reason to use artificial
nipples in the first couple of weeks of breastfeeding. Nursing frequently and
using the breast as a pacifier are what builds a good milk supply and helps you
and your baby develop a special closeness during the period immediately after
your baby's birth. Ideally, pacifiers should be introduced after the first
couple of weeks of nursing, and before the baby is a month old. Many babies will
refuse to take it at all if you wait much later than that to introduce it.
There are some valid concerns about the use (and abuse) of pacifiers. Aside from
the risk of nipple confusion, pacifier use is correlated with early weaning for
a variety of reasons. Because newborns love to suck on anything put in their
mouth, whether it is a finger or an artificial nipple, they may use the pacifier
as a substitute for feedings, especially if they are small, ill, jaundiced, or
just have a very laid back temperament. There is a spot in the back of a baby's
mouth where the hard palate meets the soft palate. When anything touches it, an
automatic sucking reflex is triggered. That's why babies will suck automatically
when a finger or a rubber nipple is put in their mouth. The soft, mushy human
nipple must be drawn back in the baby's mouth until it hits that spot, so use of
an artificial nipple may make him somewhat lazy when it comes to nursing. Some
babies are perfectly content to happily miss a feeding as long as they have
something to suck on, and some mothers take advantage of this by plugging their
baby's mouth with a pacifier every time he fusses in order to make him sleep
longer or go longer intervals between feedings. Young infants should spend their
time and energy in nutritive sucking at the breast, not in non-nutritive
sucking. Overuse of pacifiers can lead to poor weight gain, plugged ducts and
mastitis, and a decrease in milk supply. A little piece of trivia here: did you
know that in many countries, pacifiers are called "dummies?" Hmm. Makes you
wonder. After all, all a pacifier really is just an imitation nipple, and as
such it should be used in moderation and not as a frequent substitution for the
real thing.
**
Anne Smith is an IBCLC – International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and
La Leche Leader since 1978. More importantly, she is a mother to 6 breast fed
kids with twenty plus years experience of counseling nursing mothers. Her site,
BreastfeedingBasics.com , provides expert advice and solutions to breast-feeding
problems and gives basic information on how to breast feed. Anne also features
her recommended breast feeding products and breast pumps.
This article provided by the Family Content Archives at:
http://www.Family-Content.com
anne@breastfeeding-basics.com
Breastfeeding Basics
http://www.breastfeeding-basics.com
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