Breast milk is the most wholesome as well as affordable food for the newborn. To the great disappointment, sometimes difficulties arise that are not related to the amount of milk. To maintain lactation and give the baby milk, mothers use many different tricks. Nipple pads are also used.
Use this product only in certain situations. Since this can cause an early termination of breastfeeding and other complications.
Lining
Lining on the nipple for feeding are special latex or silicone products. They are used to facilitate the process of breastfeeding.
To the great disappointment, the unjustified use of pads often not only does not solve the problem, but also give rise to certain violations of this process.
What are overlays? What are they for?
Nipple pads for breastfeeding are products made of non-natural material that exactly repeat the shape of the nipples and part of the breast. They are needed to protect the nipple and facilitate the sucking process. For this, there are certain holes on the nipple plates. Of these, milk enters the child’s mouth.
Pediatricians, as well as gynecologists recommend using the presented product only when it is necessary to maintain breastfeeding and in another way it is impossible.
Use these products in the following situations:
- Unusual structure of the nipple of a woman. For example, it can be large or completely flat.
- There are issues with lactation at the stage of its occurrence. After the birth, the mother may feel not very pleasant sensations. Because of what, it will be wrong to apply to the baby’s chest, which is why a small amount of milk will come out.
- The birth of a premature or physically weak baby who cannot suck out milk.
- The abnormal structure of the baby's oral cavity. For example, a small length of the bridle.
- The child refuses the mother’s breast, which is why bottle feeding is necessary. This happens in complicated births, when a woman and a baby are not separated for a long time. Nipple pads look like a pacifier. However, the child will have to make some efforts to get milk.
- Great sensitivity of the nipples in women, then even touching the tongue of the baby will cause discomfort.
- The appearance of cracks on the nipples due to improper attachment or violation of the rules of care. As soon as heals, lining on the nipple can be discarded.
- The period of tooth growth. At this stage, the child can grip the nipple extremely gums or bite it.
When a woman decides to apply silicone pads on her nipples, she is obliged to go to a consultation with a gynecologist and constantly monitor the process so that there are no problems further.
Types of products
Manufacturers of products for children offer mothers a huge assortment of such items. Nipple overlays, reviews of which are different, are made of a wide variety of materials. Each of them has its own disadvantages and advantages. Let's get acquainted with each material:
- Rubber. The pads are fixed at a distance of 25 mm from the chest to a special nipple made of glass or plastic. As a result of which it becomes difficult to stimulate the nipples, milk can leak. When using rubber pads, children can not get back milk. For this reason, they are used extremely rarely.
- Latex linings. Made from rubber. A child feels a nipple in his mouth. But latex products have certain disadvantages: soft material is very easy to damage, bacteria gather in it and bacteria also multiply. Such Avent nipple liners become unusable very quickly. Also, if used improperly, they can cause infections in the female nipple and the body of the child. In addition, latex can cause allergies in certain children.
- Silicone pads. Made of the latest material, which is safe not only for the child, but also for the mother. Medical-grade silicone cannot cause allergies. Pads made of such a material have a long period of use. Medical silicone is resistant to mechanical damage and colonization of bacteria. Products from the presented material are extremely thin, give the necessary stimulation, but at the same time reliably protect the female nipple from the gums of the child.
Silicone linings are considered to be very reliable and safe. Since latex or rubber products actually ceased to go on sale.
Dimensions
There is also a difference in the size of the nipple pads. Often they have three options:
- S - when the diameter of the excited nipple is slightly less than 10 mm.
- M - when the nipple is about 1 cm.
- L - a woman has a very large nipple, more than 1 cm.
What can the application of overlays lead to?
There are certain consequences that lead to the use of pads on the nipple during breastfeeding:
- In the process of conducting research, scientists revealed the negative effect of the pads: it is noted that milk production is reduced by 50%. This is due to the fact that the pads can disrupt the contact "mother-child" at the psychological level. Because of this, the formation of oxytocin (a hormone of pleasure) is disrupted, which serves to relax the milk ducts and stimulates the production of milk.
- The thinnest silicone pads on the nipples with prolonged use will cause a violation of the sucking mechanism. The baby begins to suck a little faster and stronger, because of this, the pauses will become longer. Such sucking is characteristic of the stage when lactation comes to naught. There is also a violation of the sucking technique: the child squeezes the jaw very tightly, sucks using the "vacuum" type.
- Feeding takes a little longer with the pad. Milk will leak under it, and the child will stop eating up. Also, in order to get the dose of milk necessary for full saturation, when applying the pads on the nipples to feed the baby, it will be located slightly larger than the mother’s breast. Certain children get tired of the process of sucking and will simply fall asleep half-starved, because of which there is an underweight.
- When sucking from the lining, the child often swallows air, which will cause very strong flatulence, colic or regurgitation.
- It is not entirely comfortable to use at night or during a walk.
- Pads, if they are not correctly sterilized, sometimes transmit the infection to the nipple. Women who use linings for a long time are often susceptible to candidiasis of the mammary glands.
- With the long use of the pads, addiction to them appears not only in the mother herself, but also in the child.
Top manufacturers
Lining made of silicone just gained wild popularity among mothers who breastfeed their children, there is plenty to choose from. A large number of very popular manufacturers of goods for children offer this type of product. In general, the principle of the device and the operation of the pads is identical, it will differ only in details. However, they can have a decisive role in the comfort of use. For this reason, when the first option does not fit, you need to try others.
Avent Covers
The protective pads on Avent's nipples are made of very soft silicone, which has neither taste nor smell. Dimensions of the specified device will be standard - 21 mm. Pads provide an opportunity to protect injured nipples well, without ceasing to feed the baby and stimulate milk production. Included is a pair of pads. They are necessary during lactation, the baby's refusal of the chest, with cracks in the chest and injuries after childbirth, as well as during teething. The pad will also be a good helper with an irregular nipple shape.
Medela
Lining manufacturer from Switzerland, made of silicone. They enable the child to suck milk very easily and conveniently. There are special cutouts on the device. They make it possible to maintain olfactory as well as tactile contact with the mother during feeding. A thin layer of silicone and the absence of a certain taste help to avoid certain difficulties with the adoption of the specified device by the baby.
Canpol babies
Covers made of silicone manufacturer from Poland. Sold in universal size. Lining made of good material, soft to the touch. Meet all the standards of European quality. A container for easy storage is also included with the two pads. The manufacturer says that before the first use, the product should be sterilized by boiling it for a couple of minutes in clean water. Available for purchase lining both small and medium size.
Pigeon
The manufacturers of these linings are Japan. They are also made of silicone, they fit well to the nipple and give excellent feeding. Available in a set of several pieces in sizes M and L. The set also has a container for comfortable and hygienic storage of the product. At the end of the protrusion under the nipple there are several holes that enable the baby to receive milk from the mother’s chest. Separately, it should be said about a very attractive price for products.
