In a perfect scenario, a mother has an uncomplicated birth and spends ample amount of time with her baby following the delivery. The baby latches on to the mother's breast without difficulty and begins to suck vigorously. Viola! Nursing has begun!
But, in the United States, many mothers are not blessed with an uncomplicated birth (or a birth without unnecessary intervention), and do not get to nurse their infants right away. This can become a problem, especially for moms who don't see their babies for hours after the birth or c-section. Generally, unless specifically ordered not to, the nursery nurses will give the newborn some form of artificial nipple. Whether it is in the form of a pacifier or bottle, once the baby has had that artificial nipple in her mouth, she may not want the real thing.
And so begins "nipple confusion." This is a sad occurrence that could easily be avoided in most situations. But, once it has happened, a mother may not be able to coax her newborn to take the breast. An artificial nipple is much easier for a newborn to use. Fluid flows from the nipple without any effort on the baby's part. When a newborn suckles at the breast, however, she has to work for her food. Babies are smart--they would rather not have to put out any effort for a full belly. Unfortunately, this preference can get them into trouble, and when they refuse the breast, they may miss out on the wondrous breast milk that provides much more than food.
So, if a mother's baby becomes nipple confused, a well-meaning and misinformed nurse or pediatrician may recommend a nipple shield when mom is determined to breastfeed. While it is commendable to want to help moms and babies resolve nipple confusion, offering a nipple shield as the first way to treat the problem is generally not helpful. The nipple shield is exactly what a nursing couple needs to avoid in the case of nipple confusion. Why? Let's look at what a nipple shield really is:
