The Effect of Nipple Shields on Maternal Milk Volume

This study was conducted to evaluate nipple shields and determine whether altered nipple shield design would change the amount of milk obtained during breast pumping. The study also sought to determine whether milk volume would change depending on the presence or absence of a nipple shield during breast pumping. Among the 25 participants, pumping without a shield yielded statistically significantly larger milk volumes than pumping with either one of the two kinds of shields evaluated, regardless of the order of nipple shield use. The slight difference in milk volumes obtained when comparing the shields used was not statistically significant. The article includes several questions designed to alert the clinician to the risks of nipple shield use, particularly when the mother and neonate are still learning to breastfeed.