Pacifiers soothe babies by satisfying their intense needs to suck. Satisfying such a need on an artificial nipple can sometimes interfere with successful feeding at the breast. Early pacifier use often contributes to nipple confusion, pain and early weaning. Waiting until breastfeeding is established frequently prevents feeding issues related to pacifier use.
Decreased Milk Supply
The mother's body establishes its milk supply based on demands from the baby. By giving your baby a pacifier to suck on, your nipples receive less stimulation; less milk is then withdrawn from your breasts. In response, your body produces less milk. If your body is unable to establish a sufficient milk supply for your newborn, he is likely to gain weight at a slow rate, necessitating supplementation with artificial baby milk.
Nipple Confusion
A baby who receives a pacifier to suck on, rather than her mother's breast, often develops what lactation experts refer to as "nipple confusion." This results because of the differences necessary in sucking to withdraw milk from the breast versus the sucking motion used on a pacifier or nipple on a bottle. A baby who receives a pacifier while he is still learning how to extract milk from the breast might develop problems with his suckling technique, resulting in slow or poor weight gain.
Pain
Babies who spend time sucking on a pacifier might bite their mothers more during nursing sessions. Poor latch due to nipple confusion can also cause you to experience pain when feeding your baby, which can lead both of you to frustrating feelings. According to the Kellymom website, babies given pacifiers develop oral thrush more frequently; this infection can spread to the mother's breasts, leading to nipple pain in mom and mouth pain in baby. This pain often interferes with both breast feeding and bottle feeding, as swallowing and sucking hurt the baby's mouth.
Earlier Weaning
Decreased milk supply, a baby who is fussy at the breast due to nipple confusion or a baby who bites the breast contribute to earlier weaning. In addition, according to the Ask Dr. Sears website, research on breastfeeding mothers has shown that offering a pacifier during the first six weeks of a baby's life tends to lead to earlier weaning compared to babies who did not use pacifiers during that time.
Benefits
Giving a baby a pacifier to suck on allows a nursing mother to take a break and have a few moments to herself to take care of her own needs, such as showering, eating a snack or doing a quick workout. These breaks help reduce stress.
