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What is a nipple aid? I'm not familiar with this nipple?
When it comes to nipple aids, many moms' diaper minds light up, thinking it's probably a fake nipple used to attach to a baby bottle for breastfeeding. So why are many diaper moms making waves about it? What does it look like? What is its nature? When and how should it be used? If this is your first time hearing about nipple aids, the information provided by Mytour.vn below will help you answer quite a few questions you may be facing:
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What is a nipple aid? Is it a fake nipple?
If the fake nipple is also called a nipple substitute for a bottle, a product for babies to easily breastfeed or formula feed through a bottle, the nipple aid is a different product. It is a product for mothers used with a humanitarian purpose to directly breastfeed 100% instead of bottle-feeding.
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What is the shape of a nipple aid?
Nipple aids, also known as breastfeeding support patches, come in various shapes such as butterfly, crescent moon, circle, and polygon with rounded corners. However, most designs share a common feature: they are designed so that the baby's hand can touch the mother's breast, and the baby's nose can breathe in the mother's milk vapor, giving the baby the feeling of breastfeeding directly rather than through the nipple aid.
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In what cases is a nipple aid used?
The nipple aid is a product for mothers experiencing cracked nipples, breast inflammation, short nipples, retraction, small breasts, or facing difficulties in direct breastfeeding. It serves as a temporary solution for these challenges.
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Correct Usage of Nipple Aid
Using a nipple aid is not as complicated as many mothers think. You just need to:
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- Sterilize the nipple aid with boiling water at 100 degrees Celsius before and after use
- Turn the nipple aid inside out using the tips of two fingers and the thumbs, then attach it to the mother's breast. You can apply water or specialized gel, depending on the brand that sells the nipple aid with it, to enhance the fit of the nipple aid on the mother's chest.
- Then, use the tips of two fingers and the thumbs in a V-shape to hold the nipple and nipple aid so that it doesn't fall off the mother's breast while breastfeeding.
How much does a nipple aid cost?
Currently on the market, there are various types of nipple aids available for diaper moms to choose from. Here are the top 9 best nipple aids for mothers with cracked nipples, retracted nipples, and itching, along with the market prices you can refer to.
Accordingly, the price of the cheapest nipple aid for mothers ranges from 50,000 VND to 80,000 VND/piece. More famous and expensive brands such as Medela, Avent, Pigeon, typically range from 100,000 VND to 175,000 VND/piece, depending on the brand. Nipple aids are usually sold in packs of 2 so that moms can use them for both breasts simultaneously or use one for one breast and keep the other as a replacement in case the used one is damaged or deformed. In this way, you may invest an amount ranging from 80,000 VND to 350,000 VND/pair of 2 nipple aids for a single purchase.
With this amount, if useful and durable, many diaper moms will find it normal and budget-friendly. However, if purchased and used only a few times before being discarded, it will undoubtedly be considered expensive and not worth the investment.
Expensive as rubies, but many moms buy them just to 'throw away'
According to many real stories from breastfeeding moms, when newborns are born, mothers face issues like blocked milk ducts, cracked nipples, retracted and short nipples. Some spent over 300,000 VND to buy a pair of nipple aids. During usage, moms observed:
- Nipple aids don't stick to the breast as advertised, even when following the seller's instructions to reverse and apply water. The aids constantly fall off during breastfeeding, leading to frustration and 'throwing them away' after just 1-2 uses.
- For lucky moms who manage to use them correctly, holding the nipple and aid with two fingers in a V-shape, the aids last longer, but after about 3 weeks, the inconvenience of cleaning and the fear of misplacing them make moms give up on this temporary solution. Using nipple aids is also impractical during the forgetful moments of postpartum.
- Mothers who, in desperation, breastfed their first child directly due to cracked nipples, only discovered nipple aids with the second child. Despite less pain, they face difficulty weaning off nipple aids, fearing it might affect the child's teeth.
These are just three among many common cases of breastfeeding moms facing issues with nipple aids. The aids can be useful if used correctly but become ineffective for moms lacking patience and those finding the process challenging. Understanding the product a bit more, persevering a bit, and being determined to breastfeed 100% can make nipple aids beneficial, reducing the discomfort. Mytour.vn wishes all moms to find their beloved nipple aid product and complete the mission of exclusively breastfeeding for at least the first two years of the child's life.
