... However, the pouring spout does mean that you have to make sure that the shell is the right way up – otherwise the milk all pours straight into your lap!
Good simple idea – so why have Avent tried to make it more complicated and imply that breast shells are wonder products that ... Read review
Advantages: great for saving on washing Disadvantages: more complicated than they need to be
...idea – so why have Avent tried to make it more complicated and imply that breast shells are wonder products that will solve all breastfeeding problems?
Although I am not breastfeeding at the minute, I have a huge interest in the subject and I am currently training to become a breastfeeding counsellor so I can help other women who are having difficulties. It is in this role that I obtained a set of the new Avent Isis Comfort Breast ... ...shells don’t! So why do Avent think you need 2 different types of shell? The cynic in me says it is just another way of them getting more money out of breastfeeding mothers – after all, a lot of breastfeeding mothers do not buy all the bottles and teats, sterilisers and bottle warmers that the formula feeding mothers would buy, so Avent have to get some money out of them somehow. By creating a product designed and marketed directly at ... more
What do you do if you have just had a baby and are producing enough breastmilk to feed triplets, let alone the one you have? There are basically 2 options – the first is buy a copious supply of breast pads and wear them 3 at a time and end up washing your bras frequently as milk is still leaking everywhere. The other option is to use a breast shell.
For the uninitiated (basically anyone who hasn’t used them!), a breast shell is a hard plastic shell with a softer plastic covering which clips on and off. The softer covering has a hole in it. The basic idea is that you place the breast shell (with covering) inside your bra – your nipple goes in the hole in the covering. Then any milk that leaks is collected in the shell inside of making an attractive damp shape on your clothes. The shell has a small pouring spout so that after use you can pour any collected milk into a sterilised container and save it for later use. However, the pouring spout does mean that you have to make sure that the shell is the right way up – otherwise the milk all pours straight into your lap!
Good simple idea – so why have Avent tried to make it more complicated and imply that breast shells are wonder products that will solve all breastfeeding problems?
Although I am not breastfeeding at the minute, I have a huge interest in the subject and I am currently training to become a breastfeeding counsellor so I can help other women who are having difficulties. It is in this role that I obtained a set of the new Avent Isis Comfort Breast Shell.
Boy, are they different to the ones I used to use!!
No longer just a shell and a cover, when you buy this set you now get 2 Ventilated Breast Shells, 2 Breast Milk Saver Shells and 2 Ultrasoft Backing Cushions. Sounds far more complicated than it needs to be.
Basically, the 2 different types of breast shells are the same except for one small point – the ventilated shells have holes in them and the saver shells don’t! So why do Avent think you need 2 different types of shell? The cynic in me says it is just another way of them getting more money out of breastfeeding mothers – after all, a lot of breastfeeding mothers do not buy all the bottles and teats, sterilisers and bottle warmers that the formula feeding mothers would buy, so Avent have to get some money out of them somehow. By creating a product designed and marketed directly at breastfeeding mothers, they hope to do just that. But, I will put my cynical nature to one side and examine the products before jumping to conclusions!
*Ventilated Breast Shells – according to the Avent leaflet that comes with this product, these are ‘to protect sore or cracked nipples and help relieve engorgement’. The idea is that you attach the Ultrasoft Backing Cushion (soft plastic cover) to the shell and place inside your bra. The claim is that the shells protect your sore or cracked nipples from chafing and the ventilation holes allow the air to circulate. They can help with engorgement as they exert a gentle pressure around the areola and induce a slow leaking of the milk.
I have a couple of problems with these ideas. Firstly, the general consensus of opinion and current research is that dry healing is no longer appropriate for cracked nipples. Moist wound healing is currently the favoured treatment. Think about it – if there is a crack on the nipple and it dries, it will form a scab on the surface tissue. When the baby feeds, the scab could be pulled off creating more trauma. If the nipple is kept moist, a scab will not form and the additional trauma to the nipple will be less. Sore nipples could be compared to chapped lips and the best thing to do with chapped lips is keep them moist, isn’t it? And ultimately, if you have a problem with sore nipples it is likely to be caused by a problem with positioning the baby and the best thing to do would be to ask for help with achieving correct positioning. Even if you do releive the soreness through other measures, unless you correct your positioning so that baby is correctlt latched on, the problem will return.
Secondly, milk production is triggered by removal of milk from the breasts. By exerting pressure on the areola and therefore inducing milk removal when the baby is not feeding, the problem of engorgement is not going to be helped. Continual pressure on the milk ducts will continue to promote milk production. If engorgement is a problem, chances are your baby may need feeding a bit more frequently.
Breast Milk Saver Shells – the idea behind these is that when feeding the baby from one breast, you place a shell (with cover – ensuring the pouring spout is pointing up!) over the nipple and inside your bra on the other side. Then, any milk that may be produced while your baby is suckling will be collected in the shell and won’t end up all down your top! Providing the shells are sterilised before use, any milk collected in this way can be transferred to another sterilised container and saved for use later on if required.
I have no problem with this at all – I used breast shells while feeding both my daughters. However – and this is the main point – I only used the shells whilst feeding. They are not intended for use at other times ‘just in case’ of leakage.
My Verdict
Having said all this, I do think that breast shells do have a place for mothers who experience leakage from one breast while feeding from the other. I just cannot see the reason for using them at other times and wish Avent had stuck with their original breast shells, which were perfectly adequate and cheaper! Talking of cost, the Comfort Breast Shell Kit costs £9.99. Having searched the web for them, the only place I could find them to purchase online was at Babies R Us. Avent products are stocked at Boots, John Lewis, Mothercare, Tesco, Sainsburys and Toys R Us, but you may have to look in larger stores to find the breast shells.
These shells are easy to clean as they do come apart and if you are planning on saving the drip-milk for future use (great for mixing with vegetables when first starting baby on solids), you do need to make sure they are sterilised before using them.
I recommend these with the proviso that they are only worn while feeding!
For more information on Avent products see www.aventbaby.com
Advantages: Stops your milky boobs from leaking all over your clothes Disadvantages: None
These are ingenius!
I bought them while breastfeeding my daughter because I was absolutely fed up of breastmilk leaking all over my clothes while baby was feeding from the other breast (breast pads could not contain my leakage!). Nobody tells you when you feed your baby that both boobs will spring into action at once and you are just like a leaking tap... On the pack it says it contains - '1 pair of breast milk collection shells' and '1 pair of ... ...except one set has little holes at the top, so in fact your are just getting 4 breast shells. You also get 1 pair of 'ultrasoft silicone backing cushions' - which are rubbery shields which fit around the breast shell and it is this soft rubber that rests on your breast. The shells have little feet on them so that when you have collected some milk, you can just put it on the side and it won't roll away and spill everywhere, although if you are clumsy ...
Keelar 13.08.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Avent Breast Shells
Advantages: Easy to clean, comfortable and good for new mothers Disadvantages: Strange shape, alternatives are available, useful for a limited time
I bought Avent Breast Shells when I had my second baby, 18 months after the first. By this time I was well used to breast feeding and my breasts were, too, so I didn't get as much use from them as I would have hoped. However, they are quite ingenious little gadgets and I would certainly recommend them to a first-time mother, as well as mothers with more than one baby if they suffer from severe breast engorgement.
The shells come in sealed or 'breathable' ... ...that you can wear them for short or long periods. The breathable ones have little holes in the top for air circulation, so don't do cartwheels while you wear them!
Advantages are that you can use them to relieve sore, full breasts without wasting the milk, as you can use the milk if you sterilise the shells beforehand. They are easy to clean, easy to use and fit fairly comfortably inside your bra. Disadvantages are that it is very obvious that you ...
demonwriter 20.08.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Avent Breast Shells
Advantages: stops the wet patches, you can store and freeze it. Disadvantages: you have to make sure they are the right way up or you will be soaked!
I've used these with both my daughters when I have been breastfeeding and they are worthwhile to buy if breastfeeding. They are circluar and come in two halves and has a hole in one half. Easy to use, just slip into the bra,and the nipple goes into the hole and you can feed off the other side.When you have finished or want to swop sides just slip it out and pour into a bottle or special bags you can get to freeze it in. Easy to clean,just sterilise ... ...in the first few weeks while I was leaking and its good to build a supply of breast milk in the freezer so you can go out.You can keep breast milk in the freezer for 3 months and if stored in deep freeze can be kept upto 6mths!So even if you plan to go back to work part time ,in the early days just use these and you can "catch" 2/4oz at each feed while your milk supply settles down.So you could carry on breastfeeding while at home and give expressed ...
chrissiepops 22.02.2001 (21.02.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Avent Breast Shells
Advantages: Assist healing sore nipples Disadvantages: There are no disadvantages
...straight out and bought some Avent ones. I didn't have a clue what they were or what I was supposed to do with them but I was willing to try anything. They reminded me of a smaller version of a washing machine ball but they are much harder. You put them in your bra over your nipples and they catch the excess milk. However, midwives recommend that wiping your own milk over your sore nipples helps to heal them which I did and then I popped these breast ... ...they keep your clothes off your breasts which is a relief. The next morning I could not believe it as my nipples had almost healed, it was amazing. So not only do these breast shells catch surplus milk (which you can save in a sterilised bottle for baby) but they also assist with the healing of sore nipples, quickly and naturally. I would certainly recommend these to any woman thinking of breastfeeding her baby. In fact, I would buy these for any ...
Shell 26.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Avent Breast Shells
Advantages: help healing your cracked nipples, collect leaking breastmilk Disadvantages: when you lean forward a bit, breastmilk spills through the little holes
I just want to comment on the previous review and the problem of dry healing. Dry healing is definetely not an option for anyone. In the beginning when your nipples are sore or cracked, you actually need to apply a nipple cream first and only then put on the breast shells. The nipples heal very well in between the feeds. I used Lansinoh cream which is the best I think, as you don't have to wash if off before breastfeeding your baby. The ventilated ... ...the milk leaks from your nipples all the time and as you lean forward a bit, it spills through the holes. After your breastfeeding is estableshed (a couple of months), the nipples will stop leaking and you can switch to normal breast pads then. The nipples will stop getting sore after 2-3 weeks of breastfeeding.
You can buy a set without the ventilated shells, and it's cheaper as well, I would recommend to chose that one.
Marina, 18th Nov 2008 ...
marinahuman 18.11.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Avent Breast Shells
