Unsustained Sucking/Fatigue/Ineffective
Milk Transfer
Alternate massage/breast compressions are helpful in
sustaining sucking, compensating for weak vacuum,
and increasing milk transfer. The breast is massaged
and compressed during pauses between sucking bursts,
which improves the pressure gradient between the breast
and infant’s mouth. Alternate massage is done on each
side at each feeding until the infant no longer needs
the extra assistance, taking care that the baby does not
lose the latch. Care must be taken to assure that the
volume compressed does not overwhelm the infant. For
infants unable to transfer sufficient amounts of milk
with alternate massage or with a nipple shield in place, a
tube feeding device can be used or the tube from a tube