Table 2 Intra-oral vacuum measurements during direct breastfeeding (breast) and breastfeeding with a nipple shield. Values are reported as mean ± standard deviation (range)

Peak

−163 ± 62

−233 ± 152 (−128, −360)

−338 ± 32 (−278, −368)

Baseline

−56 ± 31

−151 ± 62 (0, −83)

−41 ± 37 (−3, −74)

Mean

−183 ± 56

−169 ± 54

Duration (s)

12.2 ± 4.8

12.5 ± 12.4

9.2 ± 5.8

Mean

−46 ± 30

−141 ± 73 (−21, −233)

−40 ± 70 (0, −157)

Duration (s)

4.4 ± 2.6

1.7 ± 0.6 (0.87, 1.8)

1.2 ± 0.44 (0.9, 2.2)