Final answer:
A nipple with a wide base is used to feed breastfed infants and may also be beneficial for preterm babies or those with physical feeding challenges. The wide base helps mimic the mother's breast, facilitating a natural latch and ease of transition between breast and bottle feeding.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nipple with a wide base is often used to feed infants who are breastfed because it more closely resembles the natural shape of a mother's breast. This design helps in providing a more natural latch and transition between the breast and the bottle. Additionally, in the context of neonatal care, a wide-base nipple may be used for infants with certain physical challenges, or for preterm babies who may need a larger surface area for successful feeding. The suckling on a nipple, as part of a feeding practice, triggers a positive feedback loop involving the release of hormones like prolactin from the mother's pituitary gland, which, in turn, stimulates milk production in the mammary glands.