Anyone used breast shells for inverted nipples? Update on results!

StephBrim24

Any luck with them? I have one inverted nipple and the nipple shield doesn't work for us - he hates it and doesn't get the milk flowing in it. I need my nipple to stay out. Anyone have experience with the shells and can I wear them overnight? All the time? Update: The lactation consultant got me some last night and I've been using it on the inverted side all day today. For me, it really does seem to be working! I massage the lanolin in to keep the tissue soft (she said that helps it heal quicker) and leave the shell on. It really does keep the nipple pulled out and lets air flow around it to help it heal faster. I'm hoping I don't jinx myself by speaking too soon. The pain has already decreased a bit.

pepperedmoth

Again, inside baby, and I'm not sure if this is helpful? but I have one nipple on the borderline between flat and normal and another on the border between flat and inverted ('cuz everyone needed to know that, clearly)

With the problem nipple I don't use a shell but I have been gently stretching it out a few times a day, similar to what a shell would do, I think. I put a finger or two from each hand on either side of the areola and gently push in and streeeeeetch them apart, which will pop the nipple out. I then move around the circle and keep doing this.

I read about this technique in Ina May's breastfeeding book and at least visually it's making a difference in how that nipple stands out (after a few days of this it's out a lot more of the time) though LIS inside baby so IDK if it'd really help with nursing.

So that was a little tangential, but maybe helpful?

Pinecone21

Inside baby here as well, but I have the shells and have played around with them. My nipples do stand out a lot more after wearing the shells for even just 10 minutes. If my LO has trouble nursing, I plan to wear the shells for a short time before every nursing session. And maybe eventually I won't need them at all!

pepperedmoth

@Pinecone21‌ where did you get the shells?

BrideNamedMeg

I tried them with DD #1 and didn't find them useful at all.  I liked the Latch-Assist from Lansinoh...basically a little suction cup for your nipple to draw it out.  It has helped this time around - my other two needed to use a shield for a few weeks but Lydia has been able to latch all by herself.  

No matter what, after a couple of weeks your LO should get the hang of it and will be able to latch and draw your nipple out on his own.  

pepperedmoth

BrideNamedMeg said:

I tried them with DD #1 and didn't find them useful at all.  I liked the Latch-Assist from Lansinoh...basically a little suction cup for your nipple to draw it out.  It has helped this time around - my other two needed to use a shield for a few weeks but Lydia has been able to latch all by herself.  

No matter what, after a couple of weeks your LO should get the hang of it and will be able to latch and draw your nipple out on his own.  

You reassure me immensely!

Pinecone21

pepperedmoth said:

@Pinecone21‌ where did you get the shells?

I bought them on Amazon. They are the Medela ones, and they were somewhere between $10 and $20 I think. I love the variety of things I've bought on Amazon.

Chicks21

The hospital gave me some and said I could wear them all day and night or just 30 minutes before feeding. They didn't work for me and eventually I switched to pumping which still doesn't help me get milk out.

SassyFlats

One of my nipples is a bit flat and Kara had a lot of trouble latching on it in the first couple of days. A hospital LC gave me the shells and said to wear one on that breast between feedings to help bring it out. That worked off and on, but baby still had trouble.

Another LC got me a pump and said that baby would have an easier time with my semi-flat nipple once my milk came in. So she wanted me to pump that side for 15 min every time Kara nursed my "good" side to help establish a good supply when things got rolling.

Well, then cluster feeding happened. I was pumping right after feeding from the other side, and Kara was screaming for more. In a panic, I tossed the pump aside and offered a colostrum-covered flat nipple (slightly brought out by a few minutes of pumping). She took it!!

We still have some challenge on that side, even with a good supply of milk. It's hard for her to get latched, but I ditched the shells now because it's just as easy for me to compress my breast for her to get a good bit of nipple and areola. Generally after a couple of head-butts she gets latched on and we have no problems! It's not her "favorite" breast, but it works and she no longer refuses it. Works even better if she's not starving and frustrated, but I feed on cue so that rarely happens since we're not currently cluster feeding.

pepperedmoth

@SassyFlats‌ that's also super helpful to hear.

After maybe a week of fussing with my flattest side in the way described above, it now sticks out when I just compress that breast. It is sooooooo reassuring to hear that that might be all I need to do!

SassyFlats

You'll probably have an easier time because I didn't do anything to help bring mine out in advance. Cluster feeding from one breast was the hardest part, but the nurses gave me syringes to collect pumped colostrum and I think it helped tide her over. I just kept trying her on the flat side though it pissed her off.

MA&CB

I had flat nipples and used the shells with my first, and they helped a lot.  I wore them most of the time during the day when we weren't nursing.  I wished I had known about them before, I would have started using them before DS was born.  I also used the latch assist right before a feeding to pull it out more.  I didn't ever have luck with the shield, I could never get it to stick, and I found it more cumbersome to use.  My nipples did eventually pop out and I nursed my first for 18 months.  Now after nursing him, my nipples are pretty much always "out" which is annoying, but it has made it much easier to nurse this new baby!  No flat nipples this time around.