Nipple Shields

amyrec

My dd was bprn at 37 weeks and is 8 days old and we have been using the nipple shield for bfing.  She was 5.7 at birth and 4.15 at her 1st opedi appt.  I have been meeting with an LC 2 hours/day everyday since she''s been born.  Well last wed. the LC gave me a nipple shield to use and her weight check today she was 5.4.  Good right!  The first thing the LC said to me was we have to get her off of it.  So we tried for a good 1.5 hrs. and she wouldn't latch on or eat w/o it.  She said to keep using it for now and we have another appt. to get her off of it on Wed.  I said won't she learn as she grows bigger and stronger what's the harm in her using it for now?  And she siaid she has to come off of it b/c with it you don't release some hormone. 

If you used a nipple shield, how was your experience and how long did you use it for?  My fear is that she won't eat w/o it or will lose weight.  Maybe she just needs more time to grow and get stronger and learn how to eat.  LC also says that she doesn't root.  I was so ready to stop bfing after that appt.  But I am going to keep using the shield and hopefully as she gets older she'll get better.

Thanks for reading/listening!

MrsSmith81

I used one for 3wk until we both got the hang of BFing. It was frustrating at times trying to wean him but we wouldn't have been able to BF at first w/o it. Have you tried latching her w/o it yet? I got so tired of carrying around the shield and washing it that at 3wk I decided to start trying to feed w/o it and it took about a week but we got it. Just make sure you don't try weaning at times you or LO are super tired or when LO is super hungry or it won't go well.

shimma

I've been using the shield for almost 2 weeks because of inverted nipples. My LC doesn't seem to think there is anything wrong with it. DS loves it. I have tried to get him to take to my nipple without the shield but he is just not into it, or maybe my nipples haven't pulled out enough. I plan to try next week though.

KellyG6279

I was given a nipple shield in the hospital b/c my DS was born early too (3.5 weeks) and unable to suck properly.  We had a really rough go at breastfeeding and had a hard time weaning from the nipples shield.  Do to my crazy work schedule (resident) I resorted to EPing (not recommended at all).  But I do think the nipple shield is good for little babies but I would not want to continue using it.  My LC said the current thought is that your supply should be fine with today's nipple shields and that they used to be thicker and not compress you ducts as they should be with a normal latch (this is what triggers your milk hormones to be released).  So I wouldn't be as concerned about your supply using the nipple shield but as your LO gets stronger, would highly recommend weaning from it.

IrreverentGlow

The LC gave me a shield in the hospital.. because as she put it, I had the "worst 12 hour old nipple she had seen in 10 years.." Ava has a tiny mouth and we just don't match. We're still using the shield but trying very hard to wean her from it. Which has not been easy by any means.

bethCT

I could not survive without mine!  I have short nipples and DD has a short tongue.  Without it, she only sucks on the nipple, which is agony for me.  I would rather use the nipple shield than be in that much pain.  Besides, if she kills my nipples, I won't be much good to her anyway.  Our pediatrician/LC said that it is fine to use but she anticipates dd weaning herself soon.  If it gets her eating, I am all for her using it through her prom!!

PatsGirl81

I just got DD off of it a few days ago, so used it for about 1 1/2 weeks I guess. Started trying using it less and less and DD seems to have the hang of it now. LC had told me to try to get her off of it by 2 weeks. Never heard of not releasing some hormone with it's use though.

meganet22

I've been using it since DD was 3 weeks old because she had nipple confusion and couldn't latch.  She is now ten weeks old and has gained 3 pounds in those 7 weeks. I tried weaning her from it when we had only been using it for two weeks. It did not go well at all.  My dd doesn't seem to have any interest in my breast without it and was screaming, scratching me and arching her back away from me, after a few days of this I gave up on trying to bf without it.  The lc said it was perfectly find to use. I don't seem to have any supply problems since using it and sometimes think I have an oversupply.  I would recommend attempting to wean from it since it can be a pain to use but if it doesn't work I don't think it's a big deal. Others have commented previously that they have used them successfully for a year.

ABarker

We still use one.  Daughter was born @37w1d, weighed 5 lbs even.  She's up to 10 lbs now and no problems.  I don't know what hormone she's talking about... but it sounds a bit off to me.

ab&jim

We've been using it since about 2 weeks. We used it at the hospital, but had such terrible latch issues that we gave up. My nipples had such terrible cracking and extreme trauma that we went back to it to give me a break. We are still using it today for most feedings. I am lucky that she will take the breast either bare or w/ the nipple shield. My DD has gained ~2lbs each month, so I think her weight gain is right on track and she's not shy about eating.

My opinion on the issue is: use whatever works for you for as long as you need it. If BFing is what you want to do and this makes it possible, then use it and screw everyone else.