does anyone..?

mimi1017

does anyone use a nipple shield? someone today told me that maybe i should try that with DS. he seems to take in a lot of air when nursing. he acts like he gulps so much. what exactly does it do? tia.

JJsMom211

My boy gulps a lot too while nursing but it's just because he's a pig and eats too fast! I just make sure to burp him for a while after each feeding. I tried a nipple shield the day he was born and hated it so I won't be of much help to you. I only tried it because he was severely tongue tied, we had it clipped the next day and he was latching successfully within an hour after the procedure.

I'm not sure how a nipple shield would help with air intake but it's worth a call to a LC or your pedi.

flypink

I used one for 2 days while my left nipple was healing - it was dry and cracked. It worked for those days but I found it to be messy - DS would pull off and the milk inside the shield would spill out, but it got the job done so I shouldn't complain. 

If your LO is having trouble latching on then I would definitely give it a try. DS had no problem latching on to it after switching from the non-nipple shield boob.

As for getting too much air - you should first try to correct his latch. Make sure he is getting a mouth full before starting to suck. Your nipple should practically be in the back of his mouth. A tight suction will help with taking in air. I wait for DS to open his mouth then quickly stick the nipple and areola in his mouth.

GL. 

mimi1017

JJsMom211:

My boy gulps a lot too while nursing but it's just because he's a pig and eats too fast! I just make sure to burp him for a while after each feeding. I tried a nipple shield the day he was born and hated it so I won't be of much help to you. I only tried it because he was severely tongue tied, we had it clipped the next day and he was latching successfully within an hour after the procedure.

I'm not sure how a nipple shield would help with air intake but it's worth a call to a LC or your pedi.

DS is the exact same. sometimes he does great. others not so much. hes been real gassy the past few days so i think with maybe something i have eaten/drank and him taking in a lot of air has been the problem.

mimi1017

flypink:

I used one for 2 days while my left nipple was healing - it was dry and cracked. It worked for those days but I found it to be messy - DS would pull off and the milk inside the shield would spill out, but it got the job done so I shouldn't complain. 

If your LO is having trouble latching on then I would definitely give it a try. DS had no problem latching on to it after switching from the non-nipple shield boob.

As for getting too much air - you should first try to correct his latch. Make sure he is getting a mouth full before starting to suck. Your nipple should practically be in the back of his mouth. A tight suction will help with taking in air. I wait for DS to open his mouth then quickly stick the nipple and areola in his mouth.

GL. 

at first he latches on good..then he pulls off and then he seems like he cant get latched back on. after a bit of struggling i will end up switching and then he does fine on the other breast. we are both getting frustrated. apparently im doing something wrong since he keeps doing this. he hasnt always done this either..so thats another reason its getting pretty frustrating.

Aviee

I just weaned DD off of one.  It worked great for latch, but if I had a letdown when she was just comfort suckling it'd choke her.  She did need less burps on it because she'd get less air, but it's SUPER messy if she's fussy or just in general to get off of the breast.

JJsMom211

mimi1017:

flypink:

I used one for 2 days while my left nipple was healing - it was dry and cracked. It worked for those days but I found it to be messy - DS would pull off and the milk inside the shield would spill out, but it got the job done so I shouldn't complain. 

If your LO is having trouble latching on then I would definitely give it a try. DS had no problem latching on to it after switching from the non-nipple shield boob.

As for getting too much air - you should first try to correct his latch. Make sure he is getting a mouth full before starting to suck. Your nipple should practically be in the back of his mouth. A tight suction will help with taking in air. I wait for DS to open his mouth then quickly stick the nipple and areola in his mouth.

GL. 

at first he latches on good..then he pulls off and then he seems like he cant get latched back on. after a bit of struggling i will end up switching and then he does fine on the other breast. we are both getting frustrated. apparently im doing something wrong since he keeps doing this. he hasnt always done this either..so thats another reason its getting pretty frustrating.

Have you tried a different hold? I had to (and still do) hold him in the football position. The cradle position didn't work very well. Don't get frustrated, you're not doing anything wrong. BFing isn't easy. It takes a lot of patience and practice, some more for others. DS is six weeks and we're still aren't pros!! Just stay calm, talk to your baby and comfort him a lot while he's struggling. He'll eventually calm down and get the hang of it.