Breast Shield Users???

Future R. Murray!!

I am working on breast feeding after a reduction, so far, so good with the help of a lactation consultant and a very supportive husband. 

 

Anyway, I need to use a breast shield because due to inverted nipples. We are supplementing formula (to keep weight up) and using drops of that to help motivate her to latch on, she does most of the time but also seems to fight it and get frustrated as well, I would too with a big honkin plastic nipple in my mouth!

 

Anyone have any advice on breast shields??? Or tricks???

 

 

NineTwentyOhEight

I had to use the shield at first - just stick with it and I say keep trying without it once you get her latching well with the shield. do you notice your nipple gets drawn out after she nurses with the shield? I would unlatch her and pull the shield and work on latching her w/out it - after much persistence we got rid of the shield but it did take time! 

good luck  - also one thing I read on here was to keep the shield tucked into your bra, that way you're not hunting around for it at every feeding! wish I'd thought of that back when we were using it! also I noticed that if I didn't really clean it well with soap and hot water it wouldn't stick well and would fall off during the frenzy of latching. oh, and another tip - make sure you invert it to make a little sombrero then put it over your nipple - this will help draw more of your nipple into the shield, so that baby doesn't just get a mouth full of plastic! 

EngleK

NineTwentyOhEight:

I had to use the shield at first - just stick with it and I say keep trying without it once you get her latching well with the shield. do you notice your nipple gets drawn out after she nurses with the shield? I would unlatch her and pull the shield and work on latching her w/out it - after much persistence we got rid of the shield but it did take time! 

good luck  - also one thing I read on here was to keep the shield tucked into your bra, that way you're not hunting around for it at every feeding! wish I'd thought of that back when we were using it! also I noticed that if I didn't really clean it well with soap and hot water it wouldn't stick well and would fall off during the frenzy of latching. oh, and another tip - make sure you invert it to make a little sombrero then put it over your nipple - this will help draw more of your nipple into the shield, so that baby doesn't just get a mouth full of plastic! 

This helped me a lot.  Also, I agree with the washing so it will stick to you better.  Did your LC help you get the correct size?  I needed to go a size up than "normal" to get a good fit, and that helped a lot too.