So irritated with the hospital's lactation consultant!

sunflwra

So my daughter never breastfed in the hospital.  She was having trouble latching the first afternoon/evening after birth and then they began her on formula bottles the next day due to some jaundice and health concern.  I met with the hospital's LC three times while I was there and all she kept doing was changing her position and squeezing my boob and we never got anywhere.

Fast forward to 2 weeks later, I hire a LC recommended by my pediatrician since LO has still been taking breastmilk only by bottle since coming home.  The women spends 10 minutes talking with me, checks out my LO and sees how she's trying to latch and determines that we need to try a nipple shield.  She latches right on and feeds on both breasts with the shield.  The LC was shocked that the hospital's LC didn't even try that.  It cost me $100 and 2 weeks of exclusively pumping for something that the hospital's LC should have been able to "diagnose" on Day 1 or 2.  Seriously frustrating!!  But at least I'm thankful that I was able to keep up my supply and will hopefully have no issues transitioning from the nipple shield to the direct breast in a few sessions, but even if I have to keep on with the shields forever- it's worth it to be able to have this experience with my daughter!

Atlmom82

I have heard some LC do not like nipple shields bc they can interfere with supply and they can be difficult to wean from. I nursed with a shield for 5 months and if it wasn't for it I probably would have given up nursing all together.

amandajb1

Nipple shield in the begining can make you have low supply. Jack Newman says that their is almost never a need for one and may LC also have the philosophy. I am glad that you are able to nurse now thou

Brosis

I'm glad you finally got some good help!  I was terribly frustrated by our hospital's LCs too.  After multiple unsuccessful efforts to feed before we left, one of the LCs handed me a nipple shield just before d/c, but I didn't have a chance to really understand how to use it properly. 

I ended up renting the hospital pump & pumping for weeks too before finding a different LC who finally made everything click.

mlkauffman

When I delivered LO and asked for help I was told the LC wasn't in that day because it was the day before thanksgiving, so when I finally got discharged and found outside help I called the hospital and complained and also turned in a ba survey.  I just didn't want that to happen to anyone else.