weaning from nipple shield

BeachBabe22

My little girl will be a month old tomorrow and we've had a difficult time with breast feeding.  I've had cracked and bleeding nipples, mastitis, and thrush in the past four weeks.  I started using a nipple shield about two weeks ago so my nipples could heal and it definitely helped.  I'm pretty sure that I would have given up breastfeeding if I didn't use a nipple shield to help with the pain so I don't regret using it.  My nipples are healed now and I'm trying to get her off of the shield but it's not easy.  Sometimes she will latch right on without a problem and other times she latches on then pulls away and refuses to latch on again.  She's also been sprayed in the face with milk a few times when she unlatches. 

 How did you wean from a nipple shield?  

 Any advice or suggestions is appreciated!  

michpedelle85

we weaned from the shield at 8 weeks i just kept on trying and trying without it. would try for a couple minutes at the start of the feed and then again when i would switch sides if it didnt work, i would just use the shield. then at 8 weeks he just decided he was done with it. just keep trying, dont stress, its no big deal. its a tool that is helpful and some people use it the entire time they breast feed. just keep trying. no rush.

tjkdlhb

DD didn't wean from it until a little over 4 months.  (She was way too tiny to get a good latch on my flat nipples) She went through an inbetween phase that sounds like what is happening with your LO before she weaned completely. 

I found that when she was sleepy or didn't have anything distracting her that she would latch much easier than when she was in a busy room.  I would try it without the shield first, and if she latched great, if she latched and then came off, I'd just give her the shield, so that she didn't get frustrated.  It did take about a month to wean her completely... although from what you have said I don't think it will take that long for you (since you had different reasons to use it)

  It sounds like you are doing great though.  I think it just may need a little more time.  A nipple shield isn't the end of the world... it can be a little bit of a nuisance, but to me I was just so thankful that I could breastfeed my baby!  Kudos to you for sticking with it!

BabyKsMommy

michpedelle85:

we weaned from the shield at 8 weeks i just kept on trying and trying without it. would try for a couple minutes at the start of the feed and then again when i would switch sides if it didnt work, i would just use the shield. then at 8 weeks he just decided he was done with it. just keep trying, dont stress, its no big deal. its a tool that is helpful and some people use it the entire time they breast feed. just keep trying. no rush. :

This exactly!

cltk12

We weaned around 3 months.  I read an article that said to talk to the baby and encourage them.  I tried it and it worked!  I told DS that only babies use the shiled and he was a big boy now.  Then for about 3 days after each feeding I clapped and said he was doing such a good job.

like PP said, no rush.