Getting off the breast shield

missgooseyface

Anyone have any tips for ridding myself of the damn breast shield? DD will latch on my nipple fine, but doesn't seem to stay there...takes herself off after a couple of sucks. After a couple times of this she starts to get frustrated so I put the shield back on so she doesn't associate the frustration with BFing. She is 1 day past her due date....maybe she isn't ready yet? Any tips/success stories?

Mrs. Alice

I wish I had a good and easy answer for you but it just took time for us.  The LC said by their EDD, but in reality it took until they were about 6 weeks adjusted.  We were all kind of dependent on them, so I had to slowly try without and eventually they just got the hang of it.  I tried not to stress to much about it since they were BFing just fine.  I was able to go all the way past their first birthday.  Lots of luck, it's tough but keep up the good work - she will get it one day!

PhillyGal34

I don't have any real tips but it sounds like you are doing the right things. Make sure your milk is already going when you take the ns away so there's no time for the baby to have to wait. All I can say is that one day I was too slow getting my ns on and DS just latched without it and we never went back. I hated it, it was so messy but it was better than not bf'ing to me so I happily did it. Good luck!!!

missgooseyface

Thanks ladies ~ I will keep at it!  The shield is so messy...I swear DD gets more all over her face than in her mouth lol

sweetpea2003

My DD was exactly one month early.  She was on the breast shield for about 6 weeks.

IIRC, early on she would start nursing on the shield, then after let down I would pop her off and let her continue on the bare nipple.  It helped because the let down can be somewhat overwhelming without the shield (when they are used to the flow being more consistant).  Then after a few days (weeks?) like that she just slowly got better and more confident in her latch.

Try to relax about it.  I feel like the shield gets a bad wrap but the fact that you are nursing at all is WONDERFUL.  It will happen!  Just be patient, keep trying, and follow your gut.

PhillyGal34

I forgot the sandwiching thing. That helped him get a good latch. Good call!