For those of you who use (d) nipple shield...

CanadianJulyBri · October 2009

Why did you start using it?

Do you find bf less painful because of it?

I've heard such mixed reviews...Dr. Jack Newman (bf guru) seems to be against them...

https://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=74:nipple-shields&catid=5:information&Itemid=17

Do you think milk supply can go down because of it?

TIA!

chelsearenee · October 2009

I had to use them for flat nipples. It was still painful. I dont recommend them unless really needed. They mess with the flow and make it harder for baby to get the milk out after a while.

MelD16 · October 2009

I hate mine! The nurse at the hospital gave it to me, and then I found out thru a lactation nurse at my son's pediatician that I didn't even need it. She said my supply could decrease. I've been trying to get him off but he just hates the texture of my nipple, he'll scream until he gets the nipple shield.

howa0155 · October 2009

I did for two days and hated it. The LC actually recommended I pump because shields are linked to decreased supply...so I bought a pump that I used for a few days too. Overall, it didn't help with our latch issue and then DS got lazy because I just gave him BM from a bottle - which is a lot easier than getting it from the boob....so I quit BF and pumping. Now I FF.

KacieLeigh · October 2009

I use them still. I started using them when DD was about 1 week old. My nipples were cracked and bleeding despite being told she had a perfect latch and suck. Seriously - my nipples hurt so badly that I was *this* close to quitting breastfeeding. The shields definitely make it less painful. There is a risk of decreasing supply but that didn't happen to me. Get silicone shields if you decide to use them. But be forewarned - they're kinda a pain and DD won't latch without them anymore. Besides always having to find one and make sure it stays washed, sometimes they don't stick to your skin completely and that makes side lying nursing at night difficult, and when LO gets a little bigger, she'll accidently knock the stupid thing off while it's full of milk and make a mess. Other than that, I'm glad I used them.

jday1229 · October 2009

I'm still using one. DS was in the NICU for the first week and latched fine until my milk came in and my nipples were too short, especially after all of his bottle feeding in the NICU. I tried everything else and the day he was being discharged I was afraid of taking him home and not being able to BF so I asked the LC about using a NS. Now I'm so glad I did.

It's worked great for us and we've been EBF for almost 3 weeks now. I haven't had any problems with supply and DS is gaining weight great! I hope to start weaning off them soon since my nipples seem to be getting a bit better. I may try the Latch Assist to help us transition as well.

livinreality · October 2009

My DS had problems latching on, and I was completely frustrated between pumping and him not latching. ?A friend recommended them, use it for 2-3 days he figured out latching and I have not used it since. ?They are messy but I think it was worth it to BF.

AutumnBride929 · October 2009

CanadianJulyBri:

Why did you start using it?

It seems to be the only decent way to get DS on my breast for my own selfish reason of bonding, lol. I have a very low supply so he doesn't get much. I just do it sometimes because I like it.... he doesn't like it for very long.

Do you find bf less painful because of it?

It wasn't much less painful in my early days of BFing because my nipples were sore anyway... BFing isn't painful anymore so it feels the same.

Do you think milk supply can go down because of it?

Yes.

Karmanmsw · October 2009

I had to start using them when my baby was one week. He had severe jaundice and I had to formula feed him (in addition to light therapy) for 48 hours. After that he had severe nipple confusion. It has helped alot to get him nursing again and I only need the shield on one breast now. My doctor said if it was a decision between stopping nursing and using the shield, use the shield. She has had patients use them for the first year entirely without any issues so I guess the supply issue depends on the mom!

yellowtulips80 · October 2009

The LC at the hospital gave it to me because my baby could not latch. She won't nurse now without one. It is kind of a PITA, but it is worth it. I just make sure I have a few of them around so I can always find one.

MarineWifey1106 · October 2009

I started because my nipples were in such pain and cracking, and it helped my DS latch on better (we had to supplement with bottles because of his jaundice and I wasnt producing enough... the plastic of the shield was the only way i could get him to BF), but if you can avoid using one, i would say not to. It is such a PITA. DS knocks it off and its just one more thing to wash... I wish I could get him to latch on to just my nipple but now he wont.

caduscher · October 2009

I used one for abut 2 weeks because my daughter would not latch on to my nipple. She would suck on pretty much everything else though, and I stumped all the nurses and LC as to why she didn't like it. Anyway, I slowly got her weaned off of it, and she sometimes still fights a big battle latching on and I wish I had it around. I never had supply issues using it - in fact she was up 10oz at her 1 week appointment. It also was a lot easier on my nipples.

Annabelle81 · October 2009

I used one for the first 3 weeks and loved it. I think I would have given up on breastfeeding if I hadn't started using it. We did not have supply issues. My lactation consultant weighed LO before and after a feeding and he had gotten 2 ounces in less than 10 minutes. I've read that shields used to be made of a thicker material and affected supply, but not so much the case anymore. I was able to slip it off one day and he latched on, haven't used one since. They are a pain at times; you have to take one everywhere, hard to nurse in public, spilled all over often, but was worth it for me.

bjtmcs · October 2009

I had to use one, because my first attempt at BFing the LC was in there with me and she was observing his reaction to my nipples and said he was getting frustrated because they were too small. So, she went and got me a shield. DS wouldn't latch on unless I was using up until his 1 month birthday exactly and I couldn't find one quick enough so I sent DH to look for mine and I just tried without and he hasn't used one since! I'm so much happier without it! I loved that it allowed me to EBF from the beginning, but now that it is gone I'm SO happy! It was just a pain to always have to have it, it was messy (he would fall asleep nursing and then it would fall off full of milk), and it always had to be cleaned. Plus, the LC said that it would be best to pump for 10 mins two times a day while using it to keep my supply up!

So, if you don't HAVE to use it than don't just because it is so much better without... but if you do than just do it until you don't have too! (Unless you just like using it better)

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