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Preemies
? re: nursing my preemie, but having to use nipple shields
my baby wouldn't latch onto my nipple when i was in the NICU w/him, so the lactation consultant gave me a nipple shield to use for nursing. he was taking a bottle from the nurses (w/my breast milk + fortification, once it came in).
well, as time has progressed, my baby is nursing longer and stronger. he still doesn't quite latch onto my nipple alone (have had success on the right breast a couple of times, but not consistently). but, he is so much more active and positions for the nursing don't seem to work in such a way to keep him from leaking milk out of the side of his mouth. does anyone have any tips or encouragement for how they made it through a similar challenge? one of the NICU nurses did tell me that one of her babies had to nurse w/a nipple shield initially, and at about 8 lbs they were able to nurse w/o the nipple shield. but, i didn't have the leaking problem during the nursing at that time to ask input about.
any help/encouragement is appreciated!
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Re: ? re: nursing my preemie, but having to use nipple shields
While we were using the shield (on one side only from 2w till 2 mo of age), he'd occasionally have some spillage. Usually it had more to do with a bad seal on the shield than a problem with him and his positioning. You could try a football hold or trying to nurse him more upright (like on a steep angle rather than laying fully on his side) to see if that helps.
I forgot the shield one day while away from home and he latched anyway (not well enough to get a full feed from that side, but he did get some). I weaned him off of it completely over the course of a week. GL!
DD would not latch not without a shield up until 2.5 - 3 months actual age. I tried and tried but she wouldn't have it. One day she suddenly latched on without the shield to one side but still needed it on the other... eventually that subsided after a few days and now she feeds without one. It just clicked for her.
The LC consultant said the best way to ween her off the shield was to buy an extra one and slowly cut the tip of the shield down. Every few days, day cut more away, until the tip cover is completely cut away. I didn't try this because DD latched one before I got to this point but it might be worth trying.
As for the spillage, my LC said a lot of moms tend to pull the head in too close, but really you want to draw in the upper back to help create a better seal... maybe that will help?
My DD still has spillage because I have a fast let down and flow. So, I just place a cloth diaper under my breast to catch anything that spills over. She's still getting enough and gaining weight so it's not like she needs every drop.
Cooper ditched the shield as soon as he came home. I was told to start with the shield on, and then once he pulls off the first time, to try offering it without the shield, so that you aren't introducing something new to a hungry baby.
If you still need the shield, could you go up in size? We used the smallest shield at first because my nipples were too big for Cooper's mouth, and as he got bigger, I went up in size.
Good luck!
We don't have leakage when I make sure he is pulled in tight next to me - his chin needs to be pressed into the boob, not his nose. Like a PP said, sort of like pressing him in from the upper back.
We still use the nipple shield - he will only rarely latch without it. It doesn't seem to have made any difference to my milk supply so I'm not going to worry about it - DS is now nearly 17lbs, so growth is not a worry.
I used I nipple shield with DS until he was about 6 weeks around his due date. It was a slow process to wean and I would use it when either of us were stressed. One side was much better than the other.
For the leaking I would think your aren't getting a good seal. Try the football hold - I sed a boppy to help. Or use some bm to stick the shield to you.