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Successful nipple shield weaning?

MrsAMB07MrsAMB07 member
in Breastfeeding

Please share your experience. I've read the tips on Kellymom, but I'm not having success and I'd love to know what worked for you.  

DD has had weight gaining issues from the start. My nipples are kind of flat, but my LC and nurses at the hospital assured me they were mild and would be fine. The LC I visited okayed the shield because we just needed her to latch and feed to put on weight. She suggested I pump after 4-6 nursing sessions for 5-10 minutes in case it affected my supply. She said to use the shield and wean her at 2 weeks, but DD refuses anything I've tried to wean.

She's still not back and her birthweight and that coupled with the fact that I can't keep up with our marathon nursing sessions, pump, and take care of DS...I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. I EPed for DS for 6 months because of his latching issues, and I feel like this is actually way more work. 

I've put in calls to LLL leaders and other LCs for help. I found out today our insurance doesn't cover consultations with LCs, so I can't keep paying for it out of pocket each time.  I'm at my wits end and wondering if it's worth it at this point.

Tell me how it worked for you, if it did, and that's it's not hopeless... 

DS 5 years old
DD 2 years old
{Baby GIRL due 6.1}

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Re: Successful nipple shield weaning?

  • MamaAllisonMamaAllison member
    Is your DD eating well with the shield? In my experience some LCs are very anti-nipple shield and some are more "hey, whatever works!" I think the main concern is a drop in supply. However , I have read a lot of stories here at tb as well as know personally people who used nipple shields for an extended period of time with no negative consequences. I used one with my DD for the first three months, no issue. I tried weaning her off it a few times but when we finally did it it was supper easy. I think she just needed to get big and strong enough to do it. Good luck! I think breast feeding with a nipple shield would be much easier than eping! 
    DD1 - Evelyn Riley - 9/30/11
    DD2 - Charlotte Avery - 1/27/14




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  • MrsAMB07MrsAMB07 member
    Thanks. She does great with it, but it's pumping after nursing thats killing me. Plus her weight gain is so slow I'm worried maybe the shield is affecting my supply/her intake. She has more than enough wet/dirty diapers, but minimal weight gain.
    DS 5 years old
    DD 2 years old
    {Baby GIRL due 6.1}

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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  • michpedelle85michpedelle85
    oh man.. I know exactly what you are going through. I was using the shield with my DS from the get-go because he wouldnt latch onto my flat nipples. I had to pump after every session and I was exhausted! Finally after a month and a half, your milk is pretty established and I could drop the pumping. But with the shield he still took 40 minutes to eat. Before every feeding i would roll my nipple to try to get it to stick out and I would squirt a little milk in his mouth and try to get him to latch for 5 minutes just until he got frustrated then I would put the shield on. Half way through the feeding I would try again. All of the sudden after 2 1/2 months, he just got it one day and we never looked back! Their mouths are so small at this point... they are still learning what its all about. Some women have used it for a year! Its a tool to help you feed your baby. You are doing what you have to do. Dont give up, keep trying, and sleep when your baby sleeps because I know the pumping is exhausting. Good luck!
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  • Mrs. StewMrs. Stew member

    imagemichpedelle85:
    oh man.. I know exactly what you are going through. I was using the shield with my DS from the get-go because he wouldnt latch onto my flat nipples. I had to pump after every session and I was exhausted! Finally after a month and a half, your milk is pretty established and I could drop the pumping. But with the shield he still took 40 minutes to eat. Before every feeding i would roll my nipple to try to get it to stick out and I would squirt a little milk in his mouth and try to get him to latch for 5 minutes just until he got frustrated then I would put the shield on. Half way through the feeding I would try again. All of the sudden after 2 1/2 months, he just got it one day and we never looked back! Their mouths are so small at this point... they are still learning what its all about. Some women have used it for a year! Its a tool to help you feed your baby. You are doing what you have to do. Dont give up, keep trying, and sleep when your baby sleeps because I know the pumping is exhausting. Good luck!

    This almost exactly, although the reason we had to use the shield is because DD was 4lb. 15oz. and her mouth was too small to fit enough of my nipple in to be effective.  She used the shield for 4 months, and then on Christmas Eve she just decided that she was done with it.  We haven't used it since!  Don't give up - it's a heck of a lot easier than EPing!

    Married 7.5.08
    BFP 12/10/10 - DD1 8/16/11
    BFP 10/29/13 - c/p 11/2/13
    BFP 11/29/13 - DD2 7/18/14
    BFP 3/20/18 - DS1 due 12/2/18
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