Nipple Shields

Jerrica1432 · August 2014

Ok for all of you breastfeeding moms out there who are using a nipple shield....
How long did you use it? Are you still using it?

What was your reasoning for having to use a shield?

How did you go about "weaning" LO off of it or are you even worried about weaning at this time? (Also mention how old your baby is please!)

Have you been able to not use the shield at certain times successfully?

If you did wean off how did the transition go?

After having my LO I was told to use the shield due to difficulty latching. My breast being so large from what I remember. They even asked if I had implants....Which I don't! I got my supply the day after I had DD & was very thankful for it bc I was so worried this being my first time breastfeeding. My DS was a NICU baby & was already introduced to the bottle & I gave up so easily trying to nurse & just pumped. I had no idea what I was missing out on!! Anyways DD is now 4 1/2 weeks. We have successfully latched without a shield but she comes off within minutes & I find it such a hassle. She is already a fussy baby who just gets irritated easily. I feel that it's easier to give in to the shield & save my sanity since I'm having to hold her practically all the time just to sooth her. I feel I may be doing this all wrong & just want to know how other moms who are using the shield are handling it or going about it. So sorry for the long post just this all has been weighing on my mind more than it probably should. I mean she is getting fed & shes fattening up which is all that matters at this early stage right. Thanks for reading this and for any responses I get. Sincerely...a mother who stresses too much & feels like I'm not possibly giving it my all these days. So worn out!

JuniperGaze · August 2014

Sorry you're having a tough time! I started using a shield in the hospital since we were having latching issues. I have flat nipples and DD was losing weight. I would try on and off to get her to latch without it, but she would never stay on. It wasn't until she was 3.5 weeks old that we were able to just use it a couple times a day since my nipples had stopped being so flat thanks to nursing practice and pumping. We have not used the shield since last week and she's 4 weeks now! She transitioned really well. My advice would be to regularly try to nurse without the shield to see how it goes and if she flips out, go back to the shield for that session. Hang in there!

LyndseylovesHugh · August 2014

I have flat nipples and when dd was a baby I was never able to wean her off of it. I hated the shield so much and it was one of the biggest reasons I stopped BFing and started EPing. This time I still haven't been able to get DS to latch without it so in afraid I'm going to have the same issues.

reelcelticdancer · August 2014

DS is four weeks old now. I have had to use the shield due to inverted nipples. I tried bf at the hospital without it with great success until my milk supply came completely in. The last time we tried bfing without it I got bruised so badly due to improper latch the thought of bfing actually made me cry. Without the shield I would not have but been able to bf at all. As time goes on, we have moderate success without it (a few good minutes of feeding, not an entire session), but morning feedings where I'm very full will probably always need the guard. For that reason alone I'm not entirely concerned about ditching it just as yet.
I've dealt with a little guilt that I haven't been able to go au naturale bfing my son, however when I think back to that second week and all the pain and drama that came with bruising, full breasts, and nothing for young sir to latch onto, I'm eternally grateful for my guard. :-)

HJakes78 · August 2014

We started in the hospital because she tore my nipples up due to bad latching! She is now 4 weeks and I am way to scared to stop using it. Everything is going good so I will continue to use it. The only time I hate it is while I try to feed in public but I am hoping that will get better with practice!

Good luck ladies!

earichar23 · August 2014

I also started using one due to poor latch in the hospital and haven't had much success weaning LO off it. That said I haven't tried very hard this last week, maybe it's time to try again. Unfortunately baby girl doesn't do a good job of pushing her tongue out to latch and sometimes she bites and I think the shield gives my poor nips some protection so I'm also anxious to wean her off it.

magpiemama · August 2014

I don't post here but ended up being a July mom so I thought I would tell you my experience.

I used a nipple shield with DS1 because of a poor latch. I ended up using it for 5 months!! I had a lot of anxiety surrounding it and was also very worried about weaning from using it. It sort of obsessed over it. I eventually was able to wean cold turkey one day once my son was bigger and he latched no problem! I went on to breastfed him until he was16 months old. I guess my advice would be if your baby is growing don't worry too much about it, you will get rid of it one day! For me being a new mom was overhwhelming enough (ppd/ppa) Messing with nursing that was working (with a shield) was just not an option for me.

If you have any questions please let me know'! You are doing a great job. Good luck!

[Deleted User] · August 2014

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shortstack930 · August 2014

I started using the shield when DD was about 5 days old because she wouldn't latch onto the left breast so I was exclusively feeding her off the right, which ended up getting super sore. After a couple of days the left became so engorged that she couldn't latch even if she wanted to. I tried the shield and she instantly latched onto the left and I was able to BF from the right without making it even more sore. She's 10 days old now and I can get her to latch on the left without the shield but I'm scared to try her on the right without it because it's still pretty sore.

I wouldn't worry about weaning them off of it too soon, especially if it's working well. Good luck!

emineminem · August 2014

Lori_n_Lior said:
My anxiety came from knowing I would forget it at some point when going out and then dealing with a hungry screaming baby

This, exactly. DD is 3 weeks and some days and just yesterday had her first full feeding on both sides without the shield. She's better without it in the middle of the day, gets really frustrated in the evenings.

[Deleted User] · August 2014

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LyndseylovesHugh · August 2014

I have a question for those of you who have had success...what are your tips and tricks for getting it to stay on? Part of my anxiety with it (besides being dependent on it and not being able to feed if I forget it) is that when DS unlatches it always comes off and he does this numerous times per feeding. This is not a problem at home when I can put him down, whip my boob out and get it back on, but doing that in public would make me very uncomfortable.

shortstack930 · August 2014

LyndseylovesHugh said:
I have a question for those of you who have had success...what are your tips and tricks for getting it to stay on? Part of my anxiety with it (besides being dependent on it and not being able to feed if I forget it) is that when DS unlatches it always comes off and he does this numerous times per feeding. This is not a problem at home when I can put him down, whip my boob out and get it back on, but doing that in public would make me very uncomfortable.

I put a little bit of lanolin cream around the edges of the shield to help it stay in place.

LyndseylovesHugh · August 2014

shortstack930 said:

LyndseylovesHugh said:
I have a question for those of you who have had success...what are your tips and tricks for getting it to stay on? Part of my anxiety with it (besides being dependent on it and not being able to feed if I forget it) is that when DS unlatches it always comes off and he does this numerous times per feeding. This is not a problem at home when I can put him down, whip my boob out and get it back on, but doing that in public would make me very uncomfortable.
I put a little bit of lanolin cream around the edges of the shield to help it stay in place.

Great idea, I will try that! Thanks!

LyndseylovesHugh · August 2014

Dserpaa said:

LyndseylovesHugh said:
I have a question for those of you who have had success...what are your tips and tricks for getting it to stay on? Part of my anxiety with it (besides being dependent on it and not being able to feed if I forget it) is that when DS unlatches it always comes off and he does this numerous times per feeding. This is not a problem at home when I can put him down, whip my boob out and get it back on, but doing that in public would make me very uncomfortable.
I either hand express a little milk or use my saliva or water around the flaps to basically act as suction. Mine stays on pretty well but every once and awhile it slips off.

I use my saliva and that helps but it still happens a lot. I will try milk!

INmommy871278 · August 2014

I started using one earlier this week. DD has been latching for a couple minutes then releasing right as the flow starts, so I decided to try a nipple shield. We have been using it almost every feeding and it has helped a ton. She will eat without it, but she doesn't stay latched as well. She is 4weeks 2days old so I plan to wean in a month or two and see how things are at that time.

ghostof5letters · August 2014

Retracting nipples. Can't get her to latch without it, even at 4 weeks.

mamakiss · August 2014

We used the shield for about a week and a half, I introduced it after her tongue was clipped so she could better get the hang of things and also I wanted to give my nipples a break. I wish I had powered through the pain and worked with her latch without it. That's also the timing when I got my mastitis, and dr. said to ditch the shield so she could pull more milk. She had a hard time weaning off of it, until one day we quit cold turkey and she did fine. I also hated carrying it around with me and the added step involved in bf her.

JuniperGaze · August 2014

LyndseylovesHugh said:
I have a question for those of you who have had success...what are your tips and tricks for getting it to stay on? Part of my anxiety with it (besides being dependent on it and not being able to feed if I forget it) is that when DS unlatches it always comes off and he does this numerous times per feeding. This is not a problem at home when I can put him down, whip my boob out and get it back on, but doing that in public would make me very uncomfortable.

I always had to kinda flip it inside out the press down hard once it was centered. The suction would pull my nipple in further and keep it in place until LO ripped it off with her flailing hands ;-)

rach1285 · August 2014

We started using a shield at the hospital due to flat nipples. I've tried to get him to latch on after some nursing but haven't had luck. I feel like he doesn't get enough milk when he nurses though... I could have him nurse for 40 min and he's still hungry, so I've had to pump primarily. Does anyone else feel like their LO doesn't get enough milk out with the shield?

JuniperGaze · August 2014

rach1285 said:
We started using a shield at the hospital due to flat nipples. I've tried to get him to latch on after some nursing but haven't had luck. I feel like he doesn't get enough milk when he nurses though... I could have him nurse for 40 min and he's still hungry, so I've had to pump primarily. Does anyone else feel like their LO doesn't get enough milk out with the shield?

I felt the same way. With the shield she would nurse 30 mins to over an hour on rare occasions. Once we were able to stop using the shield, sessions are generally less than 20 mins. That could also be her getting more efficient also.

[Deleted User] · August 2014

I was using one in the hospital on my left side but couldn't find it when I came home. She is very back and forth about good latches and then terrible latches and it was really starting to stress me out. I ordered one off amazon and used it today and it worked wonders. I'm going to try to nurse without it first always but being less stressed out I think is good for everyone.

LyndseylovesHugh · August 2014

shortstack930 said:

LyndseylovesHugh said:
I have a question for those of you who have had success...what are your tips and tricks for getting it to stay on? Part of my anxiety with it (besides being dependent on it and not being able to feed if I forget it) is that when DS unlatches it always comes off and he does this numerous times per feeding. This is not a problem at home when I can put him down, whip my boob out and get it back on, but doing that in public would make me very uncomfortable.
I put a little bit of lanolin cream around the edges of the shield to help it stay in place.

I tried the lanolin cream and it works wonders!

Jerrica1432 · August 2014

Thanks everyone this made me feel so much better knowing there are others using it with the same age baby. Also I love hearing others have the same concerns or worries that I do. It helps wonders knowing your not alone! I'm scared she will become dependent on it but also so anxious to see how much she has gained since her 2 week apt. We see the pedi wed. That will help ease my mind if she is weighing accordingly.

Jerrica1432 · August 2014

Another thing....what brand of shield is everyone one using & prefers?

I'm using a Tommie Tippie. I love how it came with 2 & a little plastic case. I leave the case with one in it in the diaper bag. I have he other in a little bin next to the bed with diapers, wipes, & such.

[Deleted User] · August 2014

I love my Nuk shield- came with a nice case and is nice and thin.

reelcelticdancer · August 2014

Medela user here. I love the cut out for lo's nose. :-)

shortstack930 · August 2014

I also use the Medela. I have one for home and one for the diaper bag.

[Deleted User] · August 2014

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hrgwu2006 · August 2014

I have 5 shields. At night I don't want to waste precious sleep washing them. I just grab a clean one and wash them in the morning.

My LO is almost 3-1/2 weeks and we still use them. I did have a successful latch the other day without one but couldn't get her back on after she unlatched. Best advice is to keep trying but be patient. You don't want to get yourself or your LO stressed about feedings. It may turn her off BF.

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