Nipple shield and latch pain

mrslambert09 · January 2015

hello ladies! Longtime lurker and first post here. My son is five weeks old. We have been exclusively pumping for about 3 weeks now. I tried nursing, but was having horrible pain during his initial latch that I dreaded feeding time.
I had the assistance of several nurses while in the hospital and saw a lactation consultant at a different hospital. All said my son had a great latch and told me the pain would get better. It hasn't.
After EP for three weeks, my supply is not what it was. I know that my son would be better at getting my milk than the pump. I am thinking of trying a nipple shield. Would it help with the initial latch pain? Would I be able to use it to get past the pain then slip it off and relatch him without it? I want to get my supply back up so I can get a freezer stash for when I go back to work.
Any other suggestions for nursing pain or getting my supply back would be great. I am taking fenugreek and drinking lots of water as well as pumping everytime he takes a bottle for 20 minutes, plus two extra sessions. TYIA!!! Sorry this was long and thanks for reading to the end!

opheliainwaders · January 2015

Hey there - I'd try going to see an IBCLC for another consultation as a first step.

With respect to the nipple shield, anything you can do to get the baby back on your breast will help with supply, BUT babies aren't as efficient at transferring milk with the shield. You may want to work at baby's latch to switch from bottle to breast, rather than using the shield to transition.

You mention that your supply isn't what it was, but don't mention if you're supplementing with formula at all? If you are producing enough milk to feed baby, then you're actually doing fine, supply-wise.

re: pumping, you can try power-pumping, and I also found that pumping was more effective when I used the letdown setting every few minutes (so I'd do 3 rounds of 6-7 minutes of letdown/regular and then repeat).

mrslambert09 · January 2015

Thank you so much! Once my milk came in I was pumping 5-7 oz or more at each session on top of nursing. Now I'm only getting 2 oz or so. I am not supplementing but I am afraid if my supply dips more ill have to. Hopefully another consultation will help. It's very frustrating to be told you are doing it right but still not be able to do it comfortably. Thanks again for your suggestions!

Bonnesetter27 · January 2015

I would look into tongue tie, especially posterior tongue ties. My DD had the perfect latch from the outside but made my nipple look like a lipstick tube and it hurt. We tried using a shield but she couldn't get enough and my supply got lower and lower. I would see another LC and discuss why the latch hurts. I ep'd for 2 months before we got her tongue fixed and it is really hard work without any of the cute smiles you get while bfing. Good luck.

lil_diamond_eyes · January 2015

We had no issue using the nipple shield. We started uaing it at 3 weeks due to pain/latch issues. I had planned to use it forever, just lately LO decided she didn't want it (@ 15weeks) And the issues seemed to have resolved themselves.

Do what works for you. Whether it be nice sheild or bottles, but you don't have to suffer through the pain.

For supply issues, drink lots of water and eat oatmeal/lactation cookies.

ahbEsq · January 2015

I second looking into a tongue tie or lip tie. My DD had a lip tie that was causing me a lot of pain even though her latch looked fine and she was transferring enough milk. I had the lip tie corrected yesterday and already can tell a big difference.

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