Community› The Bump Month Clubs› August 2015 Moms
August 2015 Moms
New Discussion

nipple shield

alexandrae90alexandrae90 member
in August 2015 Moms
Our first few days of bfing were bumpy so hospital LC gave us a nipple shield ..since baby is nursing great no issues ..problem is now baby is used to shield and refuses bare nipple ..any experiences from anyone on weaning from shield?
Report Reply to Post

Re: nipple shield

  • ChanelLovesBChanelLovesB member
    I love my shield bc he loves it. Any reason you don't want to use it ? Have you tried shells to make your nipples protrude more also? Those are working well for me
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • SassetteSmurflingSassetteSmurfling member
    Shields are the absolute devil! I hate how quick LCs and hospitals give them out when they aren't necessary.

    With DD1 they gave me a shield and I could never get her to latch without. 7 horrible months of that damn shield. Shields can majorly hinder your supply. And it takes away the ease of BFing.

    I would go see an LC for help with a natural latch sooner rather than later. Good luck!
    Report Reply
  • ChanelLovesBChanelLovesB member
    @SassetteSmurfling interesting! Why'd they give you one? One nipple was really flat so it helped. My LC gave it.
    Report Reply
  • acgonzalez22acgonzalez22 member
    DD was born on the small side and had some latching issues because his mouth was so tiny and my nipples are kinda funny. I used the shield from the LC for the first week. She taught me to always start with the shield then remove it 5 to 10 min into breastfeeding and have him attach to my nipple. After that week he only wanted my breast. Try removing the shield after your letdown or consult a LC. Good luck.
    Report Reply
  • alexandrae90alexandrae90 member
    I love the shield because her latch is almost instant and she nurses longer and seems more satisfied but I have heard that it causes supply issues and isn't reccomended for long term use . thanks everyone for your advice ! Wish us luck!
    Report Reply
  • toccoaparkertoccoaparker member
    With DS1 the shield is one of the main factors we failed at BFing, he got used to it immediately and wouldn't go back to the nipple, eventually my supply went away.
    With this LO, I just introduced the shield at two weeks, only because she was having major trouble latching to my right side by herself (due to a large cyst right under my nipple). Once she gets going the nipple usually protrudes more and she latches easier so I remove the shield from that side halfway through; or I pump some first and this also helps. It's a lot of work finding out what someone prefers when they can't even talk yet, hang in there!
    Report Reply
  • Jones071507Jones071507 member
    I've also decided against a shield. I think hospitals are too quick to give those out. Baby will eat and latch when they are hungry. At least that's my opinion.
    Report Reply
  • SassetteSmurflingSassetteSmurfling member
    @ChanelLovesB they can be useful if your nipple are flat, but like others have said once LO begins nursing your nipple will usually protrude and you should take the shield away.

    They gave me one because DD1 had trouble latching. But the issue wasn't my nipples, it was just that I didn't see her for several hours after she was born because of complications and I truly believe that the lack of skin to skin and nursing immediately is what the problem was. But instead of really helping us figure it out they pretty much gave me a shield and said here use this without any real education about the problems it could cause.
    Report Reply
  • bpwife&mamabpwife&mama member
    I had to use a shield with my first son and I can say that it's one of the reasons I stopped nursing. It was so frustrating to use!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    Report Reply
  • kettlekittenkettlekitten member
    The only reason I was able to nurse so long with my first was because of a shield. I weaned off it progressively by alternating feeds with/without over the months. It was excruciating to feed without it so it was a BFing lifesaver. It was a hard road but persistence got us to a point where I dropped it altogether at 6 months and continued comfortably til 20 months. My supply is quite good though and wasn't affected.

    I had a lot of help from a lactation consultant over a couple of months to ensure I had the latch right. That help plus a lot of practice got me there in the end!! If supply could be an issue they do recommend pumping a couple of times a day to keep your supply up.

    Have just started using one with DS as my nipples are all torn up again! Wish me luck....
    Report Reply
  • ChanelLovesBChanelLovesB member
    @SassetteSmurfling oh I hate that. Quick fixes vs actually helping getting the issue under control. I'm going to watch it to make sure my supply stays up and have my LC on speed dial. Im hoping to breast feed for atleast 6 months and pump for 1 year.
    Report Reply
  • MelHayMelHay member
    We just started using a shield since DS has a Type I tongue tie and lost a pound in five days from an improper latch and thus, a low milk supply. He goes to the dentist on Monday and we'll see our LC on Wednesday to learn how to wean ourselves off of it.
    I have a love-hate with the shield. He's finally getting nourishment and I don't feel guilty about starving my child, but because of his tongue tie, he bites with his initial latch and my nipples are super bruised and I dread feeding him sometimes.
    Report Reply
  • blovemamablovemama member
    We started using the nipple shield because my baby didn't have fatty cheeks since he was early. When I nursed, he kind of smothered against my boob. So it was a necessary evil for us. Here is what I have found works for us:

    1. The right mood. He shouldn't be too tired or hungry. Look for early hunger signs. I find success more often if I wake him up about 30 min before his feeding.
    2. Position. Works best when I lay down and plop him on top of me.
    3. Pump first. I have an over active letdown, so the milk gushes out and chokes him. This also gets the milk going so he doesn't have to work so hard. I will usually give him whatever I pumped after nursing.
    ****4. PACIFIER!!! This is the absolute most important one! For whatever reason, if I let him suck for 5 minutes before nursing, he latches really well. If you're not wanting to introduce a pacifier, a clean finger would prob work.
    5. sandwich your boob. I have to sandwich my boob pretty much the whole time or else he pulls off. I'm hoping eventually to not need to do this!
    6. don't give up! If your baby gets frustrated, put on the shield and try again next feeding.

    [7. Sometimes I swaddle him loosely. I haven't consistently found that this helps but sometimes it does.]

    I found the shield to be such a mixed blessing. I wouldn't have been able to nurse at all without it but it's been a real bitch to wean.
    Together since '07
    Married since '12
    Off the pill since 5/14
    BFP: 8/10/14 -- CP 8/22/14
    BFP: 12/10/15 -- Prayers requested

    Report Reply
  • PixelPosyPixelPosy member
    With my first, when we were both feeling calm and not frustrated I would try to start the feed without the nipple shield. If it didn't work or we started getting frustrated then I'd just use the shield. I'd also try letting her start with the shield, then after a couple minutes breaking her latch and removing it and trying to relatch without. I also use the "sandwich technique" to help her latch. 

    One morning she just latched and we didn't have to go back to the shield from then on. We were breastfeeding without any aids by 5-6 weeks. But it was a heck of an effort to get us there! Good luck!
    Report Reply
  • nakoppelnakoppel member
    I think I would have given up nursing without the shield. We've had a lot of success with it, my supply is great so I'm not overly concerned about it at the moment and LO is finally gaining weight great. I've slolwy begun to try to wean him off of it but I'm not super concered about getting him off it. Again without it we probably would have given up on nursing very quickly
    Report Reply
  • hjphillipshjphillips member
    nakoppel said:

    I think I would have given up nursing without the shield. We've had a lot of success with it, my supply is great so I'm not overly concerned about it at the moment and LO is finally gaining weight great. I've slolwy begun to try to wean him off of it but I'm not super concered about getting him off it. Again without it we probably would have given up on nursing very quickly

    Same. DD just wouldn't nurse and wouldn't nurse. Combination of somewhat flat nipples and a tiny mouth made latching really difficult. At 3.5 weeks now, we're having a little bit of luck nursing without the shield. I normally start the feed with the shield, and then remove it a few minutes in. She seems happier nursing without the shield, but she likes having it. We're working on it and making progress every day.
    Report Reply
  • shihtzufanshihtzufan member
    We started out using the shield then got DS's tongue tie clipped. He nursed great on one side after his clipping but still struggled on the right. I have a slightly flatter nipple on the right so I ordered a breast dome for inverted nipples and that has been the best thing! I wear it for 30 minutes before feeding and when he goes to latch he does it immediately. He actually prefers the right side now and I won't have to use it forever as it's supposed to correct the nipple eventually.
    Report Reply
Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"