Looking for advice/experience with nipple shields

[activistamamacita]

Hello!

I am a first time momma to a beautiful two week old girl. We had a little trouble at the breast initially, and I have been using nipple shields since day 4when my milk came in. It was not something that I wanted to do since I am an avid supporter of bfing, and I foolishly thought it would be easier, but I have inverted nipples PLUS the initial engorgement made it really hard for her to latch on. Lo and behold, when I used the shields, it was the first time I felt really confident that she was getting good quality nourishment and she still can't seem to latch on without them. Despite my initial resistance they have been a godsend, but I would definitely prefer not having to use them

Anyway, my question/concerns have to do with how long she might be using them, and if they might be causing some nipple confusion. Perhaps when she gets a little bigger, she might naturally transition off of them? Can anyone offer their own experience in this situation?

TIA to anyone who can offer any words, they are all appreciated

[spitbath]

hey mama!
i'm successfully nursing my 4wko, we were using a nipple shield from day 5 to about 2wks. i have mixed feelings. let me tell you what happened for us.
at the hospital, they offered one to me within an hour or two after birth, didn't show us how to put it on right, even, so i was turned off. they also didn't teach us how to latch on well, so two days after i got home, i had scabby nipples. my LC showed us how to use one, which he was finally able to eat at the breast successfully with, but it definitely caused some nipple confusion. (of course they didn't tell me about that at the hospital ) i worked on weaning him from it ASAP, right around two weeks. so that's my advice to you.

here's how i did it:
i couldn't fight with him for a successful latch without it if he was super hungry (he also has high muscle tone and so was really squirmy for a 2wko if agitated) so i would start his feedings with the shield, and once he had calmed down and got something in his belly, i took it off and relatched him. this should work well with your inverted nipples, since there will already have been some protected suction that gets them to stand up. your LO will get used to the feeling of your nipple this way. sooner than later they'll get it. once he was more comfortable with nursing, i started his daytime feedings without the shield, and saved it for getting those exhausting nighttime feedings started, when i had less patience. it took sooo much patience to get him latched on properly, but we did it, and you can to. i can't stress how important it is to start this as soon as you can though, because the longer you wait, the more difficult it will be.

just keep in mind that it won't happen overnight- but can you imagine using that thing forever? (that's what motivated me )

good luck!

[Eligracey]

I used one from day 6 to 5 months!!! I have flat nipples. I tried on & off for months to get him off it. I just kept offering bare breast at night when he was half-asleep and eventually he took it and started refusing the shield. It did cause a little low supply but I never had to supplement; I just noticed that when we weaned from the shield I had TONS of milk compared to before. He was bottle-fed EBM at daycare 3.5 days a week starting at 8 weeks and we've never had bottle preference. He'd much rather a nice warm boob & cuddle. Good luck!

[wifey`]

i understand

Oh boy, I had to use one of those too. I was so scared that i would never get a good latch. I used the sheild for about 4 weeks. It was so hard and it slipped all over the place. i bought a nipple suction thing. it's made by Lansinoh. I found it at wallgreens. It pulls your nipple out. it really helped.

[LilaQ]

I had one too and my LO weaned himself from it at around 3 weeks. I just kept offering him the nipple without it and sometimes he would take it and other times he wanted the shield. Eventually he didn't need it--happened almost overnight so hang in there!!! The shield is a PITA so def try to get your baby weaned off it.

[aleatha5]

My LO came early (36 weeks) and he was small, we tried nursing at the hospital and he just couldn't latch. We eventually started the nipple shield because he was losing too much weight and his blood sugar was low, etc. We had to use the shield for the first 6 weeks and then one day he just latched without it. Prior to that, I offered him the breast without shield when he was alert and sometimes he would latch sometimes he wouldn't. But then one day, it just clicked. He has never used the shield since then. I didn't want to use it initially, but I really do believe it saved our bf relationship.

Remember to pump 4-5 times everyday to keep your supply up. And for me, when he started latching directly it was like my supply quadrupled...so I had to deal with engorgement, etc. all over again.

Using the shield was so worth it, because it got us to where we are today.

[Shanny2032]

I don't think I would be nursing my 11 month old without the use of a shield for the first 5 months so you won't get any complaints from me here. She has never had a bottle and yes they are a huge PITA but it was so worth it to me. I wasn't very good about trying her at the bare breast since it was working so well but I did occassionally and it was a no go everytime. Then at 5 months it fell off (as it did MANY times mid snack) and she just kept going. I found myself still using it for the first 12-24 hours after (old habits die hardv on my head!) that and then realized she didn't need it and we've been shield free ever since. I agree with others to try as often as you can to put them to you breast without it but please don't stress about it, before you know it you'll be answering someone else's question on a board too!

[wifey`]

latch assist

the nipple thing i was talking about is called... latch assist. it is made by lansinoh. is was so helpful for my flat inverted nipples. I hope this helps

[pumpkin]

DD is still using one at 7 months. Yes, I would love to get rid of the thing, but it saved our breastfeeding relationship. My nipples start nice and big but after a few minutes they shrink down to nothing.
It hasn't caused any supply issues for us. I suspect that without the nipple shield I might have oversupply problems because sometimes even with the shield she chokes on the onslaught of milk.
I keep trying to get rid of the shield and so far no luck. If I have to use it for the next 2 years I will. Hopefully it won't be that long though. At least she is exclusively breastfed (though we have started solids at this point) and that makes it worth it.

[activistamamacita]

Thank you!

Thank you ladies for all your encouragement! I think this has been what I really needed to hear. I am working on slipping in a nipple every once in a while, and it has worked quite a few times. Mostly, though, I have resolved just to be patient and trust that my baby knows how to nurse and I know how to nurse her. We may just take a little longer to get there!