Finally dropped the nipple shield at 5.5 months but...

[Casey44]

... I feel like I'm back to learning the basics of breastfeeding again! Here are a few of my questions:
- DD used to nurse for like 30 minutes at a time and without the NS she's down to like 15. Is it that much faster without it? Or maybe she was just sucking on the NS without eating much towards the end?
- She pulls off the breast a lot now without it. She'll go back on but only for a few seconds and will do this over and over and then start fussing. Is she just done, or missing the NS? I can't figure it out?
- Also, she used to eat for almost an hour before bed. Now it's like 20 minutes and she's been waking up much earlier in the morning... I'm assuming because she's hungry?

Has anyone dealt with these issues or do you know if they are normal? I want to make sure it's not negatively impacting her eating? I can actively hear her swallowing and she's still having a good # of wet and dirty diapers.

Thanks!

[CoBabyMaker]

I remember a lot of the same things from when DD weaned off the shield. I think there were a few factors. I felt like, first of all, she was able to remove milk from the breast faster without the shield so it made nursings shorter. Also, I felt like she had to work harder since she was learning a new latch (her latch was good, just new to her if you know what I mean.) so she would wear out. She was also much more fussy at the breast but even when I tried to put the shields back on (a while after weaning from the NS) she didn't want them. We ended up having a lot of success from a few sessions on cranial sacral therapy.
I also felt like she wanted the pacifier more at first(she would refuse the breast, just wanted the paci) when her nursings were shorter, like her sucking needs weren't being met but she didn't associate nursing with comfort.

[Casey44]

That makes sense... I hadn't even thought about the fact that she's having to work harder now to latch. I've also tried to put the NS back on (especially at night) but she's not interested! Maybe I will try several cluster feedings before bed tonight?

It's funny though because now she think anything "skin" is for eating! She goes to town on my shoulder several times a day! (I know most newborns di this- but she never did since we had the NS!)

[mt_gooseberry]

EXACT same experience here as both posts, but at 4.5 months. Additionally, I am no longer able to get hardly any milk from pumping, and I'm afraid that my supply has dropped...have you noticed any problems with supply? I'm so glad I found people who know what I'm dealing with!

[CoBabyMaker]

EXACT same experience here as both posts, but at 4.5 months. Additionally, I am no longer able to get hardly any milk from pumping, and I'm afraid that my supply has dropped...have you noticed any problems with supply

We weaned from the shields at 9 weeks but at around 4 months I almost entirely stopped letting down for the pump. For me, it wasn't a supply issue because I could be full and just not let down for the pump-I responded to DD just fine.

[Casey44]

I have had issues with pumping for a while now (before dropping the shield). It made my have major oversupply and the only way to balance things out was to stop pumping. I now just pump when I have to but have noticed I don't get as much. But like pp said, I can tell it's there, the pump just isn't getting it. I've thought about getting new shields- mine are kind of flimsy and I wonder if it's not creating enough suction.

So when did you drop the shield? Are you still dealing with these things?