Nipple Shield Question

[cupcakemafia]

Hey Girls,

Little Charlotte is two months old and ever since birth she's been exclusively breastfed. When she was born I had a LOT of trouble getting her to attach properly as my nipples were not inverted but they ARE really small and theres basically not much to hang onto! After a lot of prodding and pulling and expressing with an electric pump at the hospital, the midwife at the hospital suggested I try a nipple shield for the moment because the milk was there, its just that Charlie couldn't quite get her mouth around my big boobies!

So after using the shield it was so successful I continued to use them because she was still having a lot of trouble attaching properly. Each feed I'd take the shield off and try to get her to feed without it, but she'd continually fuss and not attach no matter what I tried. Now she's two months old and she still uses the shields at each feed. She gets plenty of milk, is putting on weight really well and by all means is healthy - I'm just wondering if there is anything wrong with doing this at all.

I clean the shields after each feed, change them regularly as well. I'm happy to continue to do it, and she is getting HEAPS of milk with them.

Is there anything wrong with continuing to use shields at each feed?

[Nickster]

I think that ultimately if you are able to give them up, it's better in terms of having one less thing to worry about, and the ABA have suggested that using them decreases nipple stimulation therefore supply decreases.

I used them for the first 6 weeks (I think - a little hazy now though). I saw a private lactation consultant when DD was 4 weeks old, who showed me correct attachment. She was worth every cent. However I still used them on and off for a few weeks, until the pain decreased, and am still breastfeeding 18 months later!

By the way, you'd be surprised how much a small nipple can stretch in a bub's mouth - but if you're happy to continue the way you are going, do so, but I would suggest seeing a private lactation consultant or calling the ABA to put your fears aside.

Good luck with it all.:)

[Goosie22]

Hi,
I agree with Nickster.

I think your doing what you have to do, keep trying without the shields and one day she will get the idea. As you know nipple shields can reduce the ammount of stimulation and have been linked to reduced supply, if you are not experiencing this as you havnt had to comp feed, baby is happy feeding from the sheild then I would say its fine.

[cheezelkat]

Have you been to your local breastfeeding clinic? DS was on them for 2 1/2 - 3 months for eevery feed. I then got help and only his daytime feeding were with a shield. At 4 months, he rejected them completely :smiliedance:

You should join some of the breastfeeding communities on LJ - adoptamom would be a good start to get some one on one help. They have some really useful articles on shields and some good links to help.

[cupcakemafia]

Over the past month or so she's been feeding for about 40 minutes at a time each sitting, and at the end of each feed when she full and takes her mouth off I have to grab a burp cloth really quickly because my milk just squirts out of the ends of the shields!! Its, like, neverending! My boobs are a size 16E or F (depending on the brand of bra) - which basically means they're huge :yes:. Well at the moment I definately don't have a decrease in milk production! The shields that I'm using are quite thin and I can feel her little mouth over them and when she sucks the milk comes down really easily.

I'm more worried about shields affecting her gums/teeth when they come through, things like that.

I've been to a lactation consultant and they had no success in getting her to attach either - my consultant said at the moment her poor little mouth just cant handle the size of my boobs. She said itd be easier if I had bigger nipples but I cant do anything about that!

Argh, somedays I wish I could get a breast reduction!! :)

I guess I might just have to wait until the mouth to boob ratio gets a little better?!?!! :D

[cheezelkat]

Wel if they work well, don't stress too much about it! As long as your daughter is gaining weight well, then theres no need to worry about getting her off them anytime soon :thumbsup:

I used Avent brand which I thought were quite thin, and DS gained well with them. You might find your daughter might try and bite down on them when she teeths, but you can discourage that behaviour.

I don't have the huge breast problem, lol - so haven't had a similar experience with that. I have small flat nipples which were my curse :rolleyes:

[cupcakemafia]

yeah thats my problem.. small flatties on big titties :laughing:

[Goosie22]

Hi again,
I have been told that some people snip out the plastic between the holes in the end, so its more of a plastic tube that the nipple is sucked into. Getting the baby used to the full flow of the milk. May be worth a try.

But I agree with you regarding the boob to mouth ratio.

[Angelmist♥]

Sounds like your doing a great job to me:thumbsup: If you don't mind using them and there's no lack of supply, I wouldn't worry about it!Do what works for you and bub!

[xkwzit]

I used nipple sheilds with DD1 for a few weeks. We had to express all of her feeds initially (tongue tie and receding chin) and she had nipple confusion. The nipple sheild made it enough like a bottle that she'd latch on.

I still remember the light bulb moment, I put her on with the shield, then unattached her, took it off and expressed a little milk into her mouth. The light dawned...Oh the milk comes from here too - she never looked back.

I personally would keep trying w/o them, as it is a little inconvenient for you to use them. But don't stress at all, if she's satisfied and gaining weight, why worry :thumbsup:

Cheers

[kadownie]

I know it's really hard with big boobies isn't it! I have similar sized boobs- I used shields for the first little while- I can't remember how I weaned them off them...all a bit of a daze. One thing the midwife in hospy did was to prop up my boob with something- made it easier to attach to- or now I just hold it with a c shaped hand- which seemed to do the trick- best of luck- stick with it- you're doing a wonderful job!!

[JE's Mum]

Don't stress too much about it. We used a nipple shield for 5 1/2 months because we had attachment problems initially. I used to try feeding without them but he was never able to get the hang of it until he was that bit older and his mouth was bigger. I used to express a bit after feeds here and there to keep up my supply but the jury is out on whether that is necessary. Some lactation consultants I went to recommended expressing 2 or 3 times a day while others didn't see the need given that these days nipple shields are thin silicone, where as they used to be thicker rubber. There is a lot more stimulation to the breast with the modern shields.

The main advice I would have is try to use a shield with a large nipple so that more breast fills the shield (I used the Medela contact shields which were very good) so there is more stimulation and less potential effect on supply. It also helps your baby open their mouth wider. Also, the best way to try and wean them off the shield is to do what you are doing - offer the breast without the shield once a day or so for a few days. If there is no interest, give it a way for another few weeks and don't stress about it. The idea of snipping the end of the shield has also been mentioned but this method was better with the old shields. It doesn't really work with the new silicone shields as they are quite sharp when snipped (as I discovered!) so your baby will be none too happy about that!

Anyway, don't stress to much. We fed with a shield for 5 1/5 months, no probs and then without it until he was 15 months. they get the hang of it eventually and if they don't, the shields work well anyway!

All the best!

[Hokey Pokey]

I fed with a shield for my first. It was either use a shield and breastfeed or not use one and go onto formula!

[youngbrismum]

Hi LadyLuck,

Reading your post reminds me of exactly what it was like for me. I too have BIG boobs (DD usually and E when pregnant) since I was a teen and my nipples were small and flat as a tack. When my girl was born breastfeeding her was far worse than giving birth (i was at home so no drugs) and by day 5 I was passing out with the pain.

After about 3 weeks I was still in excruciating pain so much to my dismay decided to use nipple shields. It made such a huge difference not only to the pain but also my emotional well being. I was exactly like you and so reluctant to give them up cause it was easy to feed with them and I had loads of milk. Finally when Samarra was 4 months old I weaned myself off and it was such a relief. I hadn't realised how much more comfortable and easy it was to feed normally and once Samarra and I got the hang of it I was fantastic.

I know exactly what you are going through and you will know when the time is right to give them up.

Feel free to PM me if you want to chat further or for some moral support.

[JorBai]

Lady Luck!

I want to commend you on your efforts!!!:yelclap:

I too have small nipples and couldnt get my baby to latch at all, he then began to go jaundice and no one ever told me about nipple shields so now he is formula fed.

Honestly, do what you need to do to breastfeed, i know i will be trying the shields next time. Also, if you plan for another bub, there is a product by Avent called "Avent Nipplettes" what it does is draw out the nipple. Ideally you should wear them before you concieve to get the full benefit from them. I am going to try this. Sorry if TMI but I have noticed that my nipples have come out a lot since having Bailey...has anyone else noticed a change in thier nipples since bubs birth??

[xkwzit]

Yes,

Never had to worry about high beam moments before babies, but I'm liking the change:thumbsup:

Cheers