Nipple shields- how did you wean??

[Angelmist♥]

Thanks for everyone who replied to my proud post!

But I have another question? Did you use nipple shields? and if so how did you wean your baby off of them to just your nipple?and in the early days did you use them for the entire feed??(Ellie's only 8 days today)

I have been wearing them for the entire feed (hmm because she won't latch no matter how much we try) but I was just told today that your only supposed to put them on to get started and take them off as soon as bub starts sucking properly??

Is that right??

Thanks in advance for any tips/advice!!

[Rainbowbrite]

I used them for the whole feed, it was too painful not to. MJ started to chew the sheild rather than suck so I tried her without it. Sometimes she would take the nipple great & others would want the shield. She basically weaned herself before she was 3 months I think, so long ago :)

Hope that helps
RB

[MariaO]

Hi, I initially used them for the whole feed. Then I started removing them mid feed. I had grazing and mastitis in one breast so I was a lot slower to remove the nipple shield from that one. It took quite a few times to confidently feed without the shields.

The hospital I went to had a breasfeeding support clinic and I did go in there to ask the nice lady to watch while I fed without the nipple shields so something like that may be useful.

[Jenko]

I was also told not to keep using them, but DD would not latch on without it. She occasionally would for a minute or so but then would get frustrated and it would be back on with the sheild.

I was also told they can reduce your milk supply and believe this to be so as I had to start topping her up with formula as she just wasn't getting enough. Topping up eventually became the norm and by 5 months she was on only 1 breastfeed a day. When I stopped that bf, my milk was gone in a few days.

Its really up to you. If you think you can persevere without the nipple shield then try it as they are a hassle. For me, I really wanted to breastfeed exclusively, but with an unhappy bub, you do what works!

Good luck!

[xkwzit]

Hi Nara
I had to use them with DD1. We had to express all of her feeds from day 1, as she could not attach. Then she had NO IDEA what to do with a nipple, attachment just got worse - until I used a nipple shield. That made the breast enough like a bottle that she knew what to do. I think we fed like that for 2 - 4 weeks (using the nipple sheild all through each feed) and then we tried to wean her off.

I still remember the light bulb moment. I tried attaching her without the sheild: no success. I then expressed a little into her mouth and she suddenly realised that milk comes from breasts too :) , started sucking and that was the end of the nipple sheilds. She might have been 8 - 10 weeks at the time :confused:

Cheers

[Angelmist♥]

[QUOTE=xkwzit]
I still remember the light bulb moment. I tried attaching her without the sheild: no success. I then expressed a little into her mouth and she suddenly realised that milk comes from breasts too :) , started sucking and that was the end of the nipple sheilds. She might have been 8 - 10 weeks at the time :confused: [QUOTE]

I've tried expressing into her mouth and she still isn't interested :rolleyes:

Thanks to everyone for your replies!I suppose she is only 8 days so I will keep trying! This afternoon she actually fed for about 5 minutes then threw the biggest wobbly until I put the shield back on :(

[giggles]

First thing to say is don't stress!

I have a 3 1/2 mnth old who I began feeding with a shield as soon as she was born. The midwife told me I had flat nipples and wouldn't be able to get her to attach properly....truth be told it was shift change and I think she needed to get out in a hurry....I shouldn't be so cynical huh!

Anyway, after beginning this way, Ava would not feed without it no matter what I tried. I fed this way for 10 weeks when I dicovered my milk supply was low and she wasn't getting enough (another thing the staff at the hospital had never told me could happen) I sat in the clinic of my community nurse and she guided me through a feed and lo and behold SUCCESS! That quickly!

I think the best thing to do to get rid of the shield is finding the right person to help you to do it....lactation consultants are a godsend.

And if you don't stop using it, that doesn't matter either!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.