Feeding bub with undershot jaw, help with nipple shields?

[lissy]

Help, I'm so sore right now just the thought of feeding my little man has me cringing & crying . Apparently I'm having trouble as he has an undershot jaw. I need to do something about it asap but so far everyone just keeps saying is he's not attaching properly!!!!

So was wondering if nipple shields would help until I can get this sorted out? I know nothing about them though. If I send DF to the local baby shop, I'm still in hospital, should they be able to tell him what I need?

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

The staff in hospital should be able to provide nipple shields and help you to use them. If they are not keen on the idea, point out how painful it is to feed and ask them what the risks of using a nipple shield are. They may say that they believe they may decrease the milk supply. However, there is really no evidence for this - say you would like to try them. It would be preferable to use a nipple shield than give up all together. Ask to see a lactation consultant.
When you have problems in the early days the important thing is to feed the baby - your milk direct from the breast or expressed. And maintain your milk supply - the rest can be sorted out

[lissy]

Thanks barb. Look so far the hospital hasn't been very helpful, they are that busy by the looks of things I thought it might be easier if I just did it myself. They haven't had time to help me with my bubs upset spewy tummy that's getting me & him up every 20mins, so i wasnt going to hold my breath on the attachment thing.

[MummyDuck]

Lissy find out if they have bf day stays at the hospital. Mine was awesome. And it wasn't run by the maternity department but was at the hospital.

My home midwife was mortified when they sent me home with feeding problems my nipples were bleeding bruised blistered cracked and I was on day 3!!!!

I used nipple shields and took panadol before feeding (not great but better than giving up)

I feel for you Hun. My hospital midwives just said it was normal for the first few weeks



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[Charlotte91]

DD's jaw is set back, (DP wasn't breastfed because of his jaw as well) and using a nipple shield was the only way I could BF her.

I got mine from the Special Care Nursery.

[Miss E]

Yes, I would say definately get some nipple shields, if the hospital won't help than get your DP to go get them. I had similar problems to begin with and without them we would never have been able to establish BF. Good luck hun, stay strong and keep trying, you will get there

[lissy]

Ok so df went & got me some lanolin cream & nipple shields. The cream really helps but bub is still chewing my nipples to pieces. I've checked that I have the nice 'special k' attachment & it looks good to me. I tried a nipple shield last night & bub wasn't overly fussed. Do they take a while to get used to them? Am I using it right? I'm just placing the shield over my nipple & as bub starts sucking its suctioning on & drawing my nipple up but not all the way???

My breasts are really engorged atm so I do have a little trouble getting him to attach initially sometimes.

[Olive]

babies are born with a recessed jaw for the purpose of feeding... i hope things get better soon darl

[onthefly]

Are you able to access a lactation consultant from the hospital at all (some are crap for that, unfortunately)? If not, maybe ask on here for a recommendation or call the ABA. Getting some expert, in-person help is really important.
If you're engorged, try using a warm flannel first and maybe hand express a bit to soften them up.
The sheilds can take some getting used to - again, an LC would be the best person to help you with that. Do you have access to pumps? As barb says, the most important thing is that you get milk from your breasts into your baby. If that means cup or bottle feeding wihle you get things sorted, that's fine. A good LC can get you back on track.
All the best!

ETA - check out THIS PAGE from teh ABA website with links to a lot of info, including on attachment

[megs]

I used Nipple Shields with 2 of my boys, and my youngest had an undershot jaw and mild tongue tie. My hospital didn't supply them and with my firstborn DH was sent to the chemist to purchase them (poor thing had no idea) anyway my opinion I didn't like Avent ones at all, the nipple bit on them was huge (i'm not) and they just didn't sit right. I used Pidgeon ones, it has one side cut out and you place the cut out bit where bub's nose will be so that he is still smelling you. (sorry if I'm stating the obvious but my SIL just started using them and didn't realise that was what she was meant to do).

I have also had girlfriends use the Medala ones but I found them hard to find so just stuck with Pidgeon.

Just to let you know I breastfed my eldest using a shield until he was 5 months, he just wouldn't attach otherwise (I tired a Lactation Consultant and everything) at 5 months he managed to latch on his own and was breastfed til he self weaned at 14 months. So don't let people tell you that you can't use them because it will decrease your supply because there is every chance it won't. I think the stress of trying to get my bub to attach without it was causing more harm to my supply than the shields.

Good luck with it all, breastfeeding can be a challenge but if you can master it, it is a beautiful thing.

[onthefly]

I tried medela and avent shields with my DS and medela were definitely much better.

[Miss E]

I also tried a few different brands and found the medella ones were the best.

One thing my LC told me was to hand express a few drops of BM around the edges of the shield before attaching bubs. The moisture helps to keep it in place and bubs can also smell the milk so is a bit keener to get going. I found this helped heaps.