Educate me - nipple shields?

[Arimeh]

Ok - I know what they are - but what exactly are they there to help with? For example, Eden is beginning to latch on fine with a bottle now - nice shaped lips and she just sucks away happily, however, I just tried her on the boob again, and she just sat there with my nipple in her mouth, and then rolled it around her tongue sorta thing, and then yanked her head down, and clamped her lips shut around it and sucked - ouch! No matter how many times I detach her and try again (my latest count was 20 ) she keeps on doing it!!!!!

I dunno if its cos she is used to the bottle already - can that happen at 4 days old??? - but would getting nipple shields help the problem at all?

I'm going between wanting to keep trying to bf and happy to express - arghhh - I dunno what to do!!!!

[hj1981]

Not that im going to be much help but i used nipple shields for when i had really sore cracked nipples! they helped a fair bit!
Im no expert with nipple shields but have a friend who started using them to help her breast feed and now she says she can't feed without them!?
I Failed in my breast feeding experience but did find they helped with the whole attachment and breastfeeding experience!

[Rainbow_Mumma]

i used sheilds with my 2nd same as pp due to cracked sore nipples but i swear by them and i have heard of nipple confusion happening so early and sheilds helping in that area they arent expensive from a chemist so i would def give it a go and see how you go

[BloominRoses]

Although DS is a prem, I used them after the Lactation Consultant recommended this may be the only way he'd latch properly after him failing to for the first few days.

They did work at first - he obviously had a teeny mouth and although my size wouldn't have been an issue for a full-term baby iykwim, they were just too big for him so this gave him a tiny target to focus on instead. The only problem I found with them was that they were sloooooow to get the milk to him so even though he was only starting with a goal of maybe 20mls, he'd get exhausted having to suck that hard for a feed and would fall asleep three-quarters of the time halfway through. Especially frustrating when EBM in a bottle was much easier for him and would get the job done in 10 minutes or so.

Oh - and I think I spent about $120 on 6 or 7 different packs trying to find a pair that fit properly. Some brands come in sizes ie Small, Medium/Large whilst others are OSFA. Well, one size definitely does not fit all and that was further money peed down the drain. So if you choose to try them, sneak a peek in the box before you buy. You're looking for something that closely resembles the width and length of your nipple when it's erect I think - or at least that's what I found worked for me the most. Any of them that were too wide or long just didn't get the milk to him effectively and made his 'mouth lolling' that much worse.

Sorry if this didn't make much sense - typing through a sicky haze and I was basically winging it on my own with this stuff so maybe someone with more professional advice will come in this thread too.

Good luck Mel with whatever you choose -
S xo

[onthefly]

Do you have an LC at hand? Sounds like she may be a bit confused and an LC might be able to help you overcome that. Or have you tried calling the ABA?
As I understand it, shields can help when babies have trouble attaching. It's good to get advice from an LC for these too - there's a real knack to using them.

All the best~~

[*Beema*]

We used them with DD as her mouth was too small to feed from my BBS.

I had two different types, but the one's I really like were ones that had a break in them (don't completely cover the breast, what this did was still allow that little bit of extra skin to skin touch. The Medela "Contact" is the one I found best.Nipple Shield

I would wash them in warm soapy water after each use and then rinse and air dry, then store in a little air tight container. I ended up with a few ready for being out and about, at night and at home - was handy to have them in a container for the overnight feeds as it was easier to find a container then a little clear thing when I was half awake

I weaned DD off them at about 10 weeks, but tried a few times before that but she wasn't ready.

I have been "told" that they might effect your supply, but I do know a lot of people who have had no problems, I had crappy supply with and without the shields so I don't believe they made any difference to me!

I would give them a shot Mel, might do the job for you

HTH's youa re doing a great job hun
xxoo

[squidipa]

mel i hear ya... yep i didnt even know it i have flat nipples can ya believe it i couldnt. I was asking the chemist lady what size in normal then if myn arnt normal/average sized.... with josh by the time i got the shield it was a bit to late but not for you.

Its silicone and its a cover ya place over ya nipple. express a little milk inside the shield looks like a fake nipple thats clear with holes in it. This gets bub smelling.. BTW i love your name choice hehe. hubbie too absolutely beautiful.... attach baby as normal your nipple will be sucked into the shape of the mold of the nipple shield and bub will get milk. Its great for sore cracked nipples and for always i think i will just go the shield straight off the bat this time save problems. With all the other 3 kids it was 8 weeks that was my best shot.. joshie was longer but as you know very well was a aweful roller coaster for me. By the time vic suggested maybe buying a shield it helped heaps but i was nearly at my end i did it for about 4 more weeks or 6 and that was it josh was still comping off but 75% less than before it gave him something to ATTACH TO. oops caps sorry we just rinsed in soapy water and that was that.

certainly try it it could be your savour well worth the approximate 10 bucks. msn message me if ya wanna talk more about it sweet . BTW josh was worse than Eden lol so there is hope

GREAT link vic you posted at same time as me xoxo

[BloominRoses]

Just popping in to add the half-moon shaped ones ie Medela Contact as Beema mentioned worked the best for me.

[feeb]

I think and LC appt would do you the world of good as they will look at what Eden is doing and what you are doing and tweek positioning and attachment to best assist you.

Sue Cox is an LC in Hobart and she is a MASSIVE BF guru she makes DVD's for ABA.

ABA and or LC is my reccommendation, wish you lived in melb as I would come and help you!

[Miss E]

I had inverted nipples so started using a shield when I was in hospital to help DS attach and try and draw my nipple out. For the first two or three weeks I used them on and off, but ended up with terribly cracked nipples so started using them full time. I found them great and they took all the stress and angst out of feeding for me. But I did find that the feeds took quite awhile with them. There was a point where I thought that we would be using them forever cos I couldn't imagine ever being able to feed without them. But at about 8 weeks I gradually started trying to wean from them and by the time we got to 12 weeks we'd stopped using them completely and DS was attaching himself easily. I would definately say give them a go, for me they made those first few weeks so much easier.

I also bought a range of different ones but did find the medela one that the hospital gave me the best. I looked everywhere to by another one, but couldn't find anywhere that stocked them. The Avent ones were also ok, but not as good as the medela ones. Oh and I found the pigeon ones crap. HTH

[Arimeh]

See I don't have inverted or flat nipples or anything - so not the usual problems needed for nipple shields, she just doesn't open her mouth or attach properly (easier to blame her than me haha)

If anything, my nipples are too big for her, I know my boobs are at the moment - they are GINORMOUS!!!!!! when I put her on before I could barely see her head.. LOL

[*Beema*]

See I don't have inverted or flat nipples or anything - so not the usual problems needed for nipple shields, she just doesn't open her mouth or attach properly (easier to blame her than me haha)

If anything, my nipples are too big for her, I know my boobs are at the moment - they are GINORMOUS!!!!!! when I put her on before I could barely see her head.. LOL

I don't have flat or inverted nipples either, just too big

I agree and LC may be able to provide some assistance, This is a link to the Tasmanian ABA there are quite a few groups in your area, that would be able to help you out as well

[squidipa]

see my nipples do stick out but obviously not enough maybe i dunno i always thought they were normal mel .

[Spring Angel]

I found that when I was really full it was too hard for DS to attach. When your milk first come it it's like trying to fit a basket ball into a little mouth.

Perhaps try hand expressing a little off before a feed to see if that makes it easier to attach.

Also don't forget it isn't too late to try the breast crawl. You'll need some quite time (which I'm sure is in really short supply in your house) but it might be worth a try.

HTH
Spring xx

[onthefly]

For me DS just wouldn't attach properly - kept pulling back and giving me a lipstick nipple. Stopped the shields at around 11 weeks.

Sue Cox would be great to see! Please call someone and get help in person

[Arimeh]

Perhaps try hand expressing a little off before a feed to see if that makes it easier to attach.

My milk has only just come in today - and she hasn't attached properly at all since coming into this lovely world!

I think I'm just destined to not breastfeed cos none of my kids have ever attached properly

[squidipa]

My milk has only just come in today - and she hasn't attached properly at all since coming into this lovely world!

I think I'm just destined to not breastfeed cos none of my kids have ever attached properly

none of myn did either except in the end with josh do ya have the cash to spare to see if a shield would help? not a waist of money fi it helps i need to buy some more anyhow for myself.

you need to feel comfortable with any choice you choose to take sweet BFing was never gonna be a long thing for me i never found enjoyment from it but i was starting to feel o.k about it but josh was loosing to mcuh weight and not growing.

[Butterfly Child]

i just saw your FB status you poor thing!
i remember in the early days to with dd having a grazed nipples and the nipple sheilds were my life saver, i remember b4 using them id dread havinf to feed dd because it was so painful but after using them made things so much more painfree
From memory i think i used the avent ones ..i think. Goodluck hunn xx