Educate me - nipple shields?

[Olive]

check out this great youtube clip too mel

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...tube-clip.html

[Lolli]

Oh wow. I never knew you could do a breast crawl so long after birth. Do you think i could try it with dd, just for the fun of it?

Mel, I used shields for eight weeks with ds. We had the same kind of problem- he just couldn't attach. They were a God send. I actually copped a lot of flac of mchn's for them, but I figured better to bf with shields than not at all (I never even considered full time expressing, it just didn't occur to me). I have also heard theycan effect supply, but never had a problem, although I definately felt the difference once I stopped using them- it was so much more stimulation, i think if I had tried them again after not using them for a while, my milk might have dried up, iykwim?

[megs]

Sorry to hear what you are going through.

I have used nipple shields with my eldest son, and my youngest. My reasons were that I am well flat I suppose, although after a good feed they are fine,.

DS1, was a sleepy baby, wouldn't attach and now looking back in hindsight the reason he couldn't was because his tongue was too short. I tried a LC and whilst after about an hour she got him on their was no way I could do it at home. He weaned off them at 5 months and attched (mouth and tongue were stronger by then) and I breastfed til he was 14 months.

DS2: He had a long tongue so attached no worries

DS3; He was born, wouldn't attach at all after birth, had a great Midwife also a LC, told her my problem with DS1, she looked in DS3 mouth and said he has minor tongue tie, your too flat no way he will attach well. Used a shield until about 12 weeks, and he now attaches no worries and is fully BF.

My milk supply wasn't affected at all, only issue with shield is that it does probably extend the length of a feed slightly. I was happy with the Pidgen brand, they only are half so bubs can still smell the breast.

Good luck, stick with it and I hope you get through the next few days.

[Fleur]

(easier to blame her than me haha)

Well sometimes it IS them

I used shields with DS2 , he was a lazy feeder & they just helped him get going, we weaned off them at about 8 weeks I think & went on to BF for 14mths.

DD2 was also a lazy feeder & then I had oedema in my breasts at day 4 PP. I wanted to try shields again & the hospital LCs advised against them, said they can reduce supply. They recommended bottles, she refused the breast & 4mths on I am fulltime expressing - just my experience - I would give the shields a go.
WRT supply, sounds like you have a good supply but if it is a worry you can always express a bit after a feed, just to make sure that they are getting stimulated.
I think shields can help too with large breasts, gives them something more defined to latch onto IYKWIM?

[squidipa]

DS3; He was born, wouldn't attach at all after birth, had a great Midwife also a LC, told her my problem with DS1, she looked in DS3 mouth and said he has minor tongue tie, your too flat no way he will attach well. Used a shield until about 12 weeks, and he now attaches no worries and is fully BF.

.

all my kids has tounge ties too josh has the biggest one of all if ya memba mel

[Jas]

DS1 didn't attach properly adn I was having similar probs with ds2. An lc I saw suggested nipple shields and they were just wonderful. I had the medela ones too, yes they can reduce your supply but if it is bf with shields or no feeding at all then shields would be your better option. It really just makes it so easy ds would just go on just like drinking a bottle you aren't working to attach them. It might just get you through so you dd gets if I suck I get milk and then once she is in that rhythm and you are feeding her she is growing etc you're more confident and then you can ditch the shields, I used them for 5weeks and with all my heart I believe if I had them with ds1 I would have been able to bf him too.

I just want to say that while there is nothing wrong with ff I have found bf to be just the most beautiful thing and so I just wanted to say push on like you did to get your vbac if it is somethiikng you would like to experience. You aren't destined to not bf its just its a struggle now and I know it feeld like it would always be like this but often the solutions can be so simple and before you know it you could feed with your eyes closer and your handds tied behind your back.

I think the shields would be a good option to try but I would really really suggest the lc!

[Gigi]

When you see the LC, they'll prolly check for "tongue tie" too. One more possibility to rule out.

Breastfeeding Helpline (open to all, whether you're an ABA member or not)
1800 686 2 686
Australian Breastfeeding Association

they have an email helpline too

i hope you get some IN REAL LIFE help. to help you use those nipple shields.

Some people DO do full time expressing bf in a bottle.
You obv have a great supply, so it's not that Eden won't get bm, it's a matter of HOW she takes it in, direct from you or from the bottle, or a mix?

have you tried giving her the bm in any other ways, than the bottle?
e.g syringe, eye dropper.
(to avoid "nipple confusion").

to try the breast crawl thingy, try it when you're lying down e.g on comfy big bed. have some rolled up towels to put behind your back for support if you end up feeding her on your side. you might need to roll up a small towel under your breast to help position yourself for her.

feeding lying down takes practice (well it did for me), but it's well worth learning, you get more sleep if you can feed lying down.

we struggled the first few months, bilby and me.

if you are feeling extrememly full, can you express off more milk inbetween feeds? to empty out your breasts a bit. the watermelon feeling will settle down, it won't always be this painful.

times you can't manage a hot shower (lack of time), try hot water compresses with a flannel. stick that in your maternity bra for some relief.

hope it improves for you soon petal.

don't compare yourself to others, please don't beat yourself up over what happened with your other children, you and Eden are starting a NEW r'ship, and you'll work it out, over time. Whatever works for you and Eden, will be just fine.

establishing a breastfeeding r'ship takes time. Early feeding can be very time consuming. Being relaxed enough to do it (both of you) is important.

What do your other two do, when you're feeding? Are you able to focus on Eden and yourself, or are you wrangling the other two simulataneously?

i am in awe of mums of more than one! you rock Mel.