Weaning off nipple shields - HELP!

[milson]

Sorry for jumping into your post Lynn but I have found it really interesting to read everyones responses. I have noticed that one breast is easier to attach without the nipple shield but I just find the shield easier. My DD is the same age as your son. At the clinic the other day I was told that her tongue was always up and that she didn't open her mouth wide - which may be because of using the shield. The next day at home I found that she had already learnt somewhat to open her mouth wider. Now that I have mastitis again I am just using the shield. Like some of the other ladies have said I have friends who FF and they seem to have their own lot of problems.

Lewis's mum - I have had serious engorgement too. In hospital when the milk came in I was told I was producing for twins and required physio on them. from some one who was a 12C to go to the size that I did was quite a shock. i also have flat nipples which is contributing to the problem.

I really want to continue b/f and will for the moment with the shields but if I am honest I don't know if I really like b/f Everyone says that you bond with the baby by doing this but I don't really feel as if I am. Did/does anyone else feel like this?

[Janie]

Milson, I think it's normal, when you're having problems, to feel as though you are not bonding with your baby while feeding. You can't relax, you're concentrating on attachment etc, maybe it's painful. It's not easy to enjoy yourself! But trust me, once your breastfeeding relationship becomes easy (and it will!) the bonding experience is beautiful One day your baby will smile up at you whilst feeding and your heart will melt.

You are doing a wonderful job. I think if you keep plugging away at it, you will one day find it all worthwhile

[MantaRay]

Milson, I think it is quite common to not enjoy bfing in the first few, difficult weeks. I know I found the first few weeks very challenging and stressful and I honestly couldn't say that I felt I was bonding by bfing or even really enjoying it. But that definitely changed. Once you are settled and bub is feeding well, it does become enjoyable and the time with them at your breast is very special. I can honestly say there is nothing like it, and it is definitely one of the most rewarding parts of motherhood. You will get there, just give it time and don't put pressure on yourself.

Lynne, I am glad you are comfortable with how you are going, and want to perservere. I am really sure that you will stop needing the shields and you will be glad you continued bfing. Just hang in there hun and take it slow and easy. GL.

[~Saram~]

HI Lyn,

My DS had a similar introduction to the world as yours, 4 weeks early, jaundice and a weak suck reflex. We used nipple shields until he was 9mths when he spontaneously latched on and went on to BF for 2yrs.

I know how frustrating it is! How hard it is to feed discretely not to mention all the people telling you that your milk will dry up and how you need to wean off the shields.

I had about 4 pairs of shields one I kept always in the nappy bag, one beside the bed for night feeds (2 pairs in the early days when we were feeding frequently at night) and one in my little feeding stash (water bottle, mag, shields) When we went out I would keep a sheild in the clevage of my bra so when I was feeding I could just slip it out of there and pop it on.

When my DD was born I was determined not to use sheilds but we did end up using them but only for about 9-12wks! Hoping that is of some help to you

[liss_jay]

My daughter had jaundice too & was also in special care. I used nipple shields for a couple of weeks (As per the nurses) & then one day, she just got the hang of feeding with out them. It took a while but we got there in the end. Just keep trying. I found that the Breast Feeding Ass were so supportive throughout my very tough but rewarding experience. We had so many problems & were told to give up BF but I perservered with it & it was so worth while. Just to add... Try listening to some music that you really like & try to relax while feeding. I hated it at first but after a while, I looked forward to the feeds. It is an amazing experience, one you & your baby share exclusively.
BF is such a beautiful thing. Just do your best. Try not to stress about it. Just try to enjoy!
Good Luck!

[Lynn]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! It is so great to get these responses and make me think about continuing. I was at the shops today and walked past the formula and said to Ethan, we could be buying that soon but hearing these stories encourage me to continue. I have decided that I need to tackle his reflux and sleeping problems at the moment but will try again next week without the shield. B/f for me is not painful it is just frustrating because he is so on/off, so I will try to continue.

Lewis's Mummy - the shield's have definitely not affected my supply. I have plenty of milk, sometimes the poor little guy is drowning in it!

Janie - thank you, I appreciate your support. I need the encouragement!

Milson - don't apologise at all. I'm glad that this thread can help you and others too. I am exactly like you and to be honest was embarassed at first to admit it but I don't like b/f either. It isn't the feeling because that doesn't bother me, but talking about it with my mum today I think the reason I don't like it is because it hasn't come easy to me so I am finding it frustrating and therefore not enjoying it. I am just hoping that over time as I work through the problems and it gets easier that I do enjoy it. Although I don't like b/f at the moment, I am and have bonded with my son so I don't think you have to enjoy b/f to bond. I think what Janie said is perfect.

Saram - thank you, you have helped. Just hearing others stories and knowing that I am not alone on this journey.

Thank you liss_jay and MantaRay - I appreciate your support

[milson]

Hi Lynn

Just thought I would pop in to see if you are still using the nipple shield or did you end up going to formula?

I am still using the shield- well sometimes I can get a reasonable attachment with the right nipple without it but on the whole I am using them.

[Jule]

I had problems getting DD to attach (flat nipples and she had ABO which made her jaundice). I ended up using nipple sheilds and ended up using them for 6 months. I'd tried and tried to get ther off them with no luck. Then one day she just handed it to me and latched on. It still took a lot of work to kep going after that - I got mastitis (again) but taking her to a chiro REALLY helped. We are still going and it's nearly been a year.

[Lynn]

Hey Milson,

Yes unfortunately I am! I have tried and tried but he just won't take the breast without it (or he is just so on/off and it hurts!). I always thought my supply was ok but it turns out that it isn't and I'm not feeding Ethan enough. He has been so unsettled but since I have been topping him up he has been much happier. I was topping him up with EBM but I'm just not getting enough for him so I am topping him up with formula. I can only do what I can do and this is the best at the moment.

Are you going to continue using it or try more to get rid of it? It is hard isn't it?!?!

[milson]

Yes it is hard. Harder than the labour I think as that is well and truely over (well for me it is).

I am going to continue. I would like to b/f for 6 months. Then I would like to get my cycle back as by the end of the year we would like to try again for number 2. Gosh thinking about this frightens me but because of age (35) and the time it took to conceive I think we should start again.

I think what you are doing is great. I do have a lot of milk so feel I should use it although still can't say I love b/f.

Jule thanks for letting me know your success story.

[Lynn]

Well without getting too excited too soon - I did a b/f this afternoon with no shield and he needed no top up!! I think he must have been having a growth spurt the past 2 weeks because he isn't taking as much for the top ups and seems a bit more content with the b/f....................let's just see how it goes before getting too excited.I am like you too - I can't say I love b/f, maybe because it hasn't come easy. Good luck with #2. We too took a while to conceive and needed medical help too (Cooper was concieved on Clomid and Ethan on FSH/IUI) so we don't want to wait too long either. So many challenges and hurdles aren't there..............but we will get there

[Ginger]

well done lynn, that's great!

[Lynn]

Woohoo! Another b/f with no shield and no top up! Too early to do a happy dance?????????? Nah

[Spring Angel]

WTG Lynn and Ethan

Time for some of these green guys

[Lynn]

Thanks Spring - I wasn't going to bring those guys out just yet!! Maybe give it a few more feeds without the shield, then we can definitely bring them out!

[Janie]

Lynn, I am so proud of you and Ethan Well done to you both

Re. top ups, just breastfeed him as much as you can stand, like 8-12 times a day. I bet you find that after doing that for a week or so, you won't need to give him any top ups at all! It's amazing how well the supply = demand thing works.

Oh man, I'm so happy for you!

[Lynn]

Thanks Janie! We have done a few extra feeds today so we will see how things go. We had to do a top up this morning but other than he was ok just with b/f.

[MantaRay]

Woo hoo Lynn, that is sounding very promising. Well done - you have done an amazing job. It can only get easier for you now. I am so happy for you.