Positive experiences and advice re nipple shields?

I'm really, really interested to hear people's positive stories and any advice about using nipple shields.

DS is six weeks old and we have had attachment issues since day one. He was born just over two weeks early, was a sleepy baby and screamed at the breast when we tried to latch on.

I had a little instruction in attaching at the hospital, and have since been to a breastfeeding support group to see a LC, consulted a midwife and seen my GP. From the outside, attachment looks good. I do everything the suggest. And it's not very painful, either. But the state of my nipples tells a different story! Something's obviously not working because they come out of his mouth a bit squished and with a ridge (it's almost like the latch is too shallow?) and are cracked, sore and bleeding. I also have thrush so they haven't been healing properly and feeding is painful - I actually dread the idea of putting him on the boob!

I started using nipple shields early on as it was the only way to get him on, and have weaned him off them. I use them occasionally now when attaching takes more that 10 minutes or so and he's getting too distressed, or my nipples are too flat because my breasts are full. Feeds go smoothly with the shields - he doesn't pull off or squirm, and he feeds quite happily.

I guess what I'm looking for is reassurance that
1. milk transfer is okay, and I'm not starving my baby (his weight is fine - he's a small boy, but it's just in his genes!)
2. it isn't going to dry up my milk
3. it won't make attaching without them impossible due to nipple confusion or something like that, as I hope that better attachment will come as he gets older and his mouth gets bigger

So, who out there has successfully exclusively breastfeed with nipple shields, and for how long? Why did you use them, and did the problem ever resolve? Did using shields affect your milk supply? What brand of shield did you use? Was it more inconvenient to feed?

Breastfeeding has been so difficult for me so far. I am determined to feed him for as long as I can, but I can understand now that switching to bottle feeding would be "easier" in some ways, and at least reassure me that DS was getting all the milk he needs.

Thank you so, so much!

Firstly, congratulations!!!! It sounds like you're doing a fantastic job!

i had very similar attachment issues to what you've described. Everybody told me the attachment was 'perfect' but my nipples still looked like they had been butchered. I did also have inverted nipples which was a big contributing factor.

We used nipple shields exclusively from about 2 weeks, because it was the only way we were able to BF. For the first couple of months I was resigned to the fact that we would be using them for our entire breastfeeding relationship. But at around the 12 week mark I started attempting to get DS to attach directly to the boob. I started off doing one feed on each side a day and then gradually built up until after a few weeks we weren't using them anymore. We went on to breastfeed until 22 months without any issues.

As your bubs gets older you will find that his mouth gets bigger and his suck gets stronger, making it easier for him to attach correctly to the nipple. At this stage the most important thing to do is BF, shields or not shields. By using the shield you're going to be able build a breastfeeding relationship that isn't stressful and is enjoyable for you both. That is essential for long-term BF. But to answer your questions I would say 'no' to each and everyone of them.

As long as he has good wee's and poo's you don't need to worry about whether or not he's getting enough. Nipple shields these days are so thin that your aereola still gets a really good amount of stimulation so your milk drying up really isn't a concern. And based on my experience it is relatively easily to wean from them when you are both ready.

When we first started weaning from them I would give him the first side with the shield, then offer the second side without it. By this time he wasn't starving anymore so was willing to work a little harder at the attachment iykwim?

In terms of brands, I always found the Medella ones the best. They are hard to find and more expensive, but after trying pretty much every brand out there they were definatley worth it.

There have been quite a few threads like this, and from memory there are many women on here who have had long BF relationships with their little ones using nipple shields. Like I said, if nipple shields are going to allow you and your DS to establish a comfortable and enjoying BF relationship then there is nothing wrong with them.

Good Luck hun, and you are doing fantastically! Cracked nipples are the worst! :hug: Oh, the thing I found really good for healing my cracked nipples was giving them a saline bath after each feed. I'd just fill up a medicine glass and put my nipple into it to give it a good wash. It really helped them heal a lot faster than they were.

HTH

Nipple Shields - Before You Use Nipple Shields, Read This! by Dr. Jack Newman MD, FRCPC, IBCLC

Lots of great attachment video clips online: International Breastfeeding Center - Breastfeeding Videos

I don't have time to reply now, so I'll come back and go into more detail later, but quickly:

-Had attachment issues due to DD's face plates being overlapped (fixed now)
-Started exclusively feeding with the shield at 2 weeks old.
-DD now 10 weeks old.
-Milk supply abundant, DD weight gains fantastic :)

Back later :)

We used them for a few months due to pain (as it turned out DD had a tongue tie - snipped at 3 weeks but took a while for attachment to get right), didn't have any problems with supply or weight gain, just stopped using them after a while (think I used them for some feeds instead of stopping cold turkey). We used medela ones provided by the LC and they were fine, although bought a different brand when I went away and forgot them. All in all I just trusted that things would work out and they did, didn't stress too much about supply just kept on feeding. Good luck, keep at it :)

Sorry to answer your other question they were a bit of a pain until you get the hang of it but just one of those things I guess.

The question issue that people ignore when they tell you "nipple shields will decrease your milk supply" is "compared to what?"
Most women start using nipple shields because they are having significant problems wither with pain or with a baby who has difficulty in attaching. Milk supply works the same way with shields or without shields - the more you take out of the breast the more you will make. If your baby is not able to attach properly and feed effectively without a shield that will have an impact on your supply. If you have to express and feed with a bottle because the pain is too much that will affect your supply. The shield is only the temporary solution - you need to look at the problem and seek help to fix it. (and there is help out there) Sometimes it is only time and growth and development that will fix the problem. More often there are some simple strategies that will help. Nearly every baby comes off the shield relatively easily when the problems resolve.

Thank you for all the reponses so far. The positive experiences give me hope!

I really have been trying to correct the latch problem. My next resource will be hiring a private LC to visit me at home. To be honest, I'm at a loss about what the problem is. A LC, a midwife and a GP have watched me latch him on and watched him feed and tell me all "looks" good, but there's something not right... It's almost like the latch is too shallow, but he opens wide and I pull him in and from the outside it looks correct, so I'm quite confused. I really am trying to correct the problem with professional help and I don't see the shields as a solution to the problem, but it's all been so hard so far and I don't want to give it up, but I can't continue with a bub that becomes distressed and impatient at the breast, and shredded nipples that make the whole experience unpleasant. :(

Hi lee
I had a mystery attachment problem with DS. It always looked perfect, but it wasn't. Has your bub been checked for tongue tie (including posterior tongue tie)?
DS had a slight tongue tie, but we were assured it didn't need snipping (not 100% convinced baou that). I also wonder if maybe he got nipple confusion after drinkign from a bottle early on.
In any event, at about 4 weeks our CHN (also an LC) gave me a shield and I used it till 11 weeks. After that he was big enough to get a good mouthful and it all came good. It got us through those difficult early weeks and he weaned at 2. Give it a go and see if it works for sure. With luck it'll get y ou through this difficulty and things will come good in time. there are also some mums who use them long term without problem.

I used shields for a couple of weeks when my nipples were terribly cracked and bleeding. Like others have said, my attachment looked perfect (one of my best mates is a LC so I had assistance around the clock!) but I still ended up in unbearable pain when attaching. After a couple of weeks (I think it was from about 3-5 weeks of age) I stopped using the shields and we've been cruising ever since.

I used the Avent shields as they come in a 'petite' size and I have smallish nipples.

Good luck, sounds like you're doing a great job. It does get easier and soon you'll be an old hand (or nipple, as the case may be!).

Hi,

From where you sit it is hard to imagine "what an LC can do" - you've tried everything. But LCs are skilled in observation and questioning. They can work out whether it is a "baby problem" - the result of a difficult birth, or a positional turn in utero, a tongue tie or some other physical anomoly for instance, or a "mother problem" - problem with the way you are positioning and attaching the baby for instance - or a bit of both, or something else. Sometimes we can't see what's happening because we are not trained in what to look for, but some-one who is will be able to pick it. So do go and see an experienced LC - it will make a huge difference. You really don't need to solve this alone.

I had so much difficulty with establishing BF, bub couldn't attach and would scream and pull off etc. The shields were a life saver for the first 8 weeks. Once she was feeding well with the shields I started practicing without them. She eventually got the hang of it. I had supply issues but probably because of the poor feeds. Feed often to build your supply up. Shields are great. If you can't feed without them and it means you can bf your baby then do it, you can eventually take them away. We are 8 months BF and I feel really proud, it's a long hard road for some. Hang in there hun, it gets easier. I think the thing that most ppl don't tell you is BF is a learnt skill, not something that just comes naturally for many ppl. Good luck. Hope they help!

Hi Barb, Can you tell me how I go about choosing a private LC? I've asked for recommendations in the appropriate thread, and searched the ALCA website for names. Is this the best way? Just want to make sure I get the best help I can, having been disappointed already with the professional support I've recieved... I'm in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

I used shields for a couple of weeks out of sheer desperation as my nipples were in agony with DS's shallow latch due to a tongue tie. We had the tie snipped but it still took a bit of time for the latch to be perfect and for my nipples to heal. IN the end the shields were rubbing on my nipples and making them worse so I ditched them and by then DS was latching well and the pain reduced. I had no issues with supply. HTH