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Can anyone comment on the long term use of nipple shields? DS is four weeks old today and we've been using shields since he was about a week old as he had hammered my poor boobs.
I've also noticed my nipples seem to be a different shape (flatter maybe) to when I fed DD. So it seems harder to get him to attach properly. So I'm thinking of continuing with the shields for a while before trying to wean him off them.
I fed my DS using nipple shields for our whole breastfeeding relationship until he self weaned (I was pregnant with DD) at 22 months.
Not ideal, but it can most certainly be done
If you have flat nipples after feeds I'd be seeing an LC maybe? my SIL's middle DD had tongue tie and was only diagnosed after months on a shield! Having said that ONE of my nipples goes flat after feeds, I used the shield on that side til 6 or 7 weeks and that was enough to pull it into a decent shape. I have inverted nipples though. The other one was pierced so he attaches like a dream :)
And long term use of nipple shields isn't going to do much other than ensure your maximum comfort. My LC said she was happy for DS to use them indefinitely. He has Down syndrome so small palate and broad tongue.. However he is a guzzle guts and doesn't like waiting for mummy to find the constantly MIA nipple shield so he just sorted himself until he worked out a decent latch!
I used it on one nipple for nearly 3 months and my LC wasn't bothered by it my nipple was flat and slightly inverted. I would try to get DD to latch if she didn't then I used the shield. Eventually the nipple came out more and she latched well we haven't used it since
Congrats on your baby :)
How are the feeds going with the shields now?
Who have you spoken to about your feeding issues?
Sometimes, they can work in the long term, if you've tried everything else and the feeding works like this. At worst, they're a nuisance :)
the only risk to you guys is if there's some other issue that this is masking, and continuing with the shields means the real problem is not addressed, and this ends in early weaning.
At this point, though, it's still really early days. So you have time to sort this out.
I haven't really spoken to any health professionals about it. Given its my second baby we were pretty much left to it in hospital and never saw a LC.
I had a similar thing with DD - nipple damage leading to shield use for 6 weeks. This time DS had actually made them bleed they were that damaged. Picking scabs of dead skin off your nipples is not pleasant! But I persisted through the pain and now can feed pain free with the shield. I've tried him without the shield a couple of times lately. He attaches and feeds for a minute or two but then he pulls off and its hard to reattach him, it's like once the breast is wet he can't attach again properly?! I do notice the nipples are pulled out more using the shield (which hopefully makes attachment easier?) so maybe after a few more weeks I can try weaning him off them.
Nice to know that you can successfully use them long term though if needed.
Oh and I think I recall the paed checking his mouth in hospy so I don't think he has a tongue tie but can't be 100% sure though.
I used shields for 3 1/2 months with dd and slowly got her off them once she and I were both more confident as she had terrible issues with latching early on. I bf her for 14 months.