Educate me - nipple shields?

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 :wall:) 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!!!!

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!

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

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

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~~

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

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 :D 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 :hug:. BTW josh was worse than Eden lol so there is hope :)

GREAT link vic :D you posted at same time as me xoxo

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

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!

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

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

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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

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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 :D

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

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

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 :hug:

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

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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 :(

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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 :(

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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.

i just saw your FB status you poor thing!:hug:
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

At the moment I'm expressing cos its sooooo engorged...lol...... got 40 mls in ten mins each side - then i just did 10 mins again on the first side cos it was still killing - another 10 mls - now on the second side for the second time. Then going to have some panadol and a hot shower cos they are killing me!!

The good thing Mel is that you have a wonderful supply. Sorry, I didn't realise the problems attaching have been since birth.

Do you think you'd want to try the breast crawl again. I did it after really poor attachment meant I had cracked and bleeding nipples. Turned out DS knew exactly what to do, he just had to do it in his own time.

I hope the shower and panadol does the trick.

Spring x

Spring - I never did a breast crawl with her - I don't know if it would work at the moment - she'd need the strength of 10 men to climb these mountains...lol

There is a great video of it somewhere on here. It is amazing, I'll see if I can find the link.

BBL

ETA: here is the link. This video is just after birth however I also did it when DS was a few days old to correct the issues we had. My LC actually suggested doing it.

that was a cool clip imight have to try that thanks :)

It's pretty amazing hey? Barely out of the womb and their instincts help them find the way.

Hey darling Mel, just sending you some love, support and encouragement. :hug:

I have inverted nipples but have never used nipple shields. LCs would always offer them to me but I just really strongly felt like I didn't want to complicate things (they are already complicated enough).

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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.

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This was a huge issue for me, especially with inverted nipples. Poor little things, it was like trying to get them to attach to a brick wall.

My best tip is to just try to shove as much nipple into her tiny little mouth as possible. I always aimed to get their lower lip as close to the edge of the areola as possible. If I concentrated on doing that, the rest seemed to fall into place.

DS was pretty good but I struggled with DDs poor attachment (and cracked nipples) through the first few weeks and it want really until about the 4 month mark that it all started to click and become comfortable and easy. I don't mean that to sound like it will be forever before it feels OK, just that she is so, so little, this is the hardest bit and it will get easier.

Lots and lots of hugs :hug: and a bit of luck too :goodluck:

Mel hun, it's great that Eden is doing so well. I was also going to suggest the breast crawl, or baby led attachment as it's also called. It works for 3 or so months after birth, even when you have mountains on your chest! There is some information here - Australian Breastfeeding Association - Baby-led attachment, and the ABA helpline can also talk you through it. It works fantastically for many mums when babies can't attach otherwise, and also for mums where attachment is not quite right and hurting.

The other thing I'll repeat from the PPs, is seeing an LC. A good one will really help you with attachment. Let me know (PM) if you want me to try and find someone in your area.

All the best hun :hug:

check out this great youtube clip too mel :hug:

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

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?

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.

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(easier to blame her than me haha)

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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 :D - 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?

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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.

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

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!

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.

:hug: Mel, at four days I think it's unlikely she'll be 'confused' between the nipple and the teat, you guys just need a bit of assistance to get there. Attachment issues are usually resolved with some support from a LC and time (as baby grows, her mouth has an easier time attaching).

Sounds like you have plenty of great advice here, so I wish you all the best!

Mel, as you know I b/f DS with nipple shields. In the early days we had attachment issues and a LC recommended I use NS. They worked for us, and here I am 9.5 months later still using them successfully. They're definitely not for everyone, and I had a few MCHNs tell me that is was possible my supply might dry up around the 3 month mark once the hormone driven milk production stopped.

You've been given plenty of great advice. Definitely see a LC - there are some at the local hospital, and there is one at a parenting centre (Walker House in Newnham). Maybe contact the local child health clinic so they can book you in to see a LC. Then go from there.

For me using NS has been great. They have allowed me to keep breastfeeding without all the hassle and work of expressing (good on all you girls out there who express full time :clap:). Also, perhaps NS will help keep your supply up if expressing doesn't?

Hope your Pammy boobs settle down soon! ;)