Breast Shells

[runnermum2]

Has anyone used breast shells to aid in collecting breast milk? One advert I read suggested I might collect 5 oz per day! If so then I woudn't need to express - or am I unlikley to collect this much?

That's the silliest thing I've ever heard, sorry!

I used breast shells to keep my clothes off my hideously sore nipples when we were first learning to feed they were brilliant for that. And they did catch the drips. But I'm quite drippy and I never got anywhere near 5oz, and besides, it would have been sloshing around in the warm all day not very hygienic.

I thought it sounded too good to be true! Thanks

Well yes & no.

I was an 'over-producer' and once i realised i used breast shells. I could collect tonnes, had to remember not to bend down when wearing them and to keep emptying them out into a bm storage bag.
If i kept one in and fed on the other side, the shell would overflow.
I emptied them quite regularly so not too unhygienic i don't think.

Highpoint (?) was when the tesco man came, i bent down to pick up the shopping and poured milk all down my front

I didn't wear them all the time, just while feeding, and collected a fair amount. Then I just put it into a little bottle and stored in the same way as any other expressed BM. You can sterilise the shells, so really not a problem. But not sure what would happen if you were just wearing them all day.

I might give them a whirl then just at feeding times. I will bear in mind the importance of staying upright!! :o

LOL
another tip - make sure the 'spout' is pointing up, otherwise everything will pour out the bottom.

I only wore them, when not feeding, when i wasn't going anywhere, they do make you look/feel like Madonna with those pointy boob things in one of her videos

I was told, but don't know how true it is, that milk that just 'leaked' rather than 'pumped' may just be foremilk, so not enough for a bottle of expressed, but handy for mixing in or for mixing with baby food later on.

If you keep a bottle or bag in the fridge, and just add your "catchings" after each feed, you might be able to get 5oz. Those breast shells were heaven for just taking the edge off oversupply.

I was clearly a freak an overproducer!

I was given shells by the hospital when I had DD- they took pity on me I think. They held 2oz and I had to empty them twice each whilst feeding on the opposite side. I didn't wear them between feeds though.

I accumulated a tray full of 4oz bottles during my week's stay which were sterilised and used in the SCBU

I continued using them for a month after I went home. A midwife collected my daily frozen pints

I used them in the early days during feeds, but tbh I wouldn't bother next time although if I were near enough to a bank to donate my milk then I would.

IIRC it was recommended that you didn't wear them for more than 40 mins at a time, or else they could stimulate more supply.

If you're getting some, get the ones without holes, otherwise you'll forget which way up they go, or forget to take them off before you lean over to change a nappy - and wonder where all the wetness has suddenly come from!

It only being the foremilk that you collect makes sense to me.

I used them while feeding or expressing and managed to gain a few ounces throught the day. BM can feel like golddust sometimes
I wouldnt wear them during the day though. It would decidedly odd

I overproduced on the left side when I fed ds, but not my dds. There is a research project topic in there I'm sure. I used it for mixing with his baby rice when he was 3 months old - it was 19 years ago and the health visitor told me to...

Wow marriednotdead. I use shells with a blocked duct or mastitis as it helps me clear the problem. After these posts, i might start wearing on my right side as i have oversupply there and am uncomfortable - might as well collect what i can even if the shell stimulates more production

It also helped cut down on breast pads - I used to go through several each feed otherwise, just soaked right through.

i found the shells really helpful to collect about 40-50ml from the side I wasn't feeding on. I only had them in when feeding. Also found that in the morning would collect loads but by evening very little. watch out for useless Boots ones - have lots of holes in them so impossible to take out without spilling contents. Medela the best on the market at the moment I think, altho does anyone else have trouble finding the spout easily?

Wow - some of you have SUPERboobs! And I thought I had good supply.

Had dear, had.

Now the extra 4- honestly!- cup sizes have long gone, they are somewhat deflated and have a daily convo with my navel