nipple shield...

[Annpan88]

Hiya, been posting a lot lately! Had a few problems withg breast feeding and I've only been able to get 12 day old DS to latch on with a nipple shield. He wasn't gaining weight as quickly as the mid wife wanted so the told me to wan him off the shield. I was able to get him to sometimes go without for a day or 2 but now he won't (after abother to weighings he's gaining a lot of weight and was only just below birth weight on day 11).

He just screams and screams if I try and get him go to the breast which is frustrating as he went happily a couple of times but goes straight away with the shield. However, I believe he has to work a lot harder with the shield doesn't he? I've tried giving him expressed milk first to calm him but he just screams when near breats. I've also tried feeding with shield then takinhg away but again he justyt sceeams. I've tried for about half an hour at a time but I feel encouraging him to the breast for any longer than this when he gets so upset is just cruel.

Any help would be much appriciated as he is sucha lovely happy wondeful boy the rest of the time but seems to be so misreble when presented with a breast. Has anyone else had this issue?

Thank yoi

Hi Ann,

Congratulations on your DS!

There are some great tips for weaning off nipple shields on kellymom . There are loads of suggestions, so you won't be able to try them all at once, but will hopefully give you some ideas. I wasn't quite sure from your post whether your DS's weight gain is still a cause for concern? If it is, then you definitely want to get some real life help ASAP - perhaps try one of the phone lines . If his weight gain is ok, even using the shields, then you don't have to wean him off them straight away - perhaps just leave it a day or two so you are both more relaxed? Although I would still recommend the phone lines - it often helps just to talk things through with an expert!

Hi Ann,

Many women find that they can use nipple shields without any problems for as long as they continue to breast feed (ie. months and months). In fact, some say that if it wasn't for the shields, then they wouldn't have carried on breastfeeding.

Is he is gaining weight better now (it's not quite clear from your post if this is the case), then you may be OK to continue using them.

Lots of mnetters have found that they can wean them off them later on, or just continue to use them.

There was a thread about this a few weeks back, so it maybe worth a search- it was gaelicsheep who started it I think.

Brilliant thanks. Sorry for not being clear, his weight gain is going very well at the moment so really pleased and there's no longer a cause for concern. I think I will just relax a bit more, just the midwives are very much saying he should be weaned now but people seem to use them with no harm to the baby!

I think his weight gain was rubbish at first as I was expressing and topping up with formula but now he's just on the breast (shield) he's doing a lot better quickly!

Thanks for the responces feel a lot better :) xx

Hi, I used nippleshields for about 6 weeks and like you, I had some major issues in stopping using them. My own nipples are fairly flat and I think ds found it a lot easier to 'locate' the shield and then latch on. I remember spending many feeding sessions with us both in tears. I stopped using them 3 months ago now so there is hope!

My advice would be to start with the night feeds. It was a lot easier when he was sleepy. Then offer the naked boob at every feed but if he gets stressy use the shield for a bit and then offer boob again when he's not so ravenous.

Lots of women use shields successfully for the whole time they breastfeed so if it's not going well, don't worry. I just found them a faff and awkward when you're out and trying to be discreet.

I would be wary about giving expressed milk at this stage. Your supply is still becoming established and you need your baby at your breast a lot.

Hi, I used nippleshields for about 6 weeks and like you, I had some major issues in stopping using them. My own nipples are fairly flat and I think ds found it a lot easier to 'locate' the shield and then latch on. I remember spending many feeding sessions with us both in tears. I stopped using them 3 months ago now so there is hope!

My advice would be to start with the night feeds. It was a lot easier when he was sleepy. Then offer the naked boob at every feed but if he gets stressy use the shield for a bit and then offer boob again when he's not so ravenous.

Lots of women use shields successfully for the whole time they breastfeed so if it's not going well, don't worry. I just found them a faff and awkward when you're out and trying to be discreet.

I would be wary about giving expressed milk at this stage. Your supply is still becoming established and you need your baby at your breast a lot.

19wo and still using them!!

My 4 month old will only feed without the shields in the bath. No idea why (floating and naked seems to work ). She is gaining weight fine and seems not to be suffering from using them. I try to wean her off but she screams bloody murder so I give up.

They are a pain so wean if you can!

I was a nipple shield user here!

It was the only way I could get DD to breastfeed. She gained weight well with them but I did attempt a few times to wean her off them. I really shouldn't have bothered because she decided herself at about 5 months old, that she'd had enough of them and would snatch them off my boob and wave it in my face

I heard a HV say that it's not that babies get less milk with nipple shields, it just takes them longer to get it.

I must admit it's nice not having to use them now but thank goodness for them!

Don't worry about it. I bf my dd for 16 weeks with them before switching to formula due to getting too stressed about her reflux. They saved bf for us.

DS is 18 weeks and 3 days, and we've been using shields for 18 weeks and oh, 2 days! They definately saved BF for me. Occasionally DS will latch on without them, but more often protests :o