Is it worth trying nipple shields?

[bitingfairy]

I'm hoping I might get some advice about whether my 10 week old DS is likely to tolerate nipple shields.

My DS has a posterior tongue tie. I finally got someone to believe me and a referral for a snip when he was 7 weeks. Unfortunately (after the GP forgot to send it ) I've been told it might be early May before we get seen and after 10 weeks of soreness/pain I've been struggling even more over the last few days.

I've been advised by an IBCLC that it might be worth trying shields as a temporary measure, using for part of a feed/occasional feeds to give my nipples a break. (Latch has been checked by many MWs, HV, NHS Breastfeeding person, and the IBCLC and none of them have been able to suggest anything to improve :( ) I've been reluctant until now as I fed my DD with shields for ages and had problems weaning her back to the breast afterwards (was a few weeks/months in that case though - also due to TT which they refused to snip that time)

I know I could go private, but after waiting so long for a referral, and not having an extra £100 to hand (I'd find it if I needed to, but would prefer not to) I want to wait if I can for the NHS appointment.

Anyway, we've tried DS with a bottle of ebf a few times and he's having none of it. He won't even suck the teat, just screams at it! He won't take a dummy either, just spits it out. I offered the breast straight after DH had tried the bottle for a while to see if he wasn't hungry and he latched straight on and actively fed for 10/15 minutes. (I wasn't in the room when DH was trying to feed him so I don't think he was holding out because he could see me.)

Do you think there's even any point in buying shields or is it going to be a waste of £6 that I could spend on cake to cheer me up ?

I used them with DD early on and had no issues getting her away from them, but then I used them for the odd break not all the time. I think if it's an emergency measure to just give you a break there's less chance of them causing issues.

I used them from 4 days until about 10 weeks and suddenly my DD didn't want to use them any more. She just mucked about on them by passively sucking on the plastic (I could see her little mouth sliding up and down) and so I took them off and used them a couple of times after that when she was too tired to latch on properly but wanted to feed. My problem with bfing prior to using the shields (I now realise) was that she didn't open her mouth wide enough which she had to do to feed from the shields.

In your case I would buy them.