Nipple shields - working for us - HV says to wean off though??

[Babycameearly]

Hi - as the title says really... ds1 was born 5 weeks early 2 weeks ago and couldn't latch. Nipple shields solved the problem and we've happily bf since - overcame tube feeds in SCBU and got discharged early as he was feeding so well :)

HV visited the other day and said to wean off them asap as 'breast is best' and to avoid me getting sore. I've read horror stories about bf being painful / uncomfortable and am happy that so far with the shields it's been pain and stress free. Baby latches first time most feeds and stays on 'till he's done. Do I really have to wean him off them and onto me 'properly'??

Nipple shields can have medium and long term problems, so your HV is not wrong to alert you....for a discussion on this, any of the bf helplines would be a good idea.

The main issues are that shields reduce supply over time, and the baby becomes less able to latch on direct. yes, they can resolve some problems short term but they're not really a good thing to have without a plan for getting rid.

Don't worry about pain, you shouldn't have pain or crack nipples if the latch is right. If you do you should seek help from someone trained in breastfeeding support.

Not everyone has problems with pain while BF, beleive it or not some mum's never have pain at all.

DS had a horrible and painful latch (and tongue tie, which we got fixed, but didn't solve the painful latch) and nipple shields got me through. A lot of people are so doggedly pro-breastfeeding and yet so anti nipple shields.. I don't get it. If that's what helps people breastfeed successfully rather than giving up, shouldn't they be all for it?!!

There are a couple of disadvantages to nipple shields that I found (I never had problems with my supply, although I have most often seen that cited as the number one issue). One, it made DS a VERY slow feeder. Without shields he'd feed for 30-40 mins as a newborn, with shields it took more like an hour/hour and a half, probably because he just wasn't as effective at getting the milk out. Two, it's just a bother to keep having to clean/sterilise (although I never sterilised mine.. ) the shields and using them when out and about discreetly without exposing yourself..

Around 6 months my DS finally improved his latch so I could stop using the shields. Before that time I would try one or two feeds a day (usually at night - so I wouldn't have to get up and could feed lying down) without shields to try and improve his latch and for him not to get too dependent on them.

Anyway if feeding without the shields is too painful for you, just keep using them and don't worry about it. If you can feed without them, even better and is definitely worth trying.

If it wasnt for nipple shields I doubt I would still be breastfeeding. No matter what we tried my DD wouldnt not latch on,the midwives at the hospital couldnt get her to latch neither could midwife or breastfeeding specialist who visited me at home. It was suggestion of midwife to try nipple shields on 2nd day at home, it was either that or I was going to have to go onto formula as I didnt seem to be able to express enough. They worked wonderfully and I have now stopped stressing about using them as my supply is fine and it stresses my baby keep trying to get her to latch without them. The last time the health visitor came round she concluded that I may as well continue with them as no problems so far.
My dd is now 3 months as weight gain is fine (remains on 75th centile)
I accept that for some people they are not a long term solution and could cause issues and ideally I would like to be able to feed without them, its a hassle having to put them on first especially if feeding with friends of family around as you end up flashing everything. However for us it was and still is either nipple shields or switch to formula