Nipple shields - advice

[Gurraun]

Ds2 is 3 weeks today. He had a posterior tongue tie so gave up bf on day 3. Tongue tie diagnosed and cut day 12 and he restarted bf using medela nipple shields the next day.

We are now day 21 and bf going very well with nipple shields and my supply seems good. However I was told to get him off the nipple shields ASAP. I have quite flat nipples but even if I take the shields off half way through a feed when they are pulled out he won't latch on.

What do I do? Can I continue with nipple shields indefinitely if he won't latch without? (Will keep trying without). Any clever tips for getting him off them?

Thanks

Hi Gurraun. Sorry you've had such a tough start and well done for persevering. I had a similar experience initially and my dd's tongue tie was cut at 2 weeks old. I was advised by a midwife to use nipple shields as I have flat nipples too. I am still using them most of the time 6 months on, largely because I kept getting thrush and other infections and despite trying repeatedly to get my dd to latch without them. Contrary to what I've been told I've had no problem with supply and I figure at least I'm still bf. I think it's a case of just practice practice practice and keep trying to get him to latch without. BUT if you end up using them for a longer period of time it's really not the end of the world so don't let anyone make you feel bad. I had various lactation consultations and HVs telling me how 'bad' nipple shields are but actually, if it wasn't for shields I would have given up long ago.
Best of luck! :)

Congrats on your newborn! I started using nipple shields (medela as well) at 3 weeks too and can honestly say I wouldn't have been able to carry on breastfeeding without them as we just couldn't get the latch right. We stopped using them completely at 5 and a bit months. As she got older her mouth got bigger and feeding without the shields got better but at first she kept slipping off when feeding. That didn't happen with the shields. I didn't have any problems with supply or nipple confusion and baby was thriving.

I did find the cumbersome when feeding in public and at around 2 months we were able to feed without them in public and with them at home without any problems. I'm a huge fan of the shields and am still breastfeeding at 6 months.

Tip: medela does microwave bags that you can use to sanitise pump equipment. I bought 2 sets of shields (helps to have more for night feeds) and would sanitise once a day in the bag (takes 3 mins) and wash in soapy water throughout the day as needed. It was really easy.

Hope it all goes well!

Ask to join the tongue tie babies support group on facebook. It is full of knowledgeable people who have been there.

In the meantime, google exaggerated latch and the flipple. These techniques are sometimes useful for babies who are struggling to latch.

Are you confident that the tie was fully released? Did you do stretches to avoid reattachment?

Hello, I don't know anything about tongue tie, sorry, or flat nipples, but I also used nipple shields when I breast fed my DS. I was told I would only need them for a few days but ended up using them for about 3 months, I think (DS is now 2.8 and I can't quite remember!). I then carried on breastfeeding without them until 10 months.

Not sure why people think they are so bad. They were brill, and for me, also made the difference between breast feeding at all, or not.

If you want to stop using them, just keep trying every so often without and see how it goes. You'll get there in the end!

Thanks all - just what I wanted to hear :-)

Can I just say not to worry too much if you can't get off using the nipple shields? My daughter is 6 months and we've had to use them because of my flat nipples (the first few days she fed fine without then my milk came in), I've had no problem with supply and I'm now so quick at putting them on in public it's not an issue. I tried every now and then, and still do, but she's not interested in feeding without. It'll be fine either way I'm sure. Oh, and I also have tried different shapes/kinds, you'll find the ones that suit you best.

I used them for 5 months. Ds1 simply couldn't/wouldn't latch without them. I kept trying to get him off and at five months I was able to stop. No supply issues here. Bf for 18 months.

Hi, I just wanted to add that ds and I used nipple shields for 5 months, without them it was impossible for him to latch on. I was warned about supply issues but we never had any, and one day he just ripped them off and latched on himself.
I successfully breastfed him for 15 months and couldn't have done it without shields!
It's a bit more fatty but I soon got used to doing it, just make sure you buy a few sets- I was always loosing them!
Good luck and congratulations!