Nipple shields

[Klootami]

Hi

Any advice on the use of these?

One week old dc, very sore, cracked, bleeding nipples. Small mouth and poor latch - nipple feeds. Lost weight but wee and poo frequently.

Typing one handed, excuse my poorly worded post!

I had done with my first daughter, only way I got through for a while. Get some and see how you go, give your nipples time to heal and try again.

Congratulations on your baby.

Nipple shields have helped me not to quit bf.

I use madela ones. I doubt very much I'd have got this far (2months) with out them

Used with DS1 for about 13w after bleeding so badly bits were falling off (still scarred!) - would absolutely definitely have quit without, and managed another two years (and another two bf babies) after making the decision to shield.

They don't work for everyone but by God they worked for us.

We used nipple shields. Helped with the nipple trauma. I had one with a small mouth too, and my nips are huge, and have a scar from it. This is four years on.

I used the MAM ones. They were quite thick rubber, and protected me from further damage. Airing them helped too, and changing position to the rugby hold helped also.

Someone told me about them when dd was 5 days old and my nipples were already blistered (she had a suck like a dyson but bad latch).

I literally wouldn't have got through breast feeding as she cluster fed all of day 6. The shields enabled my nipples to heal and she never had any trouble getting the milk through.

Only needed them for a week or so.

Keep using the nipple cream to help your nipples recover between feeds and let the air dry them - easier with our summer babies I know

I use them for DS who was prem and had a tongue tie and now still can't latch well.

They are an absolute godsend. The medela contact ones are very thin silicone, which I prefer, and they have a cut out so babies nose is still in contact with the breast. Most boots stores have them. I use lansinoh as well, mainly to help the shield stick in place.

Just a couple of downsides - weaning off them can be difficult if you've used them for a while (though slightly easier with the very thin ones), and they are a bit of a faff. You have to boil them for 5 mins every day and I am petrified of forgetting them/ losing them when out and I would have no way of feeding DS. I have got four pairs!!

Thanks so much for replying.

Have got medela contact ones - does the dip go at the top or bottom?

Another question, how do I stop them reducing supply or do I not need to worry?

Thanks again

The cut out is for babies nose, so position the shield with the cut out to he outside/top of the nipple.

The thin silicone ones like medela don't interfere with milk transfer too much, but as you're still establishing our supply I'd ask for advice - you may need to express as well. Can you call La Leche league or the national breastfeeding support lIne, or chat with Your midwife/HV

Are you getting support with breastfeeding, Klootami? I would try to use the shields only as a temporary solution.

Baby's nose not babies nose...

Yes a Bfc is helping me with latch and am expressing after each feed. Thanks for advice, I appreciate it.

The instructions with the Medela ones say for the dip to be where the nose is, but the lactation consultant I saw said to try it upside down, so her chin could actually pump against the breast to draw out the milk. It made a huge difference instantly to my experience with them, and of bf in general. I've never seen this method mentioned anywhere else, but it worked for us.

I expressed after each feed for the first 6 weeks and I definitely felt it helped. I was glad to stop though! I now express just once a day to stock the freezer for future. Good luck, I really hope it helps you keep going x