Weaning off nipple shield

[Em1503]

Hi, my DD is 7 weeks today and we had a difficult start to breastfeeding. I finally managed to get her back onto the breast after a couple of weeks having to express and bottle feed. I had to use a nipple shield to do this though and I'm still using it now. It didn't bother me to begin with, I was just happy to be breastfeeding her, but now we're starting to get out and about a but more it's a bit of a pain and a faff. The thing is I'm struggling to wean her off it, she screams if it's not there and can't seem to figure out how to latch on without it.

Should I just not bother and stick with the nipple shield or will it be possible to wean her off it now? I'm not sure what to do for the best!

has she been checked for a posterior tongue tie? we went through the exact same struggle with DS and a week after having the tie divided, he was latching on without the shield. we were referred to the Evelina tongue tie clinic @ st. thomas' in London and got an appt and we're seen and tie clipped in 2 days. the tongue tie clinic there is new and doesn't seem to have the extensive wait list other hospitals have.

We are doing exactly the same as you.. DS is 6.5 weeks. He had a posterior tongue tie that was snipped on Monday, and we'd been using nipple shields from about 2.3/3 weeks because of the pain I had when feeding.

Monday and Tuesday he just wouldn't latch without them, Weds he did but the pain was excruciating. Today it is still painful but we are working on his latch as he is learning how to use his new tongue.

My advice would be to go to a breastfeeding drop in for some good solid advice on how to latch. They can watch a feed and give you pointers. For me I know it's because he isn't sticking his tongue over his gum all the time so I'm working on doing exercises to help this. Phase the shields out slowly.. If my DS is calm and settled before a feed I try straight on the boob first. If he is very hungry or I'm particularly engorged I will use the shield, and then try it without once he's a bit more settled. If my boobs are sore I will use the shields again. I'm just hoping I will gradually increase the number of feeds without a shield until they are gone.

I'd definitely seek real life support though, to check the latch and make sure there is no tongue tie.

I don't think she's got a tongue tie, she was checked for one by 2 piediatricians when she was born as well as the midwife due to the feeding issues at the start. In the first few days she was able to latch on well bit because she was small and really really tired (due to jaundice) she just wouldn't suckle and would fall asleep. That's why I had to start expressing as it was easier for her to take from a cup/ syringe/ bottle. Since being home I've managed to get her off the bottle which was hard but now we've hit a brick wall. When she's not too hungry I can get her to feed off the left breast (faster flow) if I squeeze behind my nipple to make it bigger and harder like the nipple shield.

I should say I have had the help of my health visitor in trying to get her latched on and will be seeing her again on Monday. Still struggling though.