Help Please - How Do I Use Nipple Sheilds? & Is Kamillosan OK For Breastfeeding?

[Quootiepie]

Ummm, title says it all

DS has taken to really biting me and my nipples are soooooooooooo painful and on the other thread I was advised Lasinoh (?) but Tesco dont have that, only Kamillosan - is that OK to use until I get some of the other stuff?

Also, how do I use nipples sheilds? My nipples are very flat and I tried stuffing them in but it didnt really work, and DS got fustrated so I gave it up for the moment... Is there a technique?

Thanks

Yeah the K stuff is fine for bf - you might be supposed to wipe off the excess first

No idea on shields

The sucking should draw the nipple but perhaps if you hand expressed a little it would help - you could smear it on the shield to attract his interest. tbh at his age he may find it more confusing than you find it helpful. If he is chewing he has probably had enough to feed and varying position/hold may help.

I've been using the nipple shields to stop ds biting as he hates them so much. I stick one on after he's bitten me and then sort of deliberately stop him pulling the nipple into it so he's sucking but can't get any milk, just a mouthful of silicone. Then he gets upset then we get rid of it and he remembers that's what happens when he bites and it puts him off for a bit. I'm just hoping his memory will get longer soon.

not sure these sheilds are a good idea... unless you have 2" nipples...

Definately worth trying to get Lansinoh; try the internet. I'm thinking the nct site might do it. i got mine from a nappy / newborn shop locally. Is made from natural lanolin and really helps. Also you dont have to wash it off before baby feeds. You probably wont have to use it for long as your nipples adjust - it makes a good lip balm after if you have loads left over!

I wouldn't use nipple shields without advice from a breastfeeding counselor or maybe a good HV - I think they can interfere with your milk supply. I had to use them as ds had an awful time trying to latch on & it was a nightmare to wean him off them - it took 5 months for us to to breastfeed without them .

How old is your ds? Can he latch on? Have you had any help with this?

Maybe Tiktok or Mears or someone more helpful than me will be along soon to help

You don't need to stuff them into the shields. Just jhold them over nipple area and as baby sucks the nipple gets pulled in and milk flows....

DS is 7 1/2 months...

Hi Quootie,

sorry to hear that your nipples are still so sore. I think the nipple shields would be a good idea and won't interfere with your supply at this stage. My nipples are teeny but they kind of 'jump' into the shields when DD2 latches on. I use them occasionally when my thrush gets too sore...
Put the Kamillisan on after each feed but you don't have to wipe off anyway. You can get Lanisoh in Boots but Kam is as good IMO.
BTW my friend was advised to put the baby on the floor and say 'no' each time it bit - sounds a bit radical and 'dog-like' but might be worth a try??

I personally wouldn't use shields - it will not solve the problem. When your |DS bites, stop the feed immediately. They very quickly learn to stop biting. As you have fed for this long, flat nipples are not the problem. Lansinoh is better than kamillosan. Your DS is going through a very common phase and will stop - I remember it well

The advice we were given about biting is to pull the baby into the breast - that covers their nose slightly and forces them to stop feeding & therefore biting. It's hard to do though as your instinct is to pull away. My DS got a sharp 'No!' when he bit me. I stopped that session immediately and, very cautiously, began again later that day, once the bleeding had stopped . He only bit when he had his 2 bottom teeth - since then, he nurses perfectly! I'm sure it is just a testing-out-the-new-teeth phase.

Agree with Mears that if you have breastfed for this long, your nipples are not the issue - they have obviously worked perfectly well up until now

I haven't used kamilosan (sp) but can vouch for Lansinoh being wonderful (good on dry/cracked hands too)!

To be fair tho the shields do take out the 'aaarrrggghhh' factor as a temporary measure - Quooties nipples have been sore for a while now so perhaps they need a break for them to heal?

lol...

thanks guys I found some Lanisoh (?) in mothercare and they are less painful, although theres fresh bite wounds now I wasnit going to use the nipple sheilds, but, DS is a monkey and keeps doing it, and if they get worse, ill be too sore even to express ... so i think ill give them a go today and see if it helps at all.