Long term use of nipple shields??

[Spink]

ds is 9 weeks old - and since he was about 2 weeks old, I've had lots of pain and nastiness with bf, thrush which wasn't treated for ages cos the Gp was adamant it wasn't thrush. It has now been treated and boobs are better, but bf still toe curlingly painful along with cracked nips.. I've been to see 3 bfc's, and hvs and mws. But this hasn't made any difference - I was told that our positioning is 'textbook' by one bfc, and the others struggled to identify what was going wrong. One theory was that ds was not gaping properly, but the bfc who thought this was unable to give me advice on how to improve it as she said we were doing everything right. confusing.
Anyway. I started using nipple shields 3 weeks ago, I was really struggling to keep going with bf. dreading feeds, and getting horribly weepy. The shields have been brilliant. Still can be a little painful at times, but generally ok, and I have been enjoying bf, which is a million miles away from how I was feeling a few weeks ago.
But. I know that nipple shields are supposed to be a short term support only, and can have an impact on milk production. So far it has been fine - I have plenty of milk, and ds is putting on weight like a trooper. I am worried though.
What do you think? Should I keep looking for help? In which case, does anyone know any bfc's they'd recommend (I am in Brighton). Or do you think it is ok to use the shields as a long term thing? My plan is to bf at least until I go back to work, when ds is 6 months.
Thank you

My best friend used them for 3 months with no ill effects. I think if they are keeping you breast feeding then I wouldn't worry about it.

Firstly, well done for getting this far and glad to hear that you are finally enjoying bfing at last! Thrush is awful and you've done well to get rid of it.
My friend used shields for both her children and bfed for a year each time. This said I would suggest waiting until your nipples are better (are you using Lanisoh?) and that toe curling stops or gets shorter and then try to ditch them. I guess you'd have to keep trying without now and again in the meantime.
Another point is that IMO the shields may also be stopping the thrush reinfection cycle so just keep an eye out for symptoms reappearing if you manage to ditch them.
Keep enjoying the bfing and remember that going back to work doesn't mean you have to stop either....reckon you've got a good thing going on now.

Sorry to hear you have had such a rough time of it. I had thrush too, and a lot of trouble getting help. (I never got medication, as more than one doctor refused to prescribe on the basis that it wasn't licensed for a breastfeeding mum). Anyhow, as regards nipple shields I feel like a real expert so here goes! I have short nipples, so the breastfeeding counsellor gave me nipple shields at the outset, when I first started feeding DD1 in Intensive Care. (DD1 inhaled meconium, needed resuscitation and was in Intensive Care for 5 days). The counsellor tried to help me wean DD1 off the shields after 2 weeks, but she wasn't having any of it. I got quite used to sterilising the shields, and carrying one in a little bottle everywhere. At 3 months she suddenly latched on while I was still reaching for the shield, and thereafter fed without. With DD2 I really hoped to do without the shields, (just less hassle), and the hospital staff put me under loads of pressure to do without. However, DD2 was born with severe heart problems, so was quite weak and had a small mouth. She just couldn't get a latch though we tried and tried, and my nipples were agony. Eventually I thought blow this, it's not like it's the end of the world - back to nipple shields. Unlike DD1, DD2 never gave them up until she weaned - at 15 months! I didn't find any problem with my milk supply -in fact I was a milk donor for a while, and DD2 gave up of her own accord, having made good weight gains etc. Nor, did I ever have any issues with diahrroea etc as a result of using the shields. With my third child I managed to get on without the shields - he was bigger, and stronger than the other 2 at birth, and I was able to start feeding straight away. Just the same I had shields ready and waiting just in case, and I would have been ready to use them again if need be. If you want to carry on with them I would go ahead - it's more important that you carry on with breastfeeding than that you do everything "by the book". Sorry if this is a bit long!

There's some evidence that shields can impact on supply, but I have come across women who have used them long term with no ill effects - I suspect that sometimes, they actually enable the baby to have a better latch on the breast and maybe some women with an innately good milk supply don't need to worry, anyway.

I have heard of a number of babies who spontaneously latched on without the shield, too.

Seems experience is very variable, and while it is good not to hand them out like sweeties, and to try to get the baby not to become dependent on them, this does not mean that everyone who uses them long term will have problems.

Spink - you sound like you are doing just fine

Thank you!! I have a smile on my face reading your messages and feel quite relieved that I am not the devil. I think I'll keep trying to feed without the shields occasionally, but use them most of the time, and keep loving the bf thing with my boy. And hope that the milk keeps flowing!
you are all very lovely

Spink,

It's good to try without, like you say, every now and again. I found it quite scary first of all, but I built up the time without them. Give yourself enough time to heal and keep up the good work.

It's wonderful to enjoy b/f as you now know, it was around this point that I found feeding my dd2 enjoyable rather than a chore.

I fed my DD2 with nipple sheilds the whole time till she was 12 months. She was slow to gain weight at first but after about 6 weeks was fine.

I also found she took a bottle with no problems at all because of being used to the feeling of a silicone teat. I would express a good 6 to 8oz on a lunch time on the days that I worked so milk supply/demand seemed to have adjusted/compensated.

HTH

Hi spink, I've been using shields since ds2 was born - he's now 20 weeks & I used them with ds1 for 9 weeks when I gave up bf. My main issue is the gape too.

If you seach mumsnet there have been loads more discussions on shields such as this one with more advice about supply etc. The thing that most bothers me is that feeds take twice to three times as long with a shield and that gets pretty wearing after a while. It's also pretty hard to do it discreetly esp once the baby gets bigger.

I would persevere with asking for help if you're still getting some pain, but imo shields are a godsend if they keep you feeding! I found the La Leche League very good, if there's someone in your area. I've found that each little tip I pick up helps a little bit and it might all help in the long run - best one was stick a rolled up flannel under your breast, it really help with the comfort of my feed with or without shields!

Good luck with it all, you're doing brilliantly to stick with it despite thrush and nipple pain

Well done for carrying on - I know how hard it is...

I used shields for all my 3, and fed them full time for 6 months, then part time for another few months till they gave up.

At about 4-5 months, they decided they didn't need the shields (I used to try ALL the time to get them to feed without them).

The shields had no impact on my supply (which was abundant), and made the difference between them being able to feed and not. I too had no probs switching them from breast to bottles of ebm .

I found NUK shields the best - boots were rubbish, avent ones ok.

I would say carry on as you are. Keep trying without, as they are a huge faff, I know. Hwr, as your ds is gaining weight, all seems well from that score .

I am in Brighton too, but no recommendations I am afraid, my contact with bfc left me seething and really disappointed. I now have a probably unjustified dislike of them .
There are bf drop ins though - in Hanover and Hollingdean that I know of, that offer informal and sometimes more formal advice...

Just to add, while the are a faff to use discretely, they didn't add to my feed times. ds used to feed every 3 hrs or so for about 5 mins tops, one side only, then he was done (luckily as I had 2 other under 5's to look after too lol!)

Oh, and I used them due to small(ish babies), small mouths, flat nipples and engorged boobs. Not great combinations

I used them for the whole 8 months I bf with dd

With DS I used them for 4 months and then he latched on OK so carried on without them till he was 14 motnhs old.

The HV and MV all disapproved though so learnt not to tell them

It's very reassuring to know that others have had the same problems with shields and continued feeding with them, I thought I was the only one 3 years ago with ds one and there's little info online. thanks for tip re: nuk ones katie, they look really good (I've been using avent and they keep falling off). Medela also come in different sizes so I thought I might try them.

how are you doing spink?

I'm doing ok, thanks! feeling much better after reading all these msgs. I think I'm lucky with my milk supply as the boy seems to always get plenty thru the shield. And feeds tend to take the same length of time they did before I used shields, abouy 10-15 mins on each boob. I fed him today without them, because I was out and didn't have shields with me. And he ate fine (tho I now have a sore nip!) so that was reassuring too, and I'll keep offering him uncovered boobs now and again to see how it goes. So. I am feeling ok about it all, and am just happy that ds is healthy and that I've found a way of feeding him that I can be comfortable with.
I'm going to try the NUK ones, I've been using Avent which are ok but move around a bit.
So thank you everyone for your help. It has made a really big difference.

Sounds great! Maybe it's just your nips getting used to life without shields, it's a bit of a shock when they've been protected? When I first tried without again, I found the first couple of days like the beginning all over again. Most people who've weaned off shields seem to put them on for the first few minutes, and then eventually don't put them on for an entire feed & then 2 etc. I'm finding that now, I am actually living in hope I might do without them altogether in a few weeks!
Sounds like you're feeling much better about it all and hopefully enjoying it rather than dreading it

hi, trying to get my D to latch on. have been using a teat but now she is latching on, but only on the left breast and only first thing in the morning. How do I get her to drink from the right breast and for longer?

The kellymom website has been really helpful for me with all kinds of things..this link might have some answers for you- www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/lopsided.html - it has info about breast preferences and how to get your baby back onto a less-liked boob.
Hope it helps!