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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Nipple shields - Can I just use them fulltime???

14 replies

Toothache · 13/08/2004 21:55

My dd is 10 days old and since she was 5 or 6 days old I have been using nipple shields. My nipples were so cracked and sore that she was getting a mouthful of blood when she fed!

She took to the nipple shields really well and my nipples have now healed. However, I'm having difficulty getting her to feed without them! I'm happy to carry on using them, but the midwives and HV are quite adament that they are only are very temporary measure. She seems to be getting enough milk and looks to feed every 3 hrs.

What is SOOOOO terrible about using them all the time? Anyone have any advice or experience for me? I find breastfeeding challenging enough without having to sit for an hour trying to get her to latch on without the shields.

OP posts:

pupuce · 13/08/2004 22:07

The reason they are not a great idea are the following (top of my head)

baby may prefer them to nipples (nipple confusion) - it requires a different jaw movement
babies do not feed as well (milk intake is not as good)
it doesn't stimulate your breasts as well.... could lead to less milk over time
because baby doesn't feed as well you could get engorged
you need to sterilize them

It takes time to wean them off a nipple shiled but it is doable if you really want to. Is the latch better (i.e the reason why you were sore/bleeding)?

meandthomas · 13/08/2004 22:54

My ds spent the first 4 months with nipple shields and it hasnt done him any harm! He wouldnt latch on without then one day it clicked. He didnt lose out on milk or be adversely affected by it.
It was a pain sterilising them though... I can recommend a good way though for everyday usage.
Sterilise a couple of sets and small tupperware tubs to store them. PRESTO!! Sterile nipple shields when you need them

JuA · 13/08/2004 23:04

I used nipple shields to breastfeed my dd. I never had any problems with supply and she had no problems putting on weight. I breastfed her until 6 months. To sterilise them I just made up a solution of milton and kept a couple in there so I always had a fresh one and if we went out I put one in a small tupperware box.

janeybops · 13/08/2004 23:35

Used them with dd for 8 months and then with ds for 4 months when he decided to latch on properly. Had no problem wiht supply both times. Sterilzed them in sterilizing solution and took out in little sealed pots when out.
PS my HV didn't approve either so I didn't tell her in the end!

Joshuasmum · 14/08/2004 11:40

I used them too as my DS seemed to struggle with latching on, especially when boobs were empty and floppy (rather than the other way around!). The only disadvantage I saw was that it seemed to make my DS more windy.

suedonim · 14/08/2004 13:21

I used shields, too, Toothache, as a temporary measure. Once my nipples were healed I used to wait until the milk was flowing well and just ease the shield out while baby was feeding. It scarcely caused a break in the baby's sucking action and my little ones didn't seem to notice. Good luck!

mears · 14/08/2004 13:34

Nippleshields take the hassle free factor out of feeding eventually. Although they have been a godsend to you, they will eventually cause you hassle especially when you want to go out and about and perhaps need to feed in public. A word of warning also is that nipple shields can reduce milk production up to 40%. Now if you are a natural over producer that will not be a problem. It will be a problem though if your milk production is dependent on pure stimulation of breastfeeding. To counter balance that you can express between feeds. The other thing is that feeding can take longer with the shield because of the reduced transfer of milk. Baby also takes in more wind.

I echo the advice to try and wean dd off them and agree with the suggestion of starting the feed with the shield then to slip it off mid milk flow. Don't get too uptight over it though. It is good you have managed to keep feeding, and you will find that feeding will become easier as the days go by. Stick with it

mears · 14/08/2004 13:48

ps I agree with you about not putting yourself in the stressful position (or dd) of trying to latch her on without them for an hour. If you are happy with your milk production, the length of time feeds are taking etc., then carry on as you are until you feel you want to try feeding without them.

LIZS · 14/08/2004 14:30

I did exactly what suedonim and mears suggest to get ds feeding directly off breast - waiting until the intial feeding frenzy was over and then whisked it away. He only took a few feeds of doing this before he would latch on but they were a godsend in the meantime as all the hospital midwives, bar the one who suggested using them, had pressured me to bottle feed. btw I used sterilising fluid and just washed and popped them back into the filled ice cream container afterwards.

Original poster

Toothache · 14/08/2004 16:36

Thanks SO much everyone!!

I was beginning to think I was doing her some harm. I managed to latch her on this afternoon without the shields and without too much hassle, so long may it continue. She has been a bit restless for the passed 24 hrs and wouldn't sleep unless someone held her!! Can't fit that sort of behaviour into mine and ds's routine. But after her feed without the shields she has settled down and has been sleeping now for 2hrs. She's probably just having a growth spurt (hopefully!).

Thank you for the advice, and I'll definitely try whipping the shield away mid-feed if she has trouble latching on again.

Another wee question...... I have been storing the shields in milton fluid and taking them out as required, but I've never known whether you are supposed to rinse the fluid off before use?? The bottle doesn't say you need to do that so I haven't, I've just been giving them a good shake to remove most of it. Anyone know for sure, I'm worried I'm poisoning her or something (postnatal neurosis again ).

OP posts:

hercules · 14/08/2004 16:41

As long as milton is very dilute ie accoding to instructioms then no need to rinse.

hewlettsdaughter · 14/08/2004 16:49

Sorry can't answer your latest question Toothache, but just wanted to say that I used nipple shields for a while (for the same reason as you) and after about 6 weeks (?) was able to dispense with them. I think the last sentence of mears' post - "If you are happy with your milk production, the length of time feeds are taking etc., then carry on as you are until you feel you want to try feeding without them" - is great advice. Well done for hanging on in there

HelloMama · 14/08/2004 17:41

Toothache - i've been using nipple shields as well, a real godsend if you ask me! my midwife said i could continue to use them whenever and however long i want, but she did mention about transporting them and keeping them clean when out and about. i tend to use them at home to give nipples a rest but manage to feed ok otherwise. Just every few days nipples get so sore. Good luck!

serenequeen · 15/08/2004 06:36

i am using them at the moment as baby and i have thrush, which has made feeding very painful the lactation consultant advises they are ok used as a temporary measure, for the reasons mears mentions. good luck, toothache, hope the feeding goes better for you and you can get rid of them - i'm a bit sick of them now, although they have saved my b/f career this time...

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