Weaning from nipple shields

[PurpleMustard]

I need a few words of encouragement...

I'm EBF and my darling boy is 9 weeks old and my first baby. I have flatish nipples so when my milk came in on day 3/4 he couldn't latch so I began using nipple shields, as advised by the midwife. Everything was going great and by week 4/5 I decided to start weaning him off them and managed it within a week. I was so happy and felt that I was now 'properly' BF (pressure and judgement that I have put on myself). The feeds were so much more efficient and he seemed more satisfied. By week 7 though he started to become unhappy and couldn't latch again. I reluctantly went back to the shields, but he became happier straight away. Now week 9, id like to wean him off them again but he is not interested at all. Now I feel like he doesn't like my bare skin and won't ever feed normally again. However, is there still time to wean him off? Am I being a bit selfish wanting to wean him off when he's so happy with them?

Any advice or experience to share would be appreciated!

Thank you in advance!!

I used nipple shields for 13 weeks (baby wouldn't latch) and she had no interest at all in coming off them until one day she did. We managed a couple of 4am feeds without over a couple of days (after she'd ripped one off mid feed herself, and fed for a few minutes without) but not sustained it after that.
I used that as a cue to start really trying to get rid of them and did over the course of a week or so. I felt the same internal pressure you've hinted at. Why do we do it to ourselves!?
I also know someone who's baby self removed at 5 months and that was them for good.

So I wouldn't say you've left it too late! And you've done it before so that's really encouraging. I don't think its selfish to want to wean off them- especially if you felt feeds were more efficient for the wee one without them. My baby's weight gain really picked up after we got rid of them which makes me think she became more efficient at getting the milk out. Good luck!

As Megasaur says you’ve definitely not left it too late but please don’t pressure yourself. If baby is happy with the nipple shields, it’s not the end of the world is it?

If Yiu would like to wean from the shields Kellymom has some good advice here.

Are you going to a BFing Support Group too?

I had the exact same, I was worried I'd be using shields forever, and then around 16 weeks my wee girl started to pull the shield off in her teeth and spit it away, and hasn't used them since!

I have found that every stage I have got worked up about (sleeping in her own cot, dummy, weaning, bottle feeding) and panicked myself thinking "oh no how will I fix this!!" That my wee one sorted it out herself in her own time, with zero fuss. So my new mantra is "don't worry, it'll all sort itself out!"

Jilted is exactly right. If baby is happy and getting the milk in don't stress it.

Thank you. It does make me feel better that he could, in time, decide himself not to have them.

Really don’t sweat the small stuff. Babies are exhausting enough. If you’re comfortable and baby is happy, it’s all good

Thank you everyone. Your words of encouragement is what I needed. We have managed two lots of 5minutes of feeding without shields in the last two days so I feel loads better and I'm going to see a breastfeeding support specialist on Monday to see if they will have any other tips xx

DS1 needed to use nipple shields. On the HV's advice, we tried each feed without them first and then used them if he couldn't latch. Eventually, he'd do one feed a day without them when most awake, and then gradually didn't need them at all.