Nipple shield ongoing use

[gracepoolesrum]

My DD is 3 weeks old, as explained on my previous thread she spent 10 days after birth being tube fed in neonatal care after oxygen deprivation at birth. Thankfully she seems fine now.

We worked hard to establish breastfeeding before she was discharged and the key turned out to be a nipple shield as I have very flat nipples. She was not even trying to latch before I started using one, just uselessly fussing around the boob and getting frustrated. Now she is taking around 70% of her feeds via bf and the rest formula top ups.

I had assumed the nipple shield was the permanent solution and it was only when a nurse mentioned it to me at discharge that I realised they are meant to be temporary. The nurse told me to go to a bf support group to wean off the nipple shield. I'm a bit at a loss as I don't live very near a group and my DD seems no closer to latching onto my bare nipple than ever, I can't imagine her feeding without the shield. Is it that big a problem to just keep using it?

My son was a month premature and could only latch with nipple shields. When he reached his due date he must have got stronger because he started to be able to feed without them.

A breastfeeding advisor told me that you can cut a little bit off the shield every day or so until they are no longer using a shield.

Children's centres usually run breastfeeding support groups. Also the Facebook group UK Breastfeeding Support has loads of amazing advice.

My DS was five weeks early and 3lb 6 and tube fed to begin with , for a few days then I only got him to latch with a shield , we then moved forward with feeding using the shield , and expressed milk top ups. I used the shield for a month or so before He finally mastered latching on without , he would never have breastfed without it to begin with and as he gained size and strength I just started trying without it , he got there eventually but it took time , if it's working then carry on , and just try every so often to see if it will work without , if it doesn't then don't worry .

I had early problems with no milk production so DS was on formula, I kept expressing until I could stimulate supply and had to use nipple shields as flat nips and he was used to the bottle. I went to BF support and they said it was fine to use the shields if I was happy with them, there's no negative impact. I've tried to come off them but DS is having none of it. He's 4 months now and I've just accepted we use them.

I would do things differently with another DC but I'm not going to beat myself up. Only inconvenience is always cleaning them, remembering them when we go out and they are hard to put on subtly in public but I've got used to it.

Hope that puts your mind at ease !

Twenty some years ago....
I used shields for almost a year. After that he didn't need them.

I used nipple shields for a full year with my daughter, the midwives did try to encourage us off them once or twice but my health visitor was of the opinion that of it worked for us then there was no reason to stop. Think we maybe had one successful feed without them (I too have flat/inverted nipples.) it's a faff, but if it's working for you, bash on!

DD1 couldn’t latch due to undiagnosed lip and tongue tie. We fed for 14 months using shields. She was and is absolutely fine, hit all her milestones, and at nearly 4 is amazing.

If you’re happy to keep using them then do so, there is some thought that it can affect supply but I never had that issue.

We use them still at 6months, baby refuses to latch at all without and it’s the only reason we still BF.

It’s a slight inconvenience to use them long term and the ideal is to come off them but don’t stress too much. The midwives worry it can negatively affect milk production.

DD1 was prem and tube fed in NICU. We eventually got her BF with nipple shields, which were used till she weaned at 15 months. She wouldn’t entertain the idea of weaning.
Don’t feel you have to stop using them if they work and supply isn’t an issue.

We used them for the first seven weeks. Like you, I had inverted nipples and so couldn’t get her to latch at all. After seven weeks I no longer had inverted nipples - seems all her feeding with the shields has drawn them out. So ditched them one day and never looked back

My daughter is 8 weeks and we still” use them. I have flat nipples and she just couldn’t latch. Around 4-5 weeks I had some support to try to stop using them - there are no magic answers, the advice was just keep trying without! Unfortunately every time we try my baby either just nuzzles my nipple looking confused, or screams in rage, depending on how hungry she is! So I’ve kinda given up for now. She’s still getting breast milk, I have no issues with supply. I only really want to give them up because of the faff involved.

Dd was a 23 weeker and used nipple shields for the first few months (obvs after a few months of tube feeding).

She weaned off with trial and error - I found the 'burger' hold to be the most effective. Basically you cup your hand in a U-shape under your boob and squeeze it to flatten it like a burger (imagine holding a burger at your own mouth then turn your hand 90 degrees to get the angle you're aiming for).

Good luck!

If they’re working for you and you’re happy keep going. The advice tends to be to try to come off them as the milk transfer is usually slower and they can affect milk production. Some people use them perfectly well for the whole time they’re breastfeeding though.
My DD was just over four months until I got her off them. She just didn’t even ready when I tried earlier then one day she just got it and we haven’t needed then since. I did work with a lactation consultant to come off them but really it’s just a case of keep trying.

I'm feeding my 5 month old with them, have tried repeatedly to wean off them and she's having none of it. Literally won't even entertain the idea
Never had any trouble with supply and other than it being a bit of a faff we've not had any issues using them long term.

Thanks for all the advice. I'm just going to keep using them for now, I don't think they are causing milk production issues for me arm and not going to worry until I have to!