Nipple shields - how long can I use them?

[Holymoly321]

AM getting conflicting advice. They really help me bf DS who is 2 weeks. Had same prob with bf'g DS1, had counsellors and everything check out my technique and latching etc and it was fine, the pain was down to my boobs. Anyway, I want to bf for as long as poss with DS2 ad nipple shields have really helped, but how long can I use them for?

dunno - got no experience with these but bumping for you...

They are unpopular things, but I found they were the only things that kept me bfeeding at all with ds1, and because of that they gave me confidence, which meant I found it very hard to stop using them and used them for a really long time. But in general it's best to use for as short a time as possible - it's better for the baby and believe me, they make discrete bfeeding much more difficult!! Try feeding without, or for a few days just cutting down the number of feeds you use them for. If you've sorted your latch out, you should be fine.

I used them all the time for DS1 and I bf him for 13 months. I used them on and off with DS2 and I bf him for 16 months.

I know some people say they affect supply but I never found that to be an issue.

As 2Happy says though they are a pain as you have to sterilise them and keep them sterile when you go out but I managed (I had a little pot). Certainly with DS1 I wouldn't have been able to continue without them.

I used them for about a week with DS1 and they really helped to let my nipples heal and kept me breastfeeding.

It is better not to use them because they're a pain with needing to be sterilised. I don't know if they really affect supply.

I would try breastfeeding without them once your nipples have healed up (if that's the problem you have).

I stopped using them when I fell asleep while boiling them to sterilise them and I got woken up by the fire alarm and melted shields in a saucepan. I had no choice but to stop.

With DD I used them for 8 months

With DS I used them for 4 months.

But easier without due to the sterilsing aspect. Never had trouble with my supply.