Advice on type of breastshields

[dionysoss]

Hi all,

My baby is 6 weeks old and I am trying to get back to breastfeeding her. Currently I am expressing milk and then giving it to her through a bottle.

I have tried putting her on the breast but it has been a complete nightmare. I ended up with blistered and cracked nipples, which led to mastitis so had to take a break from putting my baby to the breast. Then I ended up having postpartum endometritis. It was so painful I gave up breastfeeding then as well as I couldn't handle the pain from both the nipples and the infection.

I have met with tongue tie specialists, lactation consultants and midwives, and they couldn't figure out why my nipples were so cracked and blistered even though the latch seemed okay.

I was recommended to try breastshields, I am using the mendela ones, but my nipples are still damaged from that somehow?!

Anyone has experience with using breastshields? There seems to be quite a few out there with different functions.

Cheers!

I didn't really ever get the hang of them but lansinoh nipple cream was a godsend.

Where is it that you’re damaged? Is it that you’ve got the wrong size shield? They come in different diameters. Or is the shield slipping while baby feeds? If so, trying using either saliva or nipple cream to stick it to the breast.

Silver cups are really good to aid healing if you’re really sore

Agree! It's a Godsend! I use it as well

It's just the nipple area that's damaged. The consultant assured me I got the right size and it feels like it is the right size. It's more of the case of her sucking so hard it, nipples are blistered through the shield

I used avent nipple shields for many months. They do help but if you have bad cracks they can still bleed even with the shield. When mine were very bad I expressed for a few days (still ouchy!) to give them chance to heal. I also used a dummy to reduce comfort sucking on me.

As well as lansinoh, multi mam compresses are good. Also jelonet dressing for moist wound healing is good.

I used mam with my first and lansinoh with my second baby. Only just realised they were different ones second time round. Thanks Google! I've flat nipples and these helped shape them for baby to latch. Sounds like you've been through the mill OP. Hope you've recovered and are feeling better. Hats off to you for wanting to nurse again that's hard-core after what you've been through! I got an abscess bf my first. It needed drained every day for 2 weeks. Brutal. Then mastitis. No abscess second time round but mastitis 5 months out of the first six months bf. Utter, utter shit. Some of us are just more prone to these things I think. Anyway, my nipples looked like Vietnam and my awesome hv suggested burns' dressings. It's a wee square of gel that's also a dressing. Cools and soothes. Got them on prescription from my gp although they don't advertise them as apparently they're mega expensive. Really helped though. Sending best wishes to you, you are clearly one badass lady! Xx