Nipple Shields

[lyns77]

Whats everyones view on nipple shields?? I was having trouble getting my baby to latch on so began using them after suggested to by the midwife. My milk supply now seems quite low and Iv heard this can be as a result of the shields. Does anyone know if this is true and why it happens??

Thanks

I used them with DS1 as he had difficulty feeding initially (long story). Eventually at 8 weeks old he managed to latch on for short periods only.
I don't know why or if they affect milk supply.
Presumably you are continuing to practise latching on without them?

Some people seem to find they affect supply and some find they don't. Don't know why. All I can say is that I used them for the whole time I bf DS1 and I fed hime for 13 months. I also used them with DS2 for a while although managed to get rid of them after a month or two.

I don't think supply was affected either time. I know a lot of the professionals think they can cause problems but also, (if you do a search) you will find that a lot of mums on here used them with no troubles. I don't why some find them useful and some don't.

How old is your baby lysn77? Does your baby seem to be hungry all the time, as if not getting enough milk? Could your baby be having a growth spurt and needs to feed more so you feel like you have less milk?

I understand that nipples shields reduce the amount of stimulation the nipples receive and in some mothers this can lead to a lower milk supply. Do you feed at all without the shields ?

lyns77, nipple shileds have a number of drawbacks, and you seem to have experienced one of them - nipple shields do not help the baby get attached any better, in many cases, at least not in the sense of enabling the baby to remove the milk effectively. Any midwife recommending them should stick around and deal with the aftermath, in my view

It doesn't happen to everyone - just occasionally, the shield will fit better and the ineffective transfer of milk does not happen (or else the mother has gallons of milk anyway, and it will take more than a shield to make it less than it should be).

Babies sometimes get hooked on the shield, and it becomes difficult to get them off They are a bit of a nuisance to have to use every time.

Having said that, it's common for woment to think their supply is low, and it's not....what makes you feel it is low?

Nipple Shields . . . Friend or Foe? This may answer your questions..

I have to say I found them fantastic, having fed my first two for ten months with no difficulty my 3rd was a real eye waterer opener! He had a tiny mouth he refused to open, even my local breastfeeding coordinator couldn't get him to latch..
I used the nipple shield for a week until my nipples healed and spent the next two weeks offering him shield free feeds every few feeds.. after 4 (total) weeks he latched successfully and never looked back!

i too used them with both my dds for around 12 weeks as neither of them would latch. I found them quite challenging to wean from however i did both times and didnt look back

My baby is nearly 4 weeks old. I have tried not using the shields since yesterday and have managed fine. She seems a lot better at latching on now. It's harder work but hopefully worth it in the end.

I think my milk supply is low as my baby will feed for anything up to an hour and yet still seems very unsettled and hungry. I know this is when they normally have a growth spurt so guess my milk supply just cant meet her demand at the moment.

Any tips on how to increase my milk supply or keep my baby contented in the time being??

LOTS of skin to skin, feed on demand, co-sleep (as long as your not under influence of Alcohol or drugs), Eat porridge to naturally increase supply...

Lactogenic foods and herbs