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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

low supply and nipple shields - please help

20 replies

squigglywig · 23/04/2008 07:25

Despite my very best efforts I simply cannot get dd off nipple shields - nothing at all is working.

I'm starting to lose my supply though, and dd's growth is slowing (not worryingly so according to HV).

How can I increase my supply again? I'm feeding, skin to skin, as often as she'll take but it doesn't seem to be making any difference.

I really, really do not want to have to stop. DD is 14 wo.

OP posts:

GoldenFleece · 23/04/2008 07:39

You could try expressing as well. You may find that it increases your supply.

GoldenFleece · 23/04/2008 07:41

Have you spoken to a breastfeeding counseller? THere is an NCT Breastfeeding hotline that you can ring and they will give advice. THere may be a support group near you as well. Gloucestershire has over 7 groups that meet, your county may be the same.

supercherry · 23/04/2008 08:09

I have also been using nipple covers since DS was 3 days old. I'm not sure whether it decreases the supply or not. DS's growth has slowed this last couple of weeks to 5oz but I thought milk supply was controlled by removal of milk from the breast? If this is the case then how do nipple shields decrease supply?

Original poster

squigglywig · 23/04/2008 08:19

I'm not in the UK Golden Fleece so can't use NCT.

I've spoken to the HV here, who is lovely, and she's trying her best to help with lots of advice about feeding as often as possible, with skin to skin etc. I'm just worried because it doesn't seem to be working.

My boobs never feel full anymore - not how they used to. DD does seem hungrier than she was too.

OP posts:

ditavonteesed · 23/04/2008 08:26

To increase your supply, try to feed as often as possible, rest as much as possible (I know not always possible). Take 24 hours out and just feed everytime your baby is awake.
Have you tried different position without nipple shields, Lying down tends to work better. You could try to stimulate your milk before you feed so that when baby goes to your breast there is milk there staright away, How is your positioning?
Do you turn out babies bottom lip when latched on, Is the problem that she won't latch or won't suck?
Sorry i know a lot of questions but trying to get a better picture so i may be able to help.

Original poster

squigglywig · 23/04/2008 08:32

Thanks ditavonteesed

I've tried every position I can think of and she just will not latch. I've expressed first so the milk is literally right there and she won't latch. I honestly don't think I can get her off the shields. Positioning when she is feeding is fine.

OP posts:

ditavonteesed · 23/04/2008 08:39

Is she opening her mouth really wide, try basically placing your nipple in front of her and then not giving it to her, eventually she should open her mouth, do not put her to you at the first sign, wait until her mouth is really open (mid scream often owrks) then bring her to you, do not try to move your breast to her, press her right into you and oput your nipple as far back into her mouth as it will go, it should actually be going down her throat and she should have a lot of the areola around your npple in her mouth as well. If she does not do it perfect, put your thumb into the side of her mouth to remove and start again, do not let her feed until she is on perfectly.
You are doing really well to still be feeding with sheilds and it must be making life very difficult for you.
If you have already tried all this sorry, it is really hard to try to picture somebody over the computer, what does she look like when she is attached? Is she too keen or not interested?

Original poster

squigglywig · 23/04/2008 08:59

Thanks for you help! I'm going a bit spare here worrying that I'll have to stop bf-ing.

I've tried all of that and it just doesn't work. She just carries on throwing her head from side to side and looking for the shield. She does open her mouth really wide (I'm using the larger shields), and I can get a good mouthful in to her - but it's just like she doesn't realise, or doesn't know what to do. She never latches on, it's just like this thing is there in her mouth for no good reason so she lets it fall out and then screams for the shield.

When she does latch on with the shield she feeds very well - just isn't getting enough.

OP posts:

ditavonteesed · 23/04/2008 09:07

She will be getting enough if she is putting weight on and is content, it is really hard for bf mothers as you have no idea what they are getting.
There are tea's you can get to help increase supply, fennel, nettle and raspberry leaf are all supposed to be helpful. Expressing would help but you have to be very careful that it doesn't end up that you spend your life either feeding or expressing and that she is fed all the expressed milk IYSWIM.
You could try going cold turkey, say 24 hours with no sheilds, put yourself a very strict time limit.
If you are happy with the sheilds though i wouldn't worry to much about that.
How often does she feed, have you tried feeding her everytime she is awake ie not just when she is crying or to a routine?
You can increase your supply very quickly, I stopped breastfeeding a 4 week old baby and then reestablished it several weeks later.

Notquitegrownup · 23/04/2008 09:19

First of all well done for getting to 14 weeks with the shields! I had huge problems feeding ds1, who would only feed with shields, but then started losing weight. With lots of support, we got him feeding without, but I remember how hard it was, and couldn't have done it without our local clinic.

One technique I used, was to start feeding with the shield then slip it off a few seconds later whilst ds1 was really hungry still. It's worth a try . . .

Just echoing the other posters though - the only way to up your supply is to increase feeding, so expressing or feeding more regularly, including waking dd at night for more feeds may help.

Don't forget though, as you feed for longer, your boobs may just not feel as full, but you may be producing just as much milk. It doesn't necessarily mean that your supply is not there, just because it feels different. (No one told me this one. We had a major panic when mine felt different one day, very suddenly, and ds refused a feed. Dh was sent out by a sobbing wife to find formula, cause I thought my milk had all disappeared overnight! Needless to say by the time he had returned, we were feeding again.)

The rule is that if baby is putting on a reasonable amount of weight, then she must be getting enough milk. How great that your HV isn't worried. So many seem to panic and start to suggest topping up with formula, the moment growth seems to slow. She sounds like a good one!

HTH. Best of luck

Original poster

squigglywig · 23/04/2008 09:33

Thanks for the replies. I think I might have to declare a duvet day and just feed as much as she'll let me. My HV just rang to see how things were and suggested expressing at the end of every feed to try and give my body the message that dd wants more without her getting so frustrated at a very slow breast. Does that make sense?

My HV is wonderful - never bullies or panics or tries to push me into things I don't want. Reading stories on here makes me really appreciate her!!

OP posts:

terramum · 23/04/2008 09:48

squigglywig - where are you? LLL have branches in most countries if you feel you need more support.

ditavonteesed · 23/04/2008 11:27

Sounds like a plan, expressing has it's uses but you can get too wrapped up in it IYKWIM, remember this is about you too.
xx

Notquitegrownup · 23/04/2008 11:29

A duvet day sounds brilliant. You could try expressing at the end of each feed too, but don't let it dishearten you. It can be hard work. Letting your dd do the work is much more relaxing.

Do google La Leche, or search MN to see about herbal teas to increase supply too. Some people find that they don't help, but others swear by them - fennel particularly springs to mind.

Best of luck

Jackstini · 23/04/2008 11:31

squigglywig - hope you are having a lovely duvet day.
Just wanted to give you some reassurance on the 'boobs not feeling full' part. Yours breasts are amazingly clever and as baby settles into feeding they don't always feel as full, even though they still always have milk ready.
Re the shields - if you can get off, that is obviously best. However please do not think all is lost if you can't. I have fed using shields since day 3 and despite all efforts it is only in the last 6 weeks or so that dd will sometimes feed without them... she is 2!

Original poster

squigglywig · 23/04/2008 12:27

Thank you so much for all the reassurance. We're deeply ensconced in our duvet day which is proving lovely. Hopefully it'll help the feeding. I've been expressing very small amounts every time DD comes off the breast - but she more or less seems to want to just stay at the breast today, either to eat or just to cuddle.

This motherhood lark is baffling the hell out of me today.

OP posts:

Jackstini · 23/04/2008 13:27

It baffles the hell out of me most days!

ditavonteesed · 23/04/2008 20:20

Still baffling me and mine are 4.5 and 2.
Hope you enjoyed your day.

Original poster

squigglywig · 26/04/2008 08:29

Supply seems to be increased after feeding/expressing nigh on constantly - boobs like rocks again. Thanks all for your support.

We seem to have hit a bit of a growth spurt now though!

OP posts:

decaffeinated · 26/04/2008 21:24

Hi squigglywig,

I thought I'd post as I'm having exactly the same problems with nipple shields - I'm glad to hear your supply's up.

I've been expressing and my supply's right up, but my baby is finding it really hard to latch on without nipple shields - does the side to side thing, then screams in frustration, then rolls my sore nipple around between his gums!

As he's only just started to regain his birth weight (he's 3 weeks old), I'm freaking out, and I understand how frustrating it is! Have had lots of (my) tears of frustration today.

Glad you've hit a growth spurt. I'm really hoping my lo does soon too.

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