Necessary to pump while using nipple shields?

[snm88]

Newborn is nine days old and breastfeeding was absolutely excruciating. Nips were cracked and bleeding and I was very close to quitting until this morning when I caved and tried the nipple shields I was given at the hospital. Babe is feeding well and I’m not dreading his hunger cues. However they didn’t give me many instructions and I’m reading on the web that I should be pumping after using the shields in case he isn’t fully emptying the breast/to combat supply issues. Is it necessary to pump and should I be doing it after EVERY feed? From the milk dribbling out of his mouth when he unlatches he’s getting more than enough…

I used nipple shields for about 4 months with my first, as feeding was absolutely agony. I didn't pump after feeding him and it was fine, my supply regulated itself. If you are uncomfortable after he has finished you could pump but it doesn't sound like it?

Most women only need the shields for a short time, I used mine for months but it is usually just a couple of weeks at most.

I never did. I used shields for the first few weeks and didn't even attempt pumping until about 4 months (and gave up with it pretty quickly too!)

If you're worried about blocked ducts you can manually massage around while baby is feeding to make sure they're draining all parts of the breast. (I.e. squirt it at them a bit!)

The info online around shields is often a bit outdated. Many articles are harping back to the solid shields of decades ago, not the silicon barely-there shields nowadays.

It is worth having tongue tie and latch properly checked and you can wean off the shields then once you've got the hang of it. Shields are a pita especially placing them at night but a godsend to get established.