I don't want to do the nipple shield thing again

[WiggleyWorm]

Hello! When I had my son 23 months ago he refused to latch on for 5 days I tried first of all doing the colostrum with a syringe with the midwife and then expressing and feeding him from a cup. Literally 5 midwives tried to help me and a breastfeeding councillor- all claiming they could help and 'he would be feeding by the time they had finished' which of course he didn't . The girl opposite me in hospital suggested using nipple shields to help him latch on. These worked a treat and I was a happy mummy with a happy babby. Unfortunately I couldn't get him off the nipple shields and we ended up using them for 10 months.

I am due to have another baby in August and I am really worried the same thing is going to happen again. Nipple shields were great for the feeding but to me they kinda defeated the object of BF especially the part where I had to get up during the night to sterilize them! I really want to BF again I just don't want to go through the nipple shield palarva! Does anyone else have experience of this or can offer some sensible words of wisdom!

It's not likely you would find yourself in the same set of circumstances that led to you using nipples shields in the first place. I'm guessing that you had a difficult birth, maybe ventouse, epidural/pethidine? A sleepy baby who wasn't interested and then the MW tried to latch your son on for you by grabbing him and you and trying to stuff the two together? That was what happened to me and my son wouldn't feed either.

I am pregnant with DC2 as well and I am a bit anxious about BF, especially as my story didn;t have as happy ending - I ended up expressing for 18 months as he would not BF full stop. But you can prepare yourself better this time, maybe by talking at length with a counsellor (I reall recommend the LLL) about what happened and what you could do if it happened again. Also the chances are that you will have an easier birth this time as first labours are usually the worst (assuming that was what caused your problems).

Best of luck

Hiya - used nipple shields with DD1 for very similar reasons..

With DD2, she fed really well from the start without and we have never had any problems.

What helped second time was a greater awareness of how the whole thing worked, and generally more patience with the whole process.. Oh, and a very chilled DD2 who just "got" it straight away.

Plus I didnt listen to any of the midwives second time, just chucked everyone out and we got on with it ourselves..

I used nipple shields for my first one too - though managed to stop using them once she got the hang of BFing a bit better. Dc2 was totally different - fed shortly after being born and never had any problems.

I think my firstborn was very tired from a long labour so was very sleepy at the start and took a while to get going, whereas dc2 had a much easier birth...

Provincial lady - you are right about the way the midwives tried to get him to feed from me lots of grabbing both of us and stuff my poor boob into his mouth. He was screaming so loud at one point it much have been terrifying.

The actual birth was okay though - I was induced but I do consider it to be a positive experience, I managed with Tens then on to Gas and Air. They broke my waters at 1pm and I had had him by 10pm that night. We also had lots of skin to skin straightaway, but after about an hour we were separated for about a hour whilst they repaired my 4th degree tear (ahem) but he got lots of daddy time then.

Oh and I am having a C-section this time around so is that likely to influcence the latching on aswell!?

I am so glad to hear from Talilac and Grapefruit about there 2nd time around positive stories - thankyou for getting back to me and I think I might contact the LLL aswell, I didn't think of doing that before the actual birth!

From what I have heard C-sections can affect BF but if you are prepared then it can be fine. I know loads of people who BF successfully after C-sections, especially elective ones like yours will be, and only one who struggled. You could talk through it with the LLL to get ideas for your birth plan.