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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Nipple shields, tell me they're OK?

110 replies

bakedpotato · 29/01/2005 11:54

DS was born 5 days ago. I always struggled with breastfeeding DD 3 yrs ago, i never got the famous endorphin high, but i kept going through guilt etc (mixed from 3/4 mths, 2 breastfeeds maintained till 8 mths) and, as a result, had a rather miserable experience of early motherhood. I'd really like to enjoy the experience this time and I do think DS is a better feeder, but i'm struggling again with the discomfort, and this time i'm clear that i'm not going be a martyr to it and make my life and that of DH and poor DD grislier than it has to be.

Various midwives have told me the positioning is fine, but whatever, there is a problem with pain, esp when latching on. My main MW says i have signs of nipple trauma, tiny colourless blisters on the old nips, but seems to think the thing is just to persist regardless. She is very pro breastfeeding, which is great, but when i mentioned nipple shields to help me through this rough patch she said they inhibited milk production, and basically implied using them would be a mistake.

well, DS is a hungry chap, i'm struggling to keep up with him as it is, and i have to say that i did buy some and started using them yesterday and it's fantastic: the pain goes, and i can feel my uterus contracting gently which i think (?) is linked to let-down (it feels great btw), and he is soused in milk, esp by day. The last 2 nights have been a bit fraught, i guess my supply has got to catch up with his appetite, but i'm sure i'm feeding him for longer and in a better state of mind than if i wasn't using them, so it has to be good, right? or am i making a terrible mistake?

I have been trying to use them only for alternate feeds, but it's so much more pleasant with them... do i have to give them up?

OP posts:
Pidge · 01/02/2005 09:35

Bakedpotato - you made me laugh so hard with your DD looking like your FIL - what a terrible thought!! I think I really scared my dp with my comment about our dd, but it really was just said in a moment of utter bleakness, and is a reflection of how the pain of breastfeeding can get you down. I seemed to spend the whole time just dreading the next feed.

Wish I'd known about mumsnet then - this time round I will be hollering for help pronto if I hit similar problems. I went on to breastfeed for 2 years last time, so it did all come good in the end.

It'll be an up and down road, but it already sounds like you're headed the right way. Good luck.

NotQuiteCockney · 01/02/2005 09:38

It does just keep getting better. DS2 hasn't had one of those "too tired to feed, too hungry to sleep" phases for ages - the last time was over Christmas, when he was three months old, and was probably due to us being stressed because of staying with the in-laws.

Engorgement goes away. Let-down pain (if you have it) goes away. And it just becomes easy and natural. The only real hassle now is, DS2 won't feed if there's interesting stuff going on, so I almost never feed outside our bedroom! I have a large collection of fancy North American breastfeeding tops, that never get (proper) use!

hewlettsdaughter · 02/02/2005 08:20

How was last night bp?

Original poster
bakedpotato · 02/02/2005 09:59

last night was fine too [nervous] which assuredly means we're in for another meltdown soon. we're back to big feeds, big sleeps, thank goodness (and, i have to say, Gina).
am coming to the end of 48 hrs on the shields. going to see BFC at 11. bit scared about feeding without them as the old nips are definitely on way to recovery.
thanks for asking!

OP posts:
hewlettsdaughter · 02/02/2005 13:35

I remember that feeling... glad you are healing, hope it went ok today

pupuce · 02/02/2005 13:35

Pollyanna - yes I know Ruth but no I am not Ruth !

Pidge · 02/02/2005 13:45

Good luck for the meeting with the BFC - and even more good luck for trying feeding without the shields. Hopefully if you're beginning to heal and the BFC can help get the latch right, things should get much easier.

Original poster
bakedpotato · 02/02/2005 14:12

just saw ruth, she was great, taught me a variation on the usual hold that DIDN'T require mountains of pillows/chair with armrest/footstool etc (the MW made each b/f seem like an exercise in rearranging all the furniture which seemed infuriatingly impractical) and he actually GAPED. He can really do it!
so chuffed ruth is just there, around the corner, and you can walk in and see her for free. it's a great service, i'm lucky.
now we've got to see if we can do it on our own -- but i finally have a clear idea of what to do. DH came too, so he can chivvy us both. feeling cautiously optimistic.

OP posts:
Pidge · 02/02/2005 14:14

Excellent news. And great that your DP is on board too. My DP spent the first 6 weeks with our dd holding her arms out of the way whilst I tried to latch her on, with both of us saying "BIG MOUTH" at her, like that was going to help her get the hang of it .

moondog · 02/02/2005 14:16

Oh, so glad to hear things are going better for you bp! Sounds like there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel. God, Iremember that feeling so well after weeks and weeks of sheer misery and pain. Almost worth it for the joy of having come through it!
Keep at it!

hewlettsdaughter · 02/02/2005 14:18

Well done bp and baby bp

Original poster
bakedpotato · 02/02/2005 19:06

still a bit sore without the expert supervision but will make another appt for fri with same BFC if it continues to hurt -- and if necc go back to shields for time being.
i wanted to ask something. when i leave the shields off, DS is much more restless on the breast, pulling back and twisting head, which is something i remember from feeding DD. could anyone suggest why this is? (could it be him pulling back from a letdown?)
pidge, you are so right about the arms getting in the way. last feed, i held his sleeve in my teeth while waiting for him to get on with it and gape.

OP posts:
Pollyanna · 02/02/2005 19:35

Glad things are getting better bakedpotato - hope tonight goes well. Ruth does a clinic on Thursdays too if you need reminding of the technique.

mears · 02/02/2005 21:32

Glad to hear things are improving BP.Can you describe the hold she taught you out of interest?

The pulling back at the breast etc. just may be because the milk is letting down faster without the shield. What you can do is take him off and let the milk go into a towel/nappy, then put him back on again when the letdown is less forceful.

Original poster
bakedpotato · 03/02/2005 09:30

not sure i can describe it accurately, or i'd be doing it effortlessly... but she said it's to do with the baby coming up from under the boob and really stretching for the nipple. thing that seemed really different to me was that she wasn't bothered about the baby being held in a straight line across my tummy. she positioned him at a slant, feet down past my hips, nappy under elbow (tummy to tummy), hand at nape of neck, with my other hand cupping boob and thumb tweaking nipple upwards at latch moment, to make him really gape.

OP posts:
mears · 03/02/2005 09:33

That's the position we teach at the breast feeding workshops. Mum practice with dolls - quite a laugh rteally. I used that position 4th time round and found it so much easier to aget baby fixed properly. Once babies learn the knack then they just jump on whatever position. How's it going by the way?

Original poster
bakedpotato · 03/02/2005 10:20

re the feeding: i'm OKish on the side BFC supervised but not good on the other one, nips got a bit inflamed when i tried on my own. not confident with either side, TBH. hope to see her again tomorrow to cement things in my head.
will try to keep OK side going w/o shields for alternative feeds. but i do find the wriggling/pulling back makes it much harder.
the sleep side of things is still fine. last 3 nights he has fed well and slept with only one wakeup between 11-7.30. as yet, no cold sores or styes (i was covered with them during DD's first few weeks/months, but i'm definitely better at getting into bed and just going to sleep than i used to be. with DD i just lay there worrying abuot the next cry and wore myself to a frazzle instantly)
mears, do you think i can i take some comfort from fact that my supply seems to have built up OK with shields? or would that have happened anyway with minimum stimulation, at this early stage?
thanks for your interest/encouragement BTW.

OP posts:
mears · 03/02/2005 11:04

You sound as though you are a fortunate woman who has a good milk supply. The problem is that some women need much more stimulation but they don't know that prior to using the shields IYSWIM? The problem is long term use really. It is good that you can get your DS to latch without them so wthat would be a good thing to continue on your good side. Soemtimes women use shields, the nipples heal then the baby won't latch without them. Makes feeding more of a hassle because you need to have sterisiled shields wherevr you go. And it is the long term use that impacts of milk production. Those women who have a huge supply will mange it though.
You will get the latch right - so good that you are seeing a B/F counsellot. It is good to follow your progress if you don't mind

Original poster
bakedpotato · 03/02/2005 12:00

to maximise my chances, i've just started expressing this AM. i found this next to impossible with DD using Avent hand pump and not easy when i tried a few days ago with medela mini, but i think i've got the hang of it now: i just got a little over an ounce off one side in a few mins before sticking him on. i may try to express a few ounces every morning, partly to up the supply and partly to use to settle him after b/f at 5-6pm which is the one feed he wibbles after. does this sound OK to you?

(i am getting scared about his next weigh-in just in case he isn't really feeding as well as BFC seemed to think he was. MW weighed him last week and he seemed to be putting it on but MW scales were vv inaccurate in DD's case. DD fell instantly to the bottom of the centile charts and stayed there until weaning, which was extremely demoralising, though HV was supportive and the baby seemed happy enough. it made me resent the hours spent BF even more)

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 03/02/2005 12:08

If he seems happy and settled, I'm sure he's fine.

Please don't get stressed about weighing. It's not worth it. The difference between an 8 oz "great" gain and a 2 oz "rubbish" one is a good feed, or a good poo and a wee. So it's really not worth getting bothered about.

If DS is growing and happy and sleeping and alert (at different times, obviously), he's fine.

Original poster
bakedpotato · 03/02/2005 12:40

DD did from time to time lose little amts of weight, an ounce here, an ounce there. it was bloody awful. people, horrid people, used to doubletake and say, 'jesus, what centile is she on?' (actually this was one friend of DH's. we don't see her anymore )

as i say, she was always pretty goodhumoured and is now tall and strapping and pretty robust so i know how silly it is to get upset by it all.

OP posts:
motherinferior · 03/02/2005 15:19

BP, I got into the habit of a morning express - either before or after the first feed (tried during, all ended in tears). After a while I even got into the habit of feeding from one breast, expressing from the other, but that's a longer-term strategy.

Do NOT worry about weight too much.

moondog · 03/02/2005 15:34

Yes, my dd was very small, now she's a strapping lass (anyway, all recent research suggests it is better for babies to put on weight slowly. There is some sort of link between quick weight gain and adult obesity and diabetes)
I had the 'express to tide over the evening wibble' thought too, but decided I would be making a rod for my own back, as in I might get stuck with this continual expressing which would be difficult if he needed to feed at that time and i didn't have EBM. Presumably my supply would then be low.
Dp you get my drift? It may work for you though.

Original poster
bakedpotato · 04/02/2005 11:49

quick update... we seem to be doing much better w/o shields, i think nips are toughening up and DS is getting the hang of gaping. here's hoping.
just expressed 2 oz in a flash, then the medela toppled off the coffee table and most of the EBM (which did the trick last night and settled him after long feed at 6) went on the floor

oh well onward and upward

OP posts:
Girly · 04/02/2005 12:02

A tip I got from a bfc was to try and get your nipple pointing upwards and to use a muslin or terry nappy under the boob to help, esp if you have large boobs that are heading south!

This is such a good thread , thanks you BP for starting it, it is so informative and encouraging

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