How do I use nipple shields??

[Zil131]

I have a 3 week old DS which I am managing to BF, but my nipples are SOOOO sore. I'm sure the latch isn't perfect (but it's very hard to chase a toddler round and BF perfectly...), but he is gaining weight and seems happy - it's me who is hating it.
I have tried treatment for thrush, and have failed to express on several occasions, so I thought I'd give shields a go to try to give me a break.
I bought avent ones but they have no instructions... I popped one on, but it seemed to make my nipple about 50% bigger, so for a new born who is only chomping at the nipple, this just made the whole task even harder. He got his tiny mouth round the nipple bit, gave an almighty suck, I screamed with the pain, swore out loud and thew the shileds on the floor in a flood of tears....
Help please!!!

Zil - nipple shields have their place, but you really need to know how and when to use them after someone who knows what to look for has observed the way your baby takes the breast.

They have massive drawbacks - exactly as you say, they do not teach the baby to latch on with a wide mouth and instead reinforce the 'chomping' that may have caused the problem in the first place.

Contact one of the bf helplines, or a midwife or HV who knows about bf - hope you get the help you need.

I have used nipple shields successfully, then once my nipples recovered, weaned the baby back onto "bareback", as it were. They do seem huge at first but I had a choice of shields or bottle feeding, it was so sore.

But you do need to get a professional to assess your latch first to rule out any unforseen problems.

Best of luck!

Are they the rectangle type ones?
If so I found these the best out there. I had a prem baby and he hadn't developed his sucking reflex and I also had quite flat nipples. The MW suggest using shield as it would give him something a bit better to latch on to. I found that they did actually ease the pain of having a cracked nipple.
I found the best way to use them was give them a lick on the back and sort of streatch them across my nipple. That way they stuck and stayed put. Was a bit of a faff but for me was worth it.
I understand where you are coming from though DS1 was only 14 months when DS2 was born so trying to feed and chase a toddler round wasn't easy.
I'm pregnant with DC3 and already worrying about breastfeeding!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding/887730-How-do-I-find-a-Lacta tion-consultant

I hope the next feed is better for you.

Has your baby been checked for a tongue tie by a lactation consultant? If not, do get him / her checked.
then get a lactation consultant to assess the feeding and she can show you how to use them properly
nipple shields should not be used long term and cause your supply to diminish.

I've sufered through all the Xmas bank holidays waiting for my local Tuesday Breast feeding clinic to start, and the flipin snow has cancelled it today! Midwives fllowing delivery watched DS latch perfectly when they were here - think the fact he now has a cold is making him pull off a bit aswell. Will ring NCT/ LLL and see if they have other groups locally.