Breast shells - do I need them?

[PacificDogwood]

I am just in the process of ordering stuff from Boots.com in preparation of the arrival of DS4 in 6 weeks time.

So, do I need breast shells like these?

I BF the other 3 with varying success, DS3 was fed to 14 months, but I have never had much leakage and only used disposible breast pads for the very first few weeks.

Will wearing breast shells make me leak?? Will it improve supply? I've always had supply issues, so leakage that I can collect would be welcome IYKWIM.

Any advice gratefully received.

They will only be useful if you do have leakage when feeding from the opposite breast - it can be surprising how much does into an absorbant pad so you never know. An ounce collected here and there soon mounts up when you freeze it.

They won't make you leak and they should not be worn in a bra for long periods as they can cause compression leading to blocked ducts.

I used them in the first few months when I did leak and added it to my collection.

The main thing with regard to supply issues is to feed frequently with a well positioned baby to establish milk supply.

Leakage is not an indication of the amount of milk you have.

mears, thanks for that.

I had lots of problems with blocked ducts and mastitis and honestly feel I have had all the RL advice re BFing anybody could possible hope for...
I always felt the issue was milk transfer from boob to babe IYKWIM. Certainly frequency and length of feeds were looooong and lots!

Might just give them a go and see for myself.

Any other experiences out there?

I think it does depend on how much you leak. I've been known to leak an ounce or too after a long gap when baby is feeding and I hate the ickyness it makes in breastpads so the shell worked to save me that and meant I didnt waste that oh so precious ebm

Any wisdom from the evening crowd?

Shameless bump

I had a problem with too much milk and lots of leakage all the time, and I gave up on these as they just filled up and made a mess everywhere. The milk slops around and can start to seep out. I wouldn't say they increased the supply though. Also, they do make you look as if you have bizarre alien norks.

IMO disposable breastpads worked the best, but you need quality ones with absorbent stuff inside. Tommee Tippee were the most impressive IME.

Leakage tends to reduce with each baby, from what I know, because the muscles that keep milk in get stronger.

Supply tends to improve too, with each baby, the longer you breastfeed, the better your body gets at making milk.

Ah, that's interesting!

As I have never leaked much, I suspect I can maybe do without them then.

I certainly got better with each subsequent baby, but always thought it had more to do with increased knowledge/patience/skill.

Nah you don't need shells.

According to the only scientific study that's ever been done on them, they make no apparent difference ...

Yep, I came to that conclusion too. Just sent my Boots.com order minus shells.

Ta, all

scientific study?
They definitely collected milk in this household and so my bra and top didn't get soaked

don't go out in the street wearing them in your wrap style bfing t-shirt top unless your wearing a coat or jacket.
You get very strange looks from blokes walking towards you and in your sleep deprived 'i'm fine you know' early days you might just shoot them a look of WTF are you looking at...and then realise that the shells are still there and V obvious...

If yo do ever use any, get the sort without vetilation holes, otherwise you'll have one of those moments (or several) where you are suddenly very wet and realise that you put them on upside down with the holes pointing downwards. Alternaively you might forget you've got them on, kneel/bend over to do a nappy ch\nge / play with baby on mat and wonder where sll this liquid has suddenly appeared from.

I've been usimg them to collect excess milk for the freezer for a couple of weeks, but due to aforesaid problems and an inability to remember to deal with the stuff sufficiently promptly, none has actually made it as far as the freezer yet...

LOL bronze ! Now have this mental image of a scientist with clipboard inspecting someone's T-shirt with a magnifying glass ...

Sorry, the study in question looked at whether breast shells helped to heal sore nipples and the answer to that was no.

Personally I found them a bit useless for same reasons as Angeldog ...

mine didn't have those holes
there was a tiny lip/spout at the top but I only wore mine when feeding at home anyway