nipple confusion?

[Iggleonk]

I bf DD1 for 3 months but had lots of problems at the start - cracked nipples & masititis. My midwife recommended nipple shields to get me through this & they helped & allowed me to continue. I also saw a bf counciller & she said that because I have such large nipples & boobs it was causing the milk ti gush out & it was causing problems with the latch but we got the hang of it eventually.

DD2 is now 2 weeks old & in hospital my nipples started to get cracked so I straight away used the nipple shields as I was determined not to get into a state about bf.

I have been alternating using shields & not but in the last few days she has refused to feed unless with nipple shields. If I try to feed her without she fusses, can't latch, gets frustrated & starts crying. It is v.stressful so I have been going back to nipple shields.

Advice please - should I persevere with trying to get her to latch without shields? Give up & resort to shields as at least she is getting breast milk? Or will shields cause problems with supply? She is gaining weight ok.

Anyone had any similar experiences / advice?

I have used nipple shields since my LO was 5 days old - it was the only way i could get her to latch. She is now 4 months old and although gaining weight relatively slowly, she is still bigger than I was at same age!

I haven't had any supply problems with the shields (perhaps just lucky) I can also express twice a day. My LO still won't come off the shields and the only real problem is that it is less discrete than normal feeding. Although today I fed her in the middle of a park!

If latching without shields is getting really stressful then perhaps take a break for a bit?

thanks Brasso4 - think I am only feeling bad / guilty because the health visitor gave me a bit of a telling off about it. I will get her weighed next week and if doing well, think I will continue with what I am doing i.e. with shields as at least she is getting breast milk. Was feeling quite chilled about it till I saw HV!

I fed my dd with shields for first 3 or 4 weeks or so (had flat nipples - she wouldn't latch without them). What I did then was start trying one feed a day without them, sometimes she would latch sometimes not, but I didn't let her or me get stressed about it (as I figured she might start to reject the breast) and would put shield back on, eventually I managed to slowly increase the numbers of feeds without the shields- but it did take time- probably about 3 weeks to be shield free. I also would sometimes try mid feed if she latched herself off- that way I knew she had some milk in her tum to keep her going so then she could play about with the nip getting used to it- it sometimes would take 10mins to latch her on wihtout it but again she slowly learned and now pops on and off no bother!

Shields are supposed to cause supply problems because the nipple isn't getting maximum stimulation. I did have issues but then it was discovered DD had tongue tie at 7weeks so that was probably more the issue.

This sounds very similar to me Iggleonk, my HV reduced me to tears the first time I went to the clinic when DD was 3 weeks old. She was very critical about the shields and quite frankly I felt like just giving up and switching to formula but I am glad that I didn't give up but I do still need the shields. I use the Medela ones mainly which do allow some breast contact for the baby.

I know this is a slightly old thread but I would be really interested to hear if anyone else has experience/ info to share on using nipple shields and whether they have had problems with milk supply subsequently? It's something I'm worrying about. I'm using nipple shields at the moment as I have flat nipples and couldn't get DS to latch on without using an express pump to pull my nipples out! DS is now 4 weeks and it's stressing me out to think that I should try to stop using the shield soon. All I hear from HVs is that it should be a temporary measure! I have been doing a bit of research and it seems like the 'frowned-upon' attitude is based on research from years and years ago (when nipple shields were not thin silicon, and did not allow any contact between breast and babies mouth). I found a recent-ish study that suggested there was no difference in milk supply when using nipple shields. So..... does anyone have any positive stories about using nipple shields for a reasonable length if time, without issues? Worried about DS putting weight on, and stressing about being pressured to stop using the shield.

Hello, I used nipple shields for 13 weeks (also due to flat nipples) with my dd and she gained weight steadily and always seemed to be taking enough milk and was satisfied between feeds. I would say however, that since I managed to wean her off them, she feeds a lot quicker and feeding times have halved so I think she's probably getting the same amount of milk but is maybe able to get it faster without the shields. I also read some research on it (can't remember where) and it implied that it had no effect on milk supply which put my mind at rest.

I did eventually wean her off them (lots of tears and perseverance!) mainly because I found them such a faff and found it impossible to feed discretely but not due to supply issues. They were a lifesaver for me and without them I probably would have resorted to formula feeding as I found it impossible to get dd to latch on in those early days. Don't be too hard on yourself and get stressed out about using them, the main thing is that you're still breastfeeding your son 4 weeks on despite the challenges you've had.

If you want any tips on trying to stop using them I'd be happy to share.

thanks Victoria, that's really reassuring. Very nice to know others have similar experience too. I have an appointment with breastfeeding consultant on wed with the aim of beginning to wean off the shield, but any tips would be very gratefully accepted, thanks!!!! Will also try not to stress, you're right, it's the worst thing to do (but as always, easier said than done.....)

Well pepperonipizza, I posted a month ago when my LO had been fed using nipple shields for four months, she is now 5 months old and still on the shields. I still have no problems with supply and she won't feed without them. I suspect my feeds are longer than if I didn't have them but tbh it is quite nice knowing that I have to stop for half an hour (good to catch up on my recorded TV viewing). I now don't even mention to HVs that I am using them and now find I am in the minority in this area still EBF at this age.