Talk to me about nipple shields please? Good or bad idea?

[Alicetheinvisible]

I am expecting DC2 in just over 9 weeks.

With DD i struggled to feed. She just couldn't stay latched on and my milk came out very fast, she would often cough and splutter

DD went from 7.4 lbs to 6.1 lbs in less than a week as she wasn't getting enough milk so i started expressing. A MW suggested nipple shields, but at that point i was just desperate to get milk into DD and with the expressing i could at least see what she was getting.

This time i was planning on expressing again, simply because i felt comfortable doing it. For some reason i feel much less comfortable BF this time round, i guess because i found it so difficult last time.

I wondered about trying nipple shields this time. What are they really like? Can i use them from birth? I had to stay in for a few days last time (emcs) and really didn't get much help with feeding, so i wondered if i could use them in hospital? Would that be frowned upon?

Which make/design are best?

TIA

Bump

I think nipple shields are generally not recommended because they interfere with the baby's latch/make it difficult for them to latch on.
I had really sore nipples for the first few weeks and used nipple shields as a temporary solution to give things time to heal.
If I were you I'd give the BFing a go without shields and make sure you get plenty of advice and support (eg. get someone to check your latch). If you do use shields I wouldn't do it all the time and certainly not from birth- they do make it harder for baby to latch on.
I'm sure somebody with more expertise will be along to advise shortly

Thanks

If you can avoid using them, it would be better, as they can interfere with the latch, and, because the baby is suckling the shield and not the nipple directly, the milk stimulation will not be as strong, and can lead to problems with milk supply. They also put you more at risk of blocked ducts, and it is very easy for a newborn to get used to them, and so have problems latching to the breast after, if used on a long term basis.

The fact you didn't get much support last time is a real shame, but hopefully this time it will be better - buzz at every feed if you have to! Remember that each baby is different; you could have a LO this time who latches on with no problems in the slightest

However, if you do want to use them, the ones I have heard most praised are the Medela ones. I hope the feeding goes a lot better for you this time

Out of sheer curiosity, how long did you express for last time?

I used a nipple shield 10 years ago as a temporary measure for a few weeks when DS was newborn (long, dull saga I won't go into now). It worked out OK for DS and I went on to bf for a long time without the need for one. However I wouldn't set out to use a nipple shield - you will probably find your next baby is very different

I am still bf my 9 month old dd with nipple shields, having never got her to latch on at all without them! I had a lot of help from bf clinic but my dd would not latch on to me at all, until day 8 after expressing and syringe feeding, she latched on with a nipple shield.
Personally, I would be wary of using shields from the start as your baby may get used to them very quickly, like mine did, and then not want to feed without them.
While I am glad they allowed me to bf at all, they are a PITA to have to use, means you have to sterilise them, likely to take longer to feed, and may find not as able to feed so discreetly when out and about.
I do think they have a place as OP said, for short term use if nipples sore to allow them to heal.
HTH

I used nipple shields for approx 4 months with my DS. I have very flat nipples and he was also quite little at birth and found it hard to latch on. I was given a nipple shield in the hospital and although I tried persistently to do without it (due to pressure from various HV's) he could just not get on with out it 9lots of very frustrated crying). I was really worried about this to start with due to negetive press for nipple shields however he was doing well, putting on weight, supply was no problem (expressed as well) and he was happy - so decided to stop stressing about it! About 3/4 months he started to be able to latch on without it - HV thought this was probably due to him getting bigger - and we then bf without the shield until 6 months.

It is not ideal - but would rather have used the nipple shield than have had to bottle fed.

I am still using nipple shields at 18 weeks. They have worked really well for me and my LO. There does not seem to be any problem with milk supply (still leak all over clothes and get really engorged at night ) It is just a little more fiddly and less discrete really. If my DD would latch without them that would be great but she still won't!

I have had lots of negativity from HVs and a few other groups of people but the bottom line is that my little one is BF and would have been FF without the shields.

I would perhaps try to get your new baby to latch without them if possible and certainly avoid using them until your milk comes in.

Littlemefi, I am really impressed that you have got to 9 months that is fab! I agree with your pointers about being a PITA. I have found no other problems though.

Alicetheinvisible, if the problem was milk coming out too fast, it may help to express a little before the feed, then latch the baby on once the flow has slowed. I had a similar problem, but DS coped by gulping it all down and went from 8lb10 to 14lb at 6 weeks!

A bf counselor I saw suggested that when DS was really annoyed with the fast flow, and for future babies I express a bit as above, and he does prefer it if he is not too hungry. If he is starving he refuses to wait, so will suckle then drop off when the really fast flow comes in (all over his face usually!), then reattach once it has slowed down enough.

More info re fast letdown here

Perhaps you could try without and see how you go? I know the reason why they are so frowned upon is because they stop your nipple being stimulated and so can lead to a drop off in supply, but if that didn't happen with your previous baby you might be okay with them anyway?

That is fab thank you

SirBoobalot I expressed for 4months, but ended up topping up with formula at about 6weeks every few days, and by 2 months DD was having one formula feed a day.

I will hold off getting any til after i have had Ds and see how we get on.