5 Day old - nipple shields

[Jdec]

Hi,
My DD was born 5 days ago and we’ve been having latching issues. I have been bottle feeding expressed milk but I am desperate to get her on the breast!
Today my mw came round and spent the time to show me how to use nipple shields and help her get latched on but she just won’t open her mouth wide enough to latch onto it. She will suck at the end of it or even if she gets her mouth around it she just lets it sit there..no latch at all.
I am hoping it will come with practice but are there any tips from anyone who has used them before?

Thank you

I was unable to get hold of nipple shields when I needed them and I really feel for you.

Breastfeeding is a learned skill, and many of us don't have an experienced mother to help us. Luckily I had a sister who is a midwife, although I was ready to give up at the stage when she arrived, about ten days into motherhood.

I can't criticise the midwives who helped me before that point, and it could well have been our personal relationship that made all the difference. However, I was guided by her to try the lying down method, as in you lie down with baby in bed as if reading a book on your side. Another great tip is to manipulate (that sounds mean but really isn't) the baby's mouth just before latching on. So you gently rub your thumb or finger downwards from beneath the nose in such a way that you catch the babies lower lip (by friction with a slightly wet finger). Then, just as their jaw opens really wide, you shove it in, remembering baby to breast not breast to baby, so have a good grip of baby and their body too.

Biting on a stick is an extreme measure that works.

Pure lanolin from sheeps wool is a godsend for quick healing.
Hope this helps.

Sorry I didn't answer your question about nipple shields, but I guessed a bit about why you might need them.

Thank you for the advice!
I need the shields because she will not latch to me, slightly flat nipple and the fact she is getting more and more used to the bottle which isn’t helping.
I haven’t tried the lying down method, I will give that one a go and see if she can crack it!
Thank you :)

Hi @Jdec congratulations on your little one!

I had similar issues with my DD.

Is there a local breastfeeding support group you could visit? Or a local breastfeeding consultant who might even come to you?

I found the midwife good but the issues only got resolved when I spoke to a local breastfeeding consultant. She suggested i swaddle DD when feeding, Ive no idea how but it worked. I had to be careful to make sure DD didn't overheat so I wouldn't suggest you try this without speaking to an expert. I mention as an example of how sometimes it's something you would never think of that helps.

Also don't get stressed (easier said than done I know). Breastfeeding is hard, I never appreciated that before I had DD.

Before putting them on I let my son lick the milk off my nipple so he gets a taste for it helping him to open wide. Has your baby had their tongue checked as my baby is exactly the same and has posterior tongue tie. We’re waiting for the procedure as he gets exhausted feeding.

I hadn’t thought of swaddling, I tried it today and I actually got her to latch and feed for 10 minutes (no hands flying around knocking the shield off!)
She hasn’t managed it again though and she has been getting frustrated at the breast so we’re having a skin to skin break!

Have you got any breastfeeding groups / Counsellors nearby?
Or La Leche League meet ups?
Call your health visitor and say you're desperate to establish Breast feeding and need some support, you will get some help eventually.
Good luck OP

@Jdec glad you got her to latch for 10mins.

You're right to give her a break if she's getting worked up. Skin to skin is brilliant.

Some feeds with my DD were a disaster she just wasn't for going on. but overall successfully combi fed boob and bottle for 6 months.

Keep trying (but equally don't beat yourself up if it doesn't work out)❤️ good luck

I used them with my dd1 as she was chewing my nipple off. Gradually reduced them. Have you tried different sizes? If you can bear it without I'd be tempted to keep trying. You can try getting a nipple out with a pump before latching.

We never had any issue with latching on to the nipple shield - quite the opposite as 6m in she still has to use them and can’t latch without. However I just wanted to ask if anyone had suggested cup feeding rather than bottle feeding? We were recommended to do this in the early days because as you’re finding the bottle is easier and makes it harder for them to BF long term. I think cup feeding is supposed to prevent this. Might be worth looking in to?

Congratulations on your new baby!

Take a look on YouTube, there are lots of videos that offer advice on latching.

Just persevere, it will get easier. You both need to learn together. All the best.

If you can afford it get a lactation consultant around to help. Best money you'll ever spend

Thank you for all of your suggestions!
She is getting very frustrated whenever I try to introduce the breast/shield at all now so I will stick to bottle feeding her near the breast skin to skin for tonight and try again tomorrow.
I have looked into lactation consultants but wasn’t sure how much more help they could give compared to infant feeding teams/specialist breastfeeding midwives?

You poor thing, 5 days in is not easy, well done for persevering!

Have you hand expressed a little into the end of the shield so that theres some there for the first suck? The bottle teat will likely flow faster and easier so she might be a little impatient. Skin to skin as much as you can for sure.

It can also be helpful to bring babys chin a little closer to your cleavage than you think you should as this will encourage a really wide open mouth for her, make sure the back of her head and neck are able to move and your hand isnt stopping her tilting it back.

I would really recommend going to as many breastfeeding groups and having as many midwife visits as you need.

I keep trying to express into the end of the shield but if I do it prior to putting it on it just dribbles out, or if I do it when it’s attached I end up pulling it off!
She is definitely impatient and getting lazy because of how easy the bottle is so we’re looking at slower methods of feeding with the bottle.
Thank you for the advice, I am heading to some groups this week to hopefully get things moving!