Posting here for traffic.
My 6 month old has used nipple shields to feed from very early on. Using them, she’d feed 30 minutes on one side and 15 minutes on the other. She’s always had very poor weight gain and we are awaiting a paediatrician appointment but both health visitors are adamant that she’s bright, alert and meeting milestones so is just genetically small (I’m 4ft 10!).
Anyway, this week she has decided she won’t use nipple shields any more, she whips them off in a ninja style movement and latches without. My concerns now are she will only feed for a few minutes each side, maybe 4 minutes solid and then 5 minutes bobbing on and off while grinning at me (annoying but cute!). I was worried that she wasn’t getting enough milk but she doesn’t seem any more hungry. She always has a bottle of formula before bed and would previously drain a 9oz bottle, last night she only took 6oz and then slept better than she ever has! Could the nipple shields have been seriously slowing my milk flow? Is she now getting enough from just 10 mins (max!) on each side?