Nipple Shields? Good or Bad?

Feel free to DM me, lots of hindsight from me using them that I’m happy to share xx

I stressed so much about using nipple shields. I finally spoke to a peer supporter who had used them long-term and they really normalised it for me. We ended up using them for 4 months and my eldest weaned himself off and then just took the boob after that

I used the Mam nipple shields for the entire time I breastfed (about 7 ish months). It was advised by my health visitor because my little boy knew how to latch on but was too lazy to stay on.

that seems similar to me too. And no adverse affects from your point of view?

Hi. I used nipple shields until by daughter was about 6months.

I couldn’t have fed without I don’t think.

My HV was supportive about it. She said to try without every now and then but my daughter only stopped when she was ready!

I would definitely make sure to measure up. There’s videos on how to measure your nipple to get the right size. If too big it doesn’t create the vacuum needed properly. I found going down a size made feeding easier.

I did find that she didn’t gain weight super fast but did track along the 25th centile. But when I stopped using them she shot up in weight and feeds went for 45 minutes ish to more like 10/15 mins. So definitely think she was having to work harder to feed through sheilds.

But at 5/6 months she stopped herself.
She literally kept pulling them off!

It is a bit of a pain having to sterilise them although I think my HV said that you only need to sterilise them after every few feeds if you keep them i. the case / wash your hands well etc

Oh and she’s over 2 and still breast feeding now so I am so happy I used them as allowed me to BF!

thanks Katherine, did you top up breast feeding with formula?
Did you use the Mam shields?

Hi! I used the Medela nipple shield for almost 4 months, it was recommended I use it for my baby since he couldn’t latch well due to his tongue tie. Then they scheduled his frenectomy to fix the tongue tie & told me not to continue using it anymore and put him directly on the breast from there on, which he fussed for a day or so but then just took it directly after that. It was a tremendous help and comfort to know he was eating well with the nipple shield and not struggling while we used it and luckily he didn’t need it anymore after

My LO is 6 weeks and for the majority of this we have been using shields. We’ve nearly managed to wean off. He was born preterm and had a poor latch. Combined with my initial poor supply he was just not on the boob enough to stimulate production.
The neonatal nurses suggested using a shield as he could actually latch on to that and it was great. We used the Ardo ones. I found he did take a bit longer to feed on them but without them I wouldn’t have been able to breastfeed as he just wouldn’t go on without.
People do speak badly about them but I thought even if I could never wean him off surely the shields would be better than bottle feeding?

absolutely none whatsoever. The HV did suggest trying without the shield every so often but he would just refuse it. I was just happy that he was breastfeeding - the shield allowed me to do that. He's still a lazy boy now and he's 1 and 8 months 🤣

My girl is 4 months old and I’ve used nipple shields her entire breastfeeding journey. Fed is best and I took that seriously. I was not willing to let my little girl go hungry. She latched right on when I finally got them. We eventually began supplementing with formula as our girl was really skinny. And I really feel part of the latch issue was that she was hungry and frustrated just like me.

And now, starting about a week or two ago she can now latch with or without them. I now use them interchangeably. I pop them on to give my nips a break.

Try not to stress yourself out about what you “should or shouldn’t” do. You know your baby. Follow your gut momma!

Thanks all, so my update using the MAM shield. He latches and stayed on sucking but then within a few minutes he got frustrated and came off. This kept repeating. Maybe the MAM nipple is too big? There I was hoping this would work.

I’m having to resort to formula as not getting enough from pumping.

Any solutions? Another brand?

Absolutely no harm in nipple shields, I don’t know why they get such a bad rap. I had to use them for the first 4 months until one day he just latched without and we haven’t used them since.

which ones did you use?

I have flat nipples/small. I bought shields off temu and a random one of Amazon - worked for my son and I. He might better like the the ones that have a less pointy tip, like a squarer edge.

I used medela nipple shields (preferred them to MAM) every feed till I could wean my son off them at 4 months and we are still breastfeeding at 15 months! That would not be the case without shields.

I came into contact with a lot of negativity from health care professionals. But I went to an NCT breastfeeding support group around 2 weeks post partum and the group leader was so encouraging and supportive that it changed my perspective and empowered me. Lucy Webber has done some good posts where women have explained their experience with them and how they can be an essential tool.

My advice, once you find ones that are comfortable for you and baby, get multiple so you can rotate them as it feels like you’re forever washing them!

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6_TJtCtW8q/?igsh=NG5qZjJ4c3p5YmN5

I’m a NICU nurse we did recommend nipple shields to help frame the nipple and help baby initially go on and once established we then began to encourage reducing use but this is very individual and varies from baby to baby.

60ml is still a good amount so try not to get stressed about this. To increase supply lots of skin to skin with him, and offering him the breast responsively or when you want to etc.
Baby’s stomach isn’t big so he will probably feed little and often. The coming on and off the breast sounds like a positioning and attachment issue.

I’d speak to infant feeding support and see if you can attend a breastfeeding drop in or a session where they can watch you feed.
It’s important to have a full assessment of your positioning and attachment to make sure all is well in that area and have a plan made for you both.

A lot of the parents on NICU who needed to use nipple shields used the ones I’ve linked here.

https://amzn.eu/d/4JVW7hk

Thank you so much I’ve asked HV to refer me to infant feeding team too

I used the Medela shields for around 3 months due to a tongue tie (that was then cut at 8 weeks old) that caused multiple episodes of mastitis and an abscess. Used them until I fully healed and had no issues with him latching on them. Eventually weaned off them and was still feeding at 17 months so no adverse effects from them. Without them I would have had to give up when he was a few weeks old due to the pain x

only topped up with formula during the first week. Then tried introducing a bottle at 3 mo but she didn’t ever take to it. I used a variety of brands mam were my favourite