Nipple Sheild Trouble

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 09/25/2009

I had the same problem, but nursing quickly corrected it. I started weaning my daughter off the shield at 3 months and it took about 3 weeks to get her all the way off. If you want to you can try. I started without the shield and tried to latch her. She would latch for a minute at first then a few minutes then she would do half a feeding etc...before I had to put the shield on. Eventually she did it all without it. If you don't want to wean, I've heard of moms breastfeeding the whole time using a shield and that's fine too. That was my plan, but my daughter has done such a great job nursing that I was able to get her off of it. Good luck!

Amanda - posted on 09/25/2009

I actually used the sheild the whole time I nursed my first two [my first son weaned himself at 9 months, I had to stop nursing my daughter at 4 months due to pain med I had to be on for 3 months after back surgery] my third, another little guy seemed to wean himself from the sheild at 5 months, he is 7 months now and we are nursing shield free.

I had someone from LLL tell me I was doing a horrible thing by using the sheild all the time with my first baby but the way I look at it is if that is the only way you can bf then so be it.

Ayme - posted on 09/24/2009

My baby is 4 months & she JUST weaned herself off of the nipple shield yesterday (much to my surprise & delight). She still can't latch on for the first morning feeding as my breasts are quite full, but once they protrude a bit, she can latch. I have been pumping more frequently lately, and that has helped draw out my nipples quite a bit.

Sara - posted on 09/23/2009

Just keep trying. I used mine until my son was about 3 months and then he finally started taking it on his own.After his weight started to stabilize ( he lost a lot because I didn't know how to get him on and didn't want to bottle feed) I would try the breast and then give the shield each side each time. Eventually he started taking it sometimes but not always and then we just didn't need it anymore. It took a few weeks of this though. Good luck!

Jillian - posted on 09/23/2009

Quoting Meikjn:

they get over it. I used it too. the longer you feed the more your nipples will come out, this helps too. try latching the baby on first without the shield, each time (at least when you have the energy) and if she is struggling let her have the shield before she gets too upset. she will try harder and harder to latch on without it as long as you do not fight her. this is what a lactation consultant friend taught me. it worked for me, and My daughter quickly prefered me to to the shield.

Thankyou for the tip,I'll give it a try!

Jillian - posted on 09/23/2009

Thanks I hope it will just happen!

Jillian - posted on 09/23/2009

Quoting Jen:

I weaned my daughter off of the nipple shield at 4-5 months. It took at least a week, but I was so sick of using the shield! I kept losing them! Now she is 9 1/2 months and we have no problems with bare nipples. Just keep trying, maybe on the second side when she isn't so hungry that she'll be frustrated. One day, it'll just happen! Good Luck!

Meikjn - posted on 09/05/2009

they get over it. I used it too. the longer you feed the more your nipples will come out, this helps too. try latching the baby on first without the shield, each time (at least when you have the energy) and if she is struggling let her have the shield before she gets too upset. she will try harder and harder to latch on without it as long as you do not fight her. this is what a lactation consultant friend taught me. it worked for me, and My daughter quickly prefered me to to the shield.

Amanda - posted on 09/05/2009

WIth my first son I actually couldn't stand using them so I stopped breastfeeding around 6 weeks. With this one I weaned him off of the nipple sheild. I don't have inverted, mine are flat. I would try to work them out and hold my areola close to the nipple and put it in his mouth the best I could. He would get fed up after a few minutes and I would use the nipple sheild again, but after a month or so he could easily latch on, even when my nipple is still flat he can find it and pull it out. And sometimes I would use the shield first, then after he'd pulled it out I would take off the sheild and try to latch him on that way. I don't know whether or not you're actually trying to wean her or not, but I hope this helps you. :)

Jillian - posted on 09/05/2009

Thanks for the advice ladies. I think I just need to keep trying...

Meredith - posted on 09/05/2009

I had to use a nipple shield initially because my daughter was sick in NICU and would not latch on to the breast. I was really worried about using a shield because I had heard so many bad things about it (low milk supply, hard to get baby off...) but it was the only way I could get her to breastfeed. I did not like using the nipple shield because it took so long to feed her and it was messy. I was determined to get her off it asap and got the help of a lactation consultant and my husband. I got my daughter off at 2 weeks which is very unusual. Most baby who use shields don't wean off of them until 3 months or later. They prefer the shield because it works more like a bottle and they don't have to put much work into it. I guess that isn't much help! Have you called a lactation consultant. Maybe she could give you guidance on how to wean the baby off. For me it was more an issue of teaching the baby to latch on right. But since your baby is older, it is obviously more an issue of ease and preference.

Jen - posted on 09/04/2009

I weaned my daughter off of the nipple shield at 4-5 months. It took at least a week, but I was so sick of using the shield! I kept losing them! Now she is 9 1/2 months and we have no problems with bare nipples. Just keep trying, maybe on the second side when she isn't so hungry that she'll be frustrated. One day, it'll just happen! Good Luck!