https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 01 May 2026 03:54:25 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-the-nipple-shield#post-1822005 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 15:54:19 +0000 Mrs. Cookie 1822005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Vegmama: Thank you! The ped is giving us new meds to try!</p> <p>@kentuckygirl: Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-the-nipple-shield#post-1821503 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 12:26:02 +0000 kentuckygirl 1821503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used a nipple shield on my right side for several weeks due to a partially inverted nipple. I do believe it impacted my supply on that side. Good luck weaning and getting rid of the thrush! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-the-nipple-shield#post-1821127 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 09:46:54 +0000 Vegmama 1821127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@princessandthebee: I'm sorry that you're still in pain. I'm thinking of you. I know it's so hard. It's pretty awesome that your supply is still good. Overall, it's about being gentle with yourself. :) You'll get there!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-the-nipple-shield#post-1821126 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 09:46:48 +0000 Mrs. Cookie 1821126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update, we went most of the weekend without a nipple shield. He still struggles to latch sometimes and I worry that his lower lip isn't out far enough so I'm always trying to correct that.</p> <p>Still using nipple shield sometimes on right side. But as I keep seeing white stuff in LO's mouth, I'm worried thrush is contributing to the pain. He's been on meds over a week now so I'm bummed we are still finding it! I will call the ped today. Thanks everybody! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-the-nipple-shield#post-1821117 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 09:44:48 +0000 Mrs. Cookie 1821117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsKoala: That's good to know. It's just confusing right now because one nipple hurts so much more than the other!</p> <p>@LovelyPlum: I do use the shield on my right side and then take it off halfway through nursing. I'm just so tired of cleaning it and remembering to bring it places. Glad you are off it!</p> <p>@travelgirl1: I'm sorry, that sounds terrible! I'm mostly screaming out when he first latches and then I can't focus on anything else so I sway and grit my teeth. BF is so painful, argh!</p> <p>@Seattlemom: I will have to try coconut oil, I keep hearing that works well, thanks!</p> <p>@Vegmama: Yes, we actually had a tongue tie clipped in the hospital before going home, I'd heard enough about them that I didn't even wanna mess around with it. Glad you got your LO's taken care of, that sounds so painful!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-the-nipple-shield#post-1820411 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 18:08:50 +0000 Vegmama 1820411@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Has your baby been checked for lip or tongue ties? We had a lip tie corrected at 5 day, but I was in constant pain until 9 weeks (when they finally diagnosed the tongue tie). After that, it was like night and day. It took so long because they couldn't see the tie, but opted for the laser based on the symptoms (nursing felt like sandpaper on my nips, they were bright red, hurt deeply, misshapen after nursing, and would blanch at times. Good luck. I know the shields are a pain, and I'm hoping you can transition away from it soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-the-nipple-shield#post-1820301 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 14:42:17 +0000 lady grey 1820301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You can also use coconut oil or your own breastmilk on your nipples to help them heal. I also loved the gel pads. If this takes a while, could you get some extras shields to use at night so you don't have to wash them each time?</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ameda-17261M-ComfortGel-Hydrogel-Pads/dp/B003IP2L38/ref=pd_sim_hpc_6?ie=UTF8&#038;refRID=0YDC9Y48RY00HGH476A6" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Ameda-17261M-ComfortGel-Hydrogel-Pads/dp/B003IP2L38/ref=pd_sim_hpc_6?ie=UTF8&#038;refRID=0YDC9Y48RY00HGH476A6</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-the-nipple-shield#post-1820266 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 14:05:15 +0000 travelgirl1 1820266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The pain weaning off the shield made me cry, it was awful! But it faded pretty quickly. I think I upped the lanolin useage and went topless (at home!) for a bit so bras and tops didn't rub against my sore nips. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-the-nipple-shield#post-1820009 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 07:29:43 +0000 LovelyPlum 1820009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I had pain, I went back to the shield for a while. I offered frequently without it, but she wasn't really interested until at least 12 weeks. We didn't fully wean off of it until 15 weeks, when I accidentally misplaced it. </p> <p>I had an LC tell me that if it hurts, you probably still need the shield. The only thing that helped us was for me to try to pull my nipples out a bit before she ate. Sometimes, I pumped, sometimes I did it myself. Also, they came out a bit if I was a little chilly. And I usually fed her with the shield first, when she was hungry,then took it off and offered without when she was calm. </p> <p>As far as supply goes, I was worried, too, but I didn't need to be. We did skin to skin frequently, and I pumped often to help establish it, even.when I.was home with her. My supply didn't seem to be affected.</p> <p>Hang in there. There was a while I thought we would never get there, but we have successfully nursed without it for 3 weeks now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-the-nipple-shield#post-1819757 Sat, 16 Aug 2014 20:35:31 +0000 MrsKoala 1819757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had pain for two weeks weaning off of the shield. Lanolin at night is the best thing for it. I just had to grit my teeth and bear it because my LO wouldn't latch with the shield anymore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-the-nipple-shield#post-1819709 Sat, 16 Aug 2014 19:39:58 +0000 Mrs. Cookie 1819709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO will be 4 weeks old this coming Tuesday. We still use a nipple shield but I'd like to get rid of it as I find it such a pain in the butt. You have to remember to bring it with you everywhere, wash it constantly, (which is the worst in the middle of the night), and I keep hearing how it can mess with your supply. My supply is good right now so I'm not worried, just thinking about the future.</p> <p>We are working on weaning off of it, and both boobs feel a bit rough after we go without it but the pain on my right boob is really bad when we don't use the shield. Is that normal?</p> <p>We are also recovering from thrush, we're both on meds, but I'm wondering if the infection is the problem or if it's going to be painful no matter what because it's like starting over again with learning how to latch etc.</p> <p>Did you experience nipple pain when you weaned off the nipple shield? How long did it take?</p> <p>Any tips for making it easier? (besides starting with the shield and then transitioning off of it)</p> <p>Thanks in advance! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-nipple-shield-users-out-there#post-831554 Tue, 04 Jun 2013 21:12:43 +0000 Ginger333 831554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used one with my first for three years. The weirdest part was when my second came and didn't need one but my first was still nursing using one. I tried everything to get her off it, but she was stubborn. Still is ;)<br /> Loads of people are able to get off them ... I hope you can (if that's what you want!) It's so much easier without one, but if you/baby needs it, well, that's okay too. You do what you have to do to feed your baby :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-nipple-shield-users-out-there#post-831481 Tue, 04 Jun 2013 20:40:47 +0000 Mrs. Deer 831481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@autumn865 - did you have any pain or trouble with a shallow latch when you guys were transitioning off the shields? Thanks for the encouragement! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-nipple-shield-users-out-there#post-831463 Tue, 04 Jun 2013 20:31:47 +0000 autumn865 831463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I too had a ton of issues and I thought I was stuck using the shield forever. We were in a good nursing routine and i was prepared to use the field for the duration of our BFing (my goal has always been at least a year). Around 6 months I attended a few La Leche League meetings and they encouraged me to at least offer without the shield and to see what happened. I tried it and there were times that she flat out refused but one day she did latch for a few seconds and then the next session she latched for a little bit again. Then one day she just didn't unlatch and she did a full feeding on that side. It was the best thing ever! I found that using the shield was what she was used to and comfortable with but i also realized it was what I was comfortable and used to too and i needed to step out of that comfort zone. We now haven't used a shield in about two months and it makes life so much easier. It's worth at least a try I would say! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-nipple-shield-users-out-there#post-830985 Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:22:46 +0000 Mrs. Deer 830985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@misolee - glad to know there's others out there using them so long!</p> <p>@musicav and @owlmom - thank you both for the advice! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-nipple-shield-users-out-there#post-825916 Sun, 02 Jun 2013 23:46:12 +0000 owlmom 825916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used them for about 6 weeks. I worked with a LC, and it was the only way I could get LO to latch properly. Around 3 weeks I got a bad case of thrush, and had to sterilize nipple shields after each use, which was a huge PITA and made it difficult to be out of the house for an extended period of time. I finally got to the point that I was sick of using the shields and basically forced LO to latch without them. Be patient and just keep trying without using them. If a feeding isn't going well without the shields, put them back on and try again next time. I had to be very, very vigilant about LO's latch while we were moving away from the shields (no reading, no iphone, etc). We're still nursing at 19 months, and LO still doesn't have the world's best latch, but I vastly prefer an imperfect latch and occasional nipple pain to using the shields. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-nipple-shield-users-out-there#post-825909 Sun, 02 Jun 2013 23:33:14 +0000 MusicaV 825909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used one with DS for the first 2-3 weeks. I strongly disliked it. We started using it in the hospital because DS wasn't latching properly - his mouth wasn't opening wide enough. Around 2 weeks, I would look at him and open my mouth very wide, hoping he would imitate me. I started offering the nipple without the shield at a mid-morning feeding. I would put it on if I needed to, but within another week or two he was successfully feeding without the shield.</p> <p>I also have flat nipples and had open wounds on my nipples for a few months. I finally gave in and started wearing breast shells. <a href="http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/108/therashells" rel="nofollow">http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/108/therashells</a> Some people had told me about them but I was skeptical - now I wish I hadn't waited so long to try them. They prevent my nipples from going flat, so DS can easily get a good latch without hurting me.</p> <p>I would take it slowly with your LO since she has been relying on the shield for so long. Start with one low-stress feeding where she's not super hungry, and move from there. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-nipple-shield-users-out-there#post-825830 Sun, 02 Jun 2013 21:54:05 +0000 misolee 825830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO just turned 8 months old yesterday and we're still using a nipple shield. I have extremely flat nipples (even after hand stimulation...nothing) and so the LC at the hospital gave us the nipple shield and she started eating like a champ. I don't have any supply issue and she's gaining weight. My OB (when I went for the PP) says it's a pain to always use one but other than that, there's nothing wrong with using it. My pediatrician also knows I'm still using it and she's not bothered by it.</p> <p>I should have tried to wean her earlier but it just never happened. I tried around 5 months where I would have her latch with the nipple shield and then get rid of it once the let down came. She would suck a little bit but stop soon after.</p> <p> At 6 months, we went on a trip and I accidentally left the shield at the hotel. We were out and about and I tried feeding her before the tour time started, she refused. She would scream and cry and just plain move her head away for both sides. I finally gave up and held her throughout the tour. She eventually fell asleep and on the way back we stopped at a Target and I had to buy a new one. As soon as I had newly purchased one, she started eating again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-nipple-shield-users-out-there#post-825812 Sun, 02 Jun 2013 21:42:15 +0000 Cupcake 825812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO just turned 1 month today. We originally started using a shield on one side only, due to a flat(ish) nip. A few days after we got home, LO became frustrated without the shield on the other side, so I began using it on both. I've started trying him without the shield about every other time and he will latch about 50% of the time. So I'm curious to see others responses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-nipple-shield-users-out-there#post-825808 Sun, 02 Jun 2013 21:37:51 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 825808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used one for 3 weeks before trying to wean her from it. But, I would have to use it every now and then when her latch would go back and my nipples would get sore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-nipple-shield-users-out-there#post-825794 Sun, 02 Jun 2013 21:25:02 +0000 Mrs. Deer 825794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My little one is 5 months old and we're still using nipple shields. At this point I've kind of given up getting rid of them. Yeah they're a hassle, but they don't affect my supply which is good. We had a ton of issues with breastfeeding (flat nipples, tongue-tie, sensitive gag reflex, oversupply, overactive letdown, open wounds from a poor latch... yikes). The LC we saw said we were one of the most challenging cases she had seen in a long time. I do think she's big enough to fly solo but she just gets mad and doesn't want to nurse without them. Not to mention without them she goes right back to a shallow latch.</p> <p>Any other shield users out there? How long did you use them for? How did you wean? :) </p>