https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 16 Jun 2026 05:23:50 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1460494 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 16:43:20 +0000 yellowbird 1460494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used one til 5 months. We practiced a few times and this is when she was ready and could latch on her own! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1460486 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 16:38:14 +0000 SweetMamaM 1460486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm with you @danizaur: but CJ just won't latch without them. My nipples are too flat and his mouth just doesn't have the right tone yet, although his tongue tie has been corrected and his palate is being corrected by the chiropractor. I wish it were as easy for he and I as it appears to be for other women (and we'll probably move to mixed feeding sooner than we otherwise would have) but as my midwife and chiropractor keep reminding me; feeding with shields still gives baby all the benefits of breastfeeding and is a better option than not breastfeeding at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1460446 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 16:09:27 +0000 maybebaby 1460446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>9 weeks. I totally get the jealousy thing--I felt like I was cheating somehow and it was really frustrating. If they're working, that's great--if you want to get off them, try latching after he's been nursing with the shield for awhile. You're doing great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1460238 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 12:47:02 +0000 lilteacherbee 1460238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're still using them probably 75% of the time now at 3.5 months. We used them all the time until 10ish weeks. I actually went to a LC when he was 2 weeks old to try to get off them and she said that I had a very forceful letdown. She thought that until he got better neck control, it would be hard for him to feed without the shield since he could better control the milk with the shield. </p> <p>I've never had any supply issues and without them, I wouldn't have been able to breastfeed (he wouldn't latch in the hospital, combination of small mouth and flat nipples). Now, we try to start out without the shield and sometimes he does well and sometimes we end up putting it on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1460216 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 12:30:27 +0000 hilsy85 1460216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Danizaur: They're also great when your nipples are really sore and being in contact with your shirt is painful! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1460213 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 12:26:53 +0000 artsyfartsy 1460213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ginger333: thanks!!! </p> <p>@hilsy85: I haven't heard of breast shells but I will look into it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1460113 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 10:59:16 +0000 hilsy85 1460113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't use them much past 2 weeks, as I found them really difficult to use. BUT have you been using breast shells? I don't have flat nipples, but I used them when I had nipple damage, and I think they are REALLY effective at bringing out flat nipples. So that might help!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1460084 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 10:34:46 +0000 Ginger333 1460084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used a shield with my first for 3 years. She refused to nurse without it, even after I had her brother and she saw that he was doing it just fine without a shield she still wouldn't give it up. She was stubborn and still is ;).<br /> I would recommend trying often at the beginning of a feed without it and seeing what happens. Try at times when he's not super hungry. It's so worth going to a good LC to get help weaning off it if you need it. Even with all the help I could find, we were stuck with the dang shield. But I've seen lots of women able to nurse without them after having to use them.<br /> The most common issue you might have with long term shield use is reduced stimulation which translates to lowered/low supply. I was on Domperidone to maintain a reasonable supply when I used the shield. Getting baby to latch deep onto the shield helps to stimulate more than if he just nurses on the tip.<br /> It can be done, and hey, it's okay if you have to use it long term - baby is still getting your milk. You're doing a great job!! It's hard, I remember. *hugs* Feel free to message me if you want I'm a LLL leader-in-training and a long term shield survivor, happy to help! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1459730 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 00:20:59 +0000 travellingbee 1459730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did for the first month until I got mastitis- my breasts weren't fully emptying which is pretty common with the shields, my LC told me. Then I weaned from them. We'd start with him latching with and then take it off, midsession. Eventually I could just stop using them. Soooo much easier to bf without them, but they were a temporary life saver. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1459702 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 23:51:24 +0000 Boheme 1459702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Around 4.5 months, and one day it just clicked and we were able to stop! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1459683 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 23:36:43 +0000 MrsStar 1459683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used for around 2 weeks to give my nipples a chance to heal a bit. I weaned off it during the day first and then at night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1459592 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 22:41:01 +0000 abbylyn 1459592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used them for a few weeks. To wean off, I just started trying sessions without it, and if it worked, great, if not, I put it on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1459577 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 22:28:14 +0000 Pepper 1459577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used them for all 4 months that I was able to breastfeed LO. They were a must have. He had an awful latch, and would give up trying to eat without one. I tried to wean so many times... I even went to an IBCLC for help, to no avail. He just really needed the shield. </p> <p>I wanted to wean him off of it because I became so sick of the shield. Losing them and washing them and forgetting them. He just never learned how to latch well enough without one. But I am grateful for them, because I don't think we would have been able to BF at all without them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1459572 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 22:22:41 +0000 Corduroy 1459572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stopped after about a week. I was using it on my inverted nipple and it didn't seem to be helping me. However my pain was from m having the nipple drawn out rather than the latch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1459570 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 22:18:27 +0000 Woolly Mammoth 1459570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We stopped when he was seven days old. I decided to try it in the middle of the night after seeing a picture my husband took of the baby latching (with the help of the midwife) just after he was born. I was desperate because he would get so frantic and fussy trying to latch that he would knock the shield away. </p> <p>For several days I needed my husband's help to get him to latch without it. Basically, i would hold the baby while he compressed by breast. My breastfeeding book called it "making a sandwich." Then I would pull the baby's head in to get a nice deep latch. Eventually, I figured out how to hold the baby and compress my breast for the baby at the same time. </p> <p>It got much easier very quickly, especially as the baby developed head control. But I had to help him latch until he was 3 or 4 months old. </p> <p>He will be six months next week, and we are going strong! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1459513 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 21:46:26 +0000 jedeve 1459513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Five months. My nipples were inverted by eventually changed shape. He just refused to latch with it on at one point and would latch on while I would set up. </p> <p>I tried to wean right away and it was so stressful. I'd let yourself get a hang of breastfeeding first. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1459505 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 21:42:38 +0000 misolee 1459505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have extremely flat nipples. Even after pumping or hand expressing, they were still pretty flat. With that said, I breastfeed her using a nipple shield for 14 months. It's a pain to clean, you always have to have it with you, but other than that, it wasn't too bad. I never had any supply issue and she def got enough bc we never had any weight issues. </p> <p>One time at 4 months, I thought about weaning her off. But we had gone on a trip and I had left it he nipple shield in the hotel room. She would not eat all day without it. She just screamed and cried even when the breasts were in her face. We eventually had to stop at like Target and buy one so she wouldn't starve all day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1459496 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 21:38:29 +0000 autumn865 1459496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used one for about 6 months before slowly weaning. She continued on to nurse without them until 13 months. The pros for us was like what you said, it was the only thing we knew (the LC didn't even try without one) and it was working for us. My supply never suffered (if anything I had oversupply) and she always seemed to get enough at each feeding. The cons (and ultimately the reason I finally pushed to wean) was having to use them really hurt my BFing confidence. I felt uncomfortable and embarrassed.feeding her away from home. In the end it was almost like I thought I needed them even more than she did. With some encouragement from my Le Leche League leader we would try without one every once in awhile. She would nurse for a few seconds then unlatch so I would put it back on. Finally she nursed a full session without and we never turned back. So if you want to wean your LO off it now go ahead but I don't think there is a time you HAVE to stop. Good luck :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1459493 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 21:38:05 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1459493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3 months. Like you, I didn't feel comfortable nursing w/o them. But around 3 months, I just tried it and it worked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1459480 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 21:29:54 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1459480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used them for four months....we just quit cold turkey &amp; never had an issue. I think she just needed time for her little mouth to get bigger so she could hang on easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1459455 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 21:16:18 +0000 autumnlove 1459455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think two days? I didn't like them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1459453 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 21:15:49 +0000 cmomma17 1459453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a friend who is weaning off of them now at 5 months. It was difficult, but she really needed them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1459444 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 21:13:59 +0000 lemondrop 1459444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3 weeks, then we stopped during the day, then gradually weaned off of them at night since that was when we needed them most. We were done within a month. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-used-nipple-shields#post-1459438 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 21:10:19 +0000 artsyfartsy 1459438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How long did you use them? Did you have to wean off of them?</p> <p>We are pretty (okay, totally) dependent on a nipple shield for breastfeeding. I don't really mind it. It's kind of all I've known because I started using them from day 1 because I have flat nipples so I don't really feel the inconvenience of them. He's getting enough milk and latching okay (I think it could be better but we can't really fix it while using the shields). </p> <p>I don't know if I should try and wean him off or just keep using them? I kind of feel jealous of women who can just latch their baby on without a piece of plastic in between...but I don't feel confident that my boob only is good enough for him to latch on to. And even if it was, I'm pretty sure his latch would be horrible and I don't know if I'm ready to try and fix it yet because he's only a week old. But also if I wait too long I may be hurting myself more. </p> <p>I don't really know what I'm asking. Just any advice or experience would be nice. </p>