https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 26 May 2026 07:06:43 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-questions#post-2182522 Tue, 19 May 2015 05:12:59 +0000 youboots 2182522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PawPrints: yup. This is almost exactly how it went for us. I used one until 6ish weeks. I pump 2x a day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-questions#post-2182477 Tue, 19 May 2015 00:00:26 +0000 PawPrints 2182477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used mine for a couple weeks until LO was able to draw my nipple out with her sucking. She has always been a fast voracious eater so I didn't feel it was slower with the shield. Weaning off it was hard but now she is great at latching, got easier as she got bigger and stronger. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-questions#post-2182453 Mon, 18 May 2015 23:02:28 +0000 Aria 2182453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Boopers: Yeah she definitely got more efficient as she got older. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-questions#post-2182452 Mon, 18 May 2015 23:00:17 +0000 BabyTsMom 2182452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Boopers: I think my issue was different from yours- I didn't experience pain with nursing but my LOs mouth was so small that he couldn't latch on without it. When he was about 3 months, I would start nursing with the shield, and slip it off once he was really nursing, and see how he did. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't but eventually he got the hang of it. I guess he just needed time for his mouth to grow a little bit and get used to the latch.<br /> The shields were a supreme pain but I wouldn't have been able to nurse without them so I'm grateful for them as well. One thing that helped me was to keep literally 4-5 of them in rotation, which was awesome motn so I could just grab a fresh one for each session. Then in the morning I'd just wash them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-questions#post-2182448 Mon, 18 May 2015 22:51:20 +0000 IRun2004 2182448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ahhh the shield. It made BF-ing possible but boy did I hate that thing. We eventually were able to latch, though first it was one side only (the other side I still needed the shield) and then, finally, around I think the 3/3.5 month mark, I gave up the shield entirely. </p> <p>They do warn you about low supply with the shield - I think partially because without the direct contact they think that your milk production isn't going to be as high. I already had a well established supply because I exclusively pumped for the first two months until my darling preemie was able to figure out the shield. So once we got the hang of it, I went to pumping only once a day in between feedings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-questions#post-2182445 Mon, 18 May 2015 22:44:03 +0000 Boopers 2182445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyTsMom: how were you able to wean off the shield? It's still so painful to nurse him without the shield, but I try to regularly offer him the breast without a shield in the hopes that one day he will latch without pain. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-questions#post-2182444 Mon, 18 May 2015 22:42:50 +0000 Boopers 2182444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Aria: do you feel like LO has gotten faster and more efficient as she's gotten a bit older? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-questions#post-2182440 Mon, 18 May 2015 22:39:32 +0000 BabyTsMom 2182440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used a nipple shield for the first 3 months. LO was never a casual, slow nurser so I think the average nursing session was 10-15 minutes... even when I weaned off the shield, it remained the same. Sorry, I know that's not very helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-questions#post-2182439 Mon, 18 May 2015 22:38:31 +0000 Aria 2182439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am still using a nipple shield at 3 months. My LO actively nurses for about 10 minutes but often will comfort nurse for as long as I will let her. I generally feel like she drains the breast although I never feel really empty until the end of the day. I almost never pumped in the beginning and I have no problem with my supply. I agree with @Kemma: if hes gaining weight well and has plenty of wet diapers he's getting what he needs and your supply will regulate to meet the demands. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-questions#post-2182432 Mon, 18 May 2015 22:21:26 +0000 Mrs.Someone 2182432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went through this same issue.. When I'm not on my phone I'll give you a proper response :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-questions#post-2182427 Mon, 18 May 2015 22:12:34 +0000 Boopers 2182427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: I definitely see what you're saying. Luckily I have a good supply and have built up a good freezer stash so far. I just don't want plugged ducts or mastitis. I haven't fed then pumped in a few days because it's too much work. I went back to work today too so that is just too much pumping. I'd rather have LO on the breast to keep my supply up. I just don't know if I'm doing this right since no one I know irl has used a shield for more than a few days.</p> <p>I think my LC suggested that in these first few weeks because with the shield he isn't able to empty the breasts and she didn't want my supply to be lowered because of the shield. I don't feel like my supply has lowered, but I know it takes a few months to fully regulate to what he needs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-questions#post-2182417 Mon, 18 May 2015 21:44:25 +0000 Kemma 2182417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Boopers: I don't really know anything about shields but if your LO is gaining and having plenty of wet and dirty diapers then does it really matter if the breast isn't being "emptied". I mean, obviously you might want to pump if you're having supply issues but if not, then aren't you just encouraging oversupply? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-questions#post-2182401 Mon, 18 May 2015 21:17:33 +0000 Boopers 2182401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is 6 weeks old and had both his tongue and lip ties clipped at 4 weeks. He has a high palate and a shallow latch and even with the revision we are only able to nurse with a shield. As annoying as using it is, it's the only way we can nurse so I am grateful for it.</p> <p>For those of you who have used a shield, how long did it take your LO to nurse? It takes LO 30-45 minutes to nurse both sides and he isn't draining the breast. I usually start on one side and if he pops off I offer the same side again. If he pops off a second time after nursing some more then I offer the second side and he seems satisfied.</p> <p>Also, if you felt like LO didn't drain your breast did you pump afterwards too? My LC suggested to pump afterwards to fully empty the breast and keep my supply up, but by the time I'm feeding him then pumping it can take an hour and it's too time consuming! </p>