Hellobee Boards

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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
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