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Breastfeeding With A Nipple Shield

A nipple shield is worn over the areola and nipple during breastfeeding. Nowadays nipple shields are made from soft, thin, flexible silicone where before they where made from thick latex which often caused more breastfeeding problems than it solved. Breast shields come a long way, a 17th century shield was found to be made of pewter!

Nipple shields are also sometimes referred to as "breast shields", "breastfeeding shields" or "breastfeeding nipples".

Breast shells are sometimes confused with breast shields, but breast shells are used to prepare your nipples before breastfeeding and shields are used during breastfeeding.

Moms should try working on getting a proper latch before resorting to artificial breastfeeding nipples. Moms should also try to wait for their milk to “come in” as most babies will take to the breast when the milk starts to flow. Also moms can decide to express her milk and feed baby via a cup or syringe while they are having breastfeeding problems

and until they are solved.

Reasons why moms might need nipple shields

- Inverted nipples correction. A breastfeeding shield will draw out the nipple with the suction created when baby sucks. A breast feeding shield will provide sensation deep inside baby’s mouth which will stimulate baby to keep sucking. After a while moms nipples will become more pliable and the shield wont be needed anymore.

- Premature infants sometimes have problems latching on, a nipple shield can make this a little easier for baby. Research shows that premature infants have better weight gain when nipple shields are used.

- When baby has a nipple preference, a shield can sometimes help the transition to the breast from the bottle

- Moms with painful nipples can use a nipple shield until her nipples have healed.

- Moms nipples are too large

A good latch with a nursing shield

- A latch with a nipple shield should look the same as a normal latch, with baby’s mouth wide open and a large part of mom’s areola should be inside baby’s mouth. If baby ends up only sucking the nipple, your milk will stop flowing.

Cleaning nipple shields

- Wash in hot soapy water and rinse after every use

- Some moms like to boil it at least once daily

Keeping your milk supply up when using a nipple shield

- You will need to pump after every breastfeeding session to make sure that your breasts are empty. The emptier your breasts after a feeding the more milk you will produce. Electric double action pumps are the best to use.

- Pumping after feeding will also keep mom clear from mastitis

- Count baby’s diapers to make sure he is drinking enough and keep an eye on his weight gain. Baby should be having at least 6 wet stools every 24 hours

How to use breast shields for breastfeeding

- Moms should express some milk before putting the shield on so that she can get the milk flowing

- Rinse the shield with warm water to soften it and make it a little easier to use

- Put the shield on your nipple with the edges of the nipple shield turned up, moisten the edges with some breast milk and smooth them down.

- Some breast milk can be put on the outside of the shield to encourage baby to suck

- Make sure that baby is sucking and swallowing

- NB – never use cracked or broken nipple shields, they can hurt baby’s mouth

Signs that you are using the shield correctly

- Baby’s nose and chin should touch your breast

- Baby’s top and bottom lips should be flanged outwards

- Mom is not in pain

- Baby can be seen and heard swallowing

Weaning baby from breastfeeding shields

- Your ultimate goal should be to get baby to breastfeed without a shield. Mom should keep checking if baby can breastfeed without the shield. The reason for this is that your breasts will not be receiving the stimulation it should for proper milk supply increases

- Pump a few seconds before trying your own nipple as this will elongate your nipple and make breastfeeding easier

- Feed baby before he gets hungry and impatient

- Put some expressed breast milk on your nipple to encourage him to drink

- While using the shield, after letdown has occurred, try removing the shield and see if baby will drink.

- NB- never cut a hole in the shield as this could hurt baby’s mouth