Expressing Question...

[Piglet0206]

Hiya,

My LO is now 2 weeks old and at the moment we are still EBF, I do use nipple shields as we had a lot of problems with her latching on one side, and then that led to lots of pain on the other. I am going to try and wean her off the nipple shields, but at the moment my nipples are still fairly painful so its either nipple shields or I switch to bottles and formula.

Anyway...my midwife suggested expressing to ensure that the nipple shields do not reduce my milk supply. So my question is:

* If LO has fed on 1 side, and I then express on the other, which side do I then feed her on at the next time she wants to feed???

I think this will also help as sometimes my left side gets a little sore as it is 'engorged

Thank you! x

 

[Ruth 1980]

Hi, I just wanted to say that I use nipple shields and have for 3 months and has not affected my supply. My LO has been on the 75th percentile for weight since birth. I don't express so I can't answer your original question sorry! x

 

[grandbleu]

I didn't use nipple shields in the beginning but my L-side felt like knives were scraping against it when my LO fed. I would feed on the R-side and then express after that feed on the L-side. My next feed I would feed R-side again and express L-side after - always keeping them even and making sure milk supply was up in both. It really helped me to express the painful boob to give it a break. Hope that helps!

 

[Piglet0206]

Thank you, its good to know its not affecting you! It certainly isn't affecting me at the moment, but the midwife did make me worry! x

 

[Piglet0206]

I didn't use nipple shields in the beginning but my L-side felt like knives were scraping against it when my LO fed. I would feed on the R-side and then express after that feed on the L-side. My next feed I would feed R-side again and express L-side after - always keeping them even and making sure milk supply was up in both. It really helped me to express the painful boob to give it a break. Hope that helps!

Thank you. Its all such a minefield, so its brilliant to have advise! x

 

[LoPanda]

I would switch each time because I think baby would be more efficient than a pump so you might end up uneven if you don't switch L

 

[cutie4evr01]

I think you should switch also. If you feed R and then pump L, then next time feed L and then pump R.

 

[Acorn]

Not sure about the expressing, but we just weened off the shield. I used it for 4 weeks and didn't have a supply issue at all. I actually have a really good supply. Hope you can get it worked out!