Nipple Shields Causing Discomfort

[Jessa]

I've been breastfeeding my triplets for almost six weeks now. Because they were premature, the nurses in the NICU told me that I needed to use nipple shields (that's a whole other thing). They're still using them because I wanted to get their weight increasing before I started messing around with trying to get them off of the nipple shield.

Well, I've had some discomfort in my right nipple the last couple days and have just realized today it's because they're sucking so hard that they're pulling my nipple right through the four very small holes of the shield. That's resulted in four small bumps on the end of my nipple that are sore and uncomfortable.

I've called my lactation consultant for help in weaning them off of the nipple shields, but was wondering if anyone had any ideas.

Thanks!

 

[ryder]

I would just try without... start on a feed when they are most settled. Good luck! I preffered a cream called mom mee cream for nipples, Its shoppers brand... Lanisoh was too sticky and stiff.

 

[MelanieAnn]

Owww!!

I agree about weaning them off the shields.... but another option, if that doesn't work immediately, is to get bigger shields. The size of the nipple section has to both fit your nipple and your LO's mouth (mouthes). So it might be that it's time to go up a size, at least for the weaning-off-shields period.

HTH

 

[chelle7]

I managed to wean off shields. My lo needed it to latch as she was prem too. On our sort hospital check the midwife wanted us to stop using the shield but at first i just couldn't get the hang of it and lo couldn't latch. I started taking it off half way through a feed. Then i could get her to latch on one side but not the other without tho shield. I went to a bf clinic which helped but the turning point came when she was 6 weeksold -around her due date. I can now feed shield free which at one point could never imagine doing

 

[Jessa]

I've attempted having Leah feed without the shield. She latched on just fine, but seemed to get tired after about ten minutes. After that, she would latch on still but not suck. As soon as I put the shield back on, she was going again.

I haven't tried the other two on that side yet. I'm currently mid-feed. The good news is that obviously they are sucking stronger than they were which is fantastic. We just need to adapt now.....

 

[Jessa]

Just tried Marley. She latched too. We'll see how long she goes....

 

[codegirl]

I don't know anything about nursing premies but I used a nipple shield with Edward and it actually caused a slowdown in production because my body wasn't getting direct skin to skin contact. things went better once I wasn't using it.

What I did was (if I remember correctly) was just said "enough" one day and stopped using it. It was so much easier. I was under the understanding that it should actually be easier for the baby to nurse without (that, of course, is assuming that you don't have inverted nipples or other requirements for the shield).

I'm not a LC so I would definatly want an opinion of one before making any major changes, but trying the odd feed without (or even part of a feed) shouldn't do any damage.

 

[ryder]

Yes, i've always thought natural was easiest for babies? They may actually feed quicker without them.

 

[brooklyn1]

Hi Jessa,
I've been stalking you in the pregnancy and parenting journals- I've got 6 week old twins who were born three weeks early, so I know some of what you're going through. My two didn't latch at all at first (I was so impressed that all three of yours latched!). After meeting with an LC, I used the nipple shield from week 1-4 and then at some point it just seemed clear that it was time to move on. My girl was never that into the shield and kind of went from barely breast feeding to feeding without the shield. My son followed after her a few days later and now they both go without the shield- but like you said, they do tend to get tired and there's a lot of stop and start which is frustrating and makes the feeding slower. Have you three reached their 40 week due date? Somehow I think things improve at that point.