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cmaine 
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Joined: 18 August 2007
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 Topic: nipple shields..
Posted: 17 October 2007 at 9:55am |
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funny heading i know but just wondering how long is it ok to use the nipple shields?
my nipples hurt so much before i started using them but its like now i have become dependant on them becouse i dont want my nipples to hurt like they used to...
sounds silly i know but it works for me and my son feeds fine from them...
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mamanee
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Hamilton
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Posted: 17 October 2007 at 10:53am |
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The only way I could get my son to latch was with a nipple shield and even then it was nearly impossible as he would just come off after 2 minutes and it would take at least half an hour to get him back on again. I was told 'call la leche league' and 'persevere it will get easier' and I knew that before it got better (if it ever did) it would get a whole lot worse and I wasn't prepared to put myself through that.
My MW told me that although nipple shields are great sometimes to let your nipples have a bit of a rest, baby only gets the foremilk and doesn't stimulte the breast so that the hindmilk can come through. Babies need the hindmilk as it fills them up and makes them grow!
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cmaine
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Posted: 17 October 2007 at 11:42am |
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really,i was wondering why my breasts havent gone up much in size..
i didnt know that he wasnt only getting the proper milk yet becouse of the shields..
thank you so much for that i'll just grin and bear the pain and see what happens..
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cuppatea
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Posted: 17 October 2007 at 1:26pm |
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There are a few things you can do to help stop yourself from getting sore nipples, lansinoh cream is really good and you don't have to wipe it off before latching bub on, also smearing some breastmilk over your nipples and then letting it air dry is suppose to help. If you have him latched on properly it shouldn't hurt, I had a blister on one nipple cos of the shape of my nipple and my mw got me to latch him from a different direction, rugby hold and lying down made it painfree. When you stop using the shields just phase them out to give your nipples a chance to adjust to be sucked on, lets face it they haven't had someone sucking on the for hours a day before and it is no wonder they get sore. Try just latching him on without for one feed a day for a few days, then 2 then 3 etc.
Also my mum fed my sister using nipple shields without any probs for 9 months cos she was a biter.
Apparently using nipple shields can cause you milk supply to drop off, but the midwife told me expressing full time could cause that as well but i expressed for 6 weeks without my milk decreasing so I think it depends on what your supply is like to start with, my boobs were far too enthusiatic so it was never a problem.
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cmaine
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Posted: 17 October 2007 at 3:49pm |
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thats some really awesome advice about doing it once a day then slowly doing more and more frequently..thanks for that im definetly gonna give that a go...
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busymum
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Posted: 17 October 2007 at 7:38pm |
 neeandsam wrote:
My MW told me that although nipple shields are great sometimes to let your nipples have a bit of a rest, baby only gets the foremilk and doesn't stimulte the breast so that the hindmilk can come through. Babies need the hindmilk as it fills them up and makes them grow! |
My mw told me this too. It sounds like you've got some great advice on here and I think your last idea of increasing shield-less feeds one by one is a great idea. My mw was quite anti shield use. Because of the lack of stimulation for the hindmilk to come through, you have greater risk of drying up and also of getting mastitis.
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mum2paris
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Joined: 01 January 1900
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Posted: 17 October 2007 at 7:43pm |
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As far as i know, try baby each time without first, if it's a no go with correct latching, pop the shield on, or you can try it half way through when baby isn't frantic and going to ravage you, so they are more relaxed and might be able to have a good go at opening wide and latching well.
The main thing to make sure of now, is that if you have had sore nipples, and they have now healed, go and see someone like la leche league or your lactation consultant through the hospital to get them to help with correct latching. Baby's do feed from them fine mostly but don't have to learn to latch on correctly to feed well, so chances are you may end up with sore nipples again if you don't get a bit of help to make sure bub's is on properly.
Mostly, as i have learnt too, that foremilk and hind milk is all mixed in together, you get bits of it coming through throughout the feed, yes when you first let down it may be thinner and more thirst quenching, but as long as your bubs is doing nice long "drawing out" sucks and beautiful swallows, you should be ok with baby getting the right milk. We have a few premie bubs that learn to feed using a nipple sheild, and still do well with growing and feeding, if there was an issue with it not stimulating the "hindmilk" then i am very sure we would not be using it for little bubs who need to gain weight.
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Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja
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miss
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Posted: 17 October 2007 at 7:51pm |
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One woman on another forum I visit is still feeding her bubba - older than lily - with shields and very successfully so. SO don't panic too much unless you find your supply dropping!
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busymum
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Posted: 17 October 2007 at 7:55pm |
"beautiful swallows" Janine, you sound just like a hospital midwife  
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mum2paris
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Posted: 17 October 2007 at 7:56pm |
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lolol.. i've spent far too long around our lactation consultant!!!!!
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Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja
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Rachael21
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Posted: 17 October 2007 at 8:30pm |
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Yeah I know of a lady who used them for a year with no problems so if you still need them keep using them. I was told just to express a bit in the shower to keep up your supply but I never had any problems with supply while using them.
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nipple shields..
