Hello mommas. I have a couple of questions and need some advice. So my daughter is two weeks old, and unfortunately, she had to spend her first week of life in the NICU. Because of that, she has bottle-fed my breastmilk. Since then, she has had a hard time latching on to my breast. So I decided to go get nipple shields so I can try to breastfeed exclusively and stop pumping. Questions: how long can I use the breast shields, how do I get her use to my nipple again, is this something I’m going to have to do for the rest of the time I breastfeed? I really need some advice. 
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It depends on the baby. I had the same issue with my oldest. Unfortunately we never got the hang of nursing and had to switch to formula. With my second, we started out with a shield, too. If baby pops off, remove the shield before they latch again. Try a couple of different times. They should get the hang of it. You can also, depending on your area/state, set an appt with a lactation consultant through your hospital or WIC office. They can help! Good luck
I needed to use them with my daughter and everyone told me I’d have to forever but as she got older I kept trying to take it away and one day when she was about 5 months old she just stopped using. That was almost 2 months ago. They saved me in the beginning!!
I used them the whole time I nursed my daughter
Back To Breast my son had mouth issues and used one for 6 weeks than no longer at all. It all varies 
hoping you the best.
My daughter used a nipple shield for 6 months and then latched one day like she had been doing it the whole time without it! I saw a lactation consultant like weekly trying to get her off of it for months. Eventually as her mouth got bigger it got easier for her! She’s almost 13 months now and still no shield for the last 7 months!
I’d recommend doing a consult with a lactation consultant! Having a great latch will make it so much easier. The shield is a pain to keep cleaning and hauling around, but a few consultations can really help.
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all babies are different
Just keep trying without. Have patience and don’t give up! Try different ways like dangling.
I used it for about 4 months and than one day he just figured it out. I would just occasionally try and latch her. I’m sure she will get it eventually!
Get a few shields!!! I remember getting so flustered because I would drop them in the bed and misplace them in the middle of the night.
It will all work out just be patient and keep trying !
Not necessarily. I used one for 8 weeks with my son and then one day it slipped out of place and the rest was history. Dont give up Mama!
After a few times I was able to start with the nipple shield and after 2/3 mins take it off. It was the initial latching on I had issues with.
They are not ment for long term use.
My son used a nipple shield for 5 months, then suddenly he naturally latched without it and nursed without it for 7 months. Don’t pressure or stress about it, babe will get there when she’s ready.
You can check out my videos on this subject on my YouTube channel.
Both of my boys were early and wouldnt latch! I had to try to feed them with a nipple shield and then pump and give them the bottle I pumped… this was for a few months and eventually when they were latching really well to the shield i would try it off for a little while and they eventually got it each time!
You are doing amazing and she will figure it out! Congrats!!
My son had low blood sugar when he was born and not enough urine output so he instantly went on bottle fed formula from the hospitals choice. They never brought me a breast pump to get my colostrum going until the day I was being discharged and I was taught sns the day before (day two). I had to use a nipple shield to try to get him to latch but he struggled with the shield and kept preferring the bottle. After trial and error he finally latched without the shield about a month old but it was a little too late as the small supply I was able to pump out had already started to dry up by that time and no matter how long or how often I pumped or had him latched I just couldn’t produce more. Anyhow, just keep trying with and without. Eventually they’ll catch on, I noticed he did better trying to latch without when I started early before he was supposed to eat so he had time to try instead of being absolutely desperate to eat, they tend to get extremely overwhelmed that way. So time it prior to their feeding to start rather than when it’s their actual feeding time.
In my opinion, I would talk to her pediatrician and get a referral to a lactation specialist. They can help you remedy latching issues. You shouldn’t need to use the shield, but it will take some time to get baby to adjust to feeding without it.
I use to do the same thing and then half way during the feed would take it off and get her onto my nipple cause it would be in the shape of the shield then kept going down a size and doing the same thing for about 2 weeks, just remember how annoying it was keeping it clean & trying not to lose clear silicone nipples 
Find out from your pediatrician if your baby might have a tongue or lip tie. My baby was in the NICU, on oxygen and a feeding tube, then I blamed that and myself (of course) for his poor latch, and it turned out he had a severe tongue tie.
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That would be really hard to say because all infants are different. I would recommend calling the nicu she was at or your local labor and delivery and ask for information for the lactation consultants if you make a few appointments with them they can help you with her latch and techniques to try and get her on the breast. Wish you the best of luck!!
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I had to use a nipple shield as well, but by 4 months I decided to try to transition her to not need it. She had a little trouble getting used to not having it, but eventually her latch was good. So give your little one some time to adjust.
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I used the nipple shield for about 3 weeks. Once I got to week 4, I would offer my baby the breast without the shield every other feeding and slowly started taking it way until she got use to not needing it anymore. Those first few feedings without it are hard because they are so use to it but it is possible to take it away. Good luck!
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Whatever works best for you and baby.
Had a friend who needed to bottle feed her newborn because they needed to boost his weight, he transitioned back to breast fairly easily.
My daughter had a very aggressive latch when she was first born and as a result I had nipple trauma so I primarily pumped the first few weeks. She didn’t end up transitioning back to the breast very well, so I exclusively pumped her whole first year.
Every baby is different and every mommie has her own threshold.
As long as baby is fed, that’s what matters.
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My little ones was in the nicu for 17 days, was fed through a feeding tube until
And also tried breast feeding while he was there, my nipples were to big for his little mouth so they recommended a shield, from that point on I had to use it to feed him.
My son needed it when he was a newborn and learning to latch… Around 3 -4 months he didn’t need it anymore. Just gently keep trying without the shield. Once she latches without it, help her too stay latched. If she’s not ready, give it a little bit time. In a month or two she may be ready. Sometimes when nipples are a bit inverted or not drawn out enough they have a hard time latching. You can massage and draw out your nipple to help the baby latch, but IME it doesn’t work when you are holding a screaming infant:). Ever baby is different. Be patient and keep trying without it but don’t be too hard on yourself if you need it .eventually you will be able to get rid of the shield. Good luck
I’d get with an LC and get some hands on help. Nipple shields can reduce transfer and production. I weaned my once exclusive bottle baby from the shield by taking it off mid feed and nursing without it when baby was really sleepy. It took some time but worked well for us. But I had the help of an LC to make sure everything was right
I used the shield for the whole time I breastfed my son. He struggled to latch. I nursed him for 10 weeks before having to return to work. He’s 9 now and he just visited with an orthodontist, who discovered that he is tongue tied! This went undiagnosed throughout his entire life! I was so surprised, but it makes sense now.
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My first couldn’t latch without it at first. He had a shallow latch from strong oral ties tongue/upper lip and buccal).
He was revised at 3 weeks. It took some time but by 8 weeks he was most nursing without it. Night time sleep was hardest for him. But by 12 weeks they were 100% gone.
Keep trying with the natural breast no shield bunch it up and shove it into her mouth squeeze some of the milk out onto the nipple end so she taste it. Keep pushing it. She will not let herself go hungry she will eventually latch on just keep doing it I have breast-fed six. One of mine was in the NICU For several weeks. I refuse to allow them to give him a bottle because of this so they put an NG tube down and gavage the breast milk. Which I am a nurse so I knew that was an option that was available but you probably did not and they always push for the bottle because it’s easier that’s so frustrating just don’t give up you guys can do it 
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Lactation consultant ASAP. Pediatric dentist for diagnosing a lip and/or tongue tie (do not leave this to your pediatrician). Good luck!
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I used the nipple shield for the first week and then he caught on and no longer needed it. Definitely consult with the lactation specialist at the hospital, she can help with latching techniques.
The sooner you can get her to latch without it the better… the shield prevents the baby from sucking the nipple all the way back into their mouth like they are supposed to and can cause a reduction in milk supply. I would talk to a lactation consultant to help you get a latch without the shield.
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I’m pumping and breastfeeding. My son had a hard time the first two weeks with latching but eventually he was able to latch. We are almost three months in.
It all depends on how your feeding journey goes. After about 5 months, my little one decided he didn’t like latching on to the shield, which left no other choice but latch to my nipple. He had no issues after that. Definitely contact your local lactation consultant though!
You really won’t know until she she’s bigger and stronger. Just keep trying with out it. But do not stress it… for your sanity… it’s really not worth stressing over.( My son has a feeding tube because he won’t eat at all…life got better when I stopped stressing)
1st, make sure she doesn’t have a tongue tie, that will keep her from latching. 2nd, contact a lactation consultant, one that will actually help you get her to latch and not just talk. The one at the hospital should have helped you in the NICU. 3rd, just keep trying without the shield, squeeze a little so she knows what’s there. She may not understand what it is since she’s us to the feeling of the shield instead of your nipple.
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We used them for a couple weeks in the nicu and then were able to stop but we were still there. He was a 27 Weeker and I had nurses there helping me. We tried a few times but had to keep using it. Eventually we were able to stop but we were done with it before we left the nicu (was 66 day stay though)
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I was struggling nursing and places a bottle nipple Overtop my own breast nipple. Not sure what kind nipple your baby had in the bottle. But the classic nillple should work. Baby will have to work harder, but wil. Be used to the silicone feel.
No, I literally used a shield for a two days. Because she was a little early… 6…weeks. But once we got the hang of it once I was allowed to feed her. (Meaning once we got home and we both relaxed. ) pumping was awful for me. I would suggest trying with out a shield a min or two before using it especially when you switch sides after 10-15 mins.
I used mine for a while, my girl was 5 weeks early and couldn’t latch without it. NICU wanted me to wean her off of it but to hell with them! Do what works for you. Keep it as long as you need. But I’m pretty sure within a couple months your babe will be strong enough to feed without it. Also just try every so often to get babe to latch without it.
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I only used one with my first, but when going through things with lactation consultant they had me try latching first without before doing anything. That young, and having been in the NICU your little probably is still working to get the hang of things. Test out each time (if you’re patient enough, totally get it if not at times, haha) messing around so you’re not engorged and get the nipple sticking out a bit more, even a little latch for a second helps, and if that fails then add the shield. Eventually my little and I both figured out exactly what we needed to do without it!
Depends on the baby, if she gets good latch try not using it here and there. There great for cracked nipples though. I had to used them all the time cause I have lazy good for nothing for tit, but the good boob cracked that shield save me. Cracked nipples are no joke
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I used a nipple shield with my oldest and I saw how my milk production was going down so I stopped using it completely. What I would do is hand pump until my nipple was out a bit more and my beast wasn’t so engorged to help my baby latch . Eventually he’d latch on after acouple attempted fails. Hope this works !!
I had to use the nipple shield because my daughter would tear my nipples and they would bleed, it was too painful with the shield for me as well, so the shield helped a lot
Don’t give up 
stop using the shield, and try the sandwich hold on your breast for a deep latch. If there are lactation consultants in your area, you can ask their help. You can also look at the Thompson method of breastfeeding. The method helped me have painless breastfeeding sessions with my second. During my first one i always had sore or bleeding nips which led to mastitis afterwards. Keep trying, Momma!
With my first child I used the nipple sheild for a couple weeks and then was able to feed without it. The only time I had to use the shield after that was in the middle of the night when he was not fully awake but that was only a week or two longer
My friend had this problem. She would start the feeding with the shield and after a minute or so she would pull baby off remove shield really fast and then quickly put baby back on. She did this for a few feedings and that helped get baby used to it.
My daughter was in nicu & early so I had to use one, she getting the hang of it now though without it. She will be 4m on the 29th. Is what I did was start to start her off with the shield and then sneak it out mid feed.
I weaned from the shield by letting my babies nurse with it for a few minutes each, after it had drawn my nipple out or let down was over I would take it off and latch them. Worked a treat and they latched like long time nursers quickly
I used it the whole time because i couldn’t get baby to latch properly and it was just convenient for me . But if you work with a lactation specialist you most likely won’t have to.
I did. My son would not nurse without it. But it saved the day and made breastfeeding possible for 9 months.
I have flat nipples so I started using them with each kid. Kid 1- off by 3 months kid 2- off by 2 weeks. Kid 3- the entire 19 months (she was also tongue tied)
Definitely talk to a lactation consultant. She will teach how to latch again without a nipple shield.
I wouldn’t stop pumping completely. It keeps your supply up and you can freeze it! If you need to be away from the baby at all, you have the milk already…
Try while you’re pumping say maybe a couple of times and then while the milk is still around your nipple and it’s still coming out stick it in the baby smell and see if she’ll latch on that way I had to do that a few times and it finally worked and she finally latched on
If baby is having a hard time latching get her checked for tongue tie. If she is get it fixed now rather then waiting
I had to use the shield the entire time because I had so much milk, my breast was too big for him to get ahold of. I had to push my breast out of the way of his nose so I wouldn’t suffocate him and he was able to get the shield.
Make sure to be working with a lactation consultant. I had to use a shield for a few weeks with my 3rd. I made sure there were no structural issues preventing her from latching. After that I would try to get her to latch a few times a day. If I wasn’t successful then I’d go to the shield before she/or I got frustrated. It was a few weeks and she was off the shield
For me personally I only used it for the first 3 months with both of my older children.
My son had a hard time latching and I used the shield for 4 months and then I got tired of it and he adjusted just fine. I think they just get stronger as they get older and they figure it out! Good luck!
I breast feed all of mine & never had any problems latching on but my son Rick was born with 4 teeth & I had to stop Breast feeding him because he keep biting me till I bleed
It took my daughter and I about three months to get it down to not have to use the shield.
With my daughter I used it the entire time (15 months) with my son, I used it for about 4 weeks and then he could latch without it. It depends on the baby.
Try starting with the shield then taking it off half way through, my son was pretty easy to transition off the nipple shield that way
My milk didn’t come in right away so I had to bottle feed I bought a nipple that looks just like my breast put I switch my kids on and off
Try laying down and feeding her…bring ur nipple to her she is still young
Dont blame yourself over latch my wife had trouble with all our kids humans are evolving past that unfortunately
start with the shield and then a few into the session take off and offer nipple… try ech time eventually will take nipple from get go… or if oyher issues might be stuck
I did…my son couldn’t latch. After 2 months we went to formula only because I was hardly producing anything.
I used it the entire time witg baby 1&2 not at all with baby 3 …
As long as baby is eating well, use it as long as he/she allows. I would try every now and then to reintroduce your nipple to baby. Eventually they will latch on. Baby is only a couple weeks old so it may take a minute
I know this sounds weird but some women’s nipples are inverted and until they are pulled all the way out even though they look like they’re out there not out and they will not suck on them so if you get the nipple shield to pull your nipple out all the way in with the milk around it and you let her try to latch on there she’ll taste the Mel cell smell the milk and she should let on.
I have inverted nipples and had to use shields for 1 year with my son, ended up getting an infection in one nipple/breast and could only “nipple” feed with one breast after and had to pump the other.
No. It’s not reccommeded to use the whole time
My son had a hard time latching because he had a lip tie and a tounge tie. A free lactation counselor thru WIC was able to help me get him to latch. Things will get easier 
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Pumping is terrible. I’m sorry. I have no advice but I hear you. 
Take care
Check with your pediatrician
I did. 
It sucked but after several months it just was what it was ya know?!
Never used one, so not sure
Call an ibclc… you dont need the internet for this, you need a lactation consultant
Pump and bottle feed. That simple.
My son was in the NICU for 3 days, he’s 23 now so they didn’t have the shield baby actually sucks on, they had a hard plastic piece I would use between feedings to help my nipple and areola remain out further. I used those for about a week until he got used to suckling harder. Glad your little is home
My baby was in the NICU for the first 4 days of her life so on a bottle as well. I used the nipple shield for only a couple days and then got her to take the breast. My pediatrician helped me with strategies to get her to latch. What worked the best was tickling her nose with my nipple and then putting my nipple in her mouth when she opened it.
U have to teach her latch soon
No you won’t have to
No just keep trying without