The thin silicone shield worn over when breastfeeding is called a nipple shield. Its tip includes tiny pores that let milk flow into your baby’s mouth and is soft and flexible.
By stimulating the roof of the mouth, nipple shields can occasionally aid in a baby’s ability to latch and feed properly.
Babies who might not ordinarily be able to nurse, such as preemies or infants with tongue ties, can learn how to breastfeed successfully with the aid of a nipple shield.
A temporary nipple shield is ideal since it teaches young infants how to nurse on their own without the assistance of extracted milk or formula. Additionally, nipple shields might assist in ensuring that milk production remains high.
Nipple shields, however, are only employed as a last resort when all other attempts to establish breastfeeding are unsuccessful.
They should only be used temporarily under the direction of your healthcare professional or a lactation consultant.
This guide contains reasons why a nipple shield is important, how to use a nipple shield, how to wean a baby off a nipple shield, likewise, the advantages and disadvantages of using it.
How To Use A Nipple Shield
A nipple shield is a silicone object that is worn over your nipple to assist your baby if they have trouble nursing or breastfeeding. Nipple shields contain a cone-shaped space for your nipple and a base that wraps around your areola (skin around your nipple).
There may be a cutout in certain breast shields to promote more skin-to-skin contact between you and your child. Small holes on the nipple portion of the shield’s tip allow milk to enter your baby’s mouth. Most nipple shields are translucent, thin, and flexible.
When your baby isn’t nursing or is only nursing ineffectively because of a bad latch or other problems, you use a nipple shield and you need to know how to use a nipple shield. When your baby becomes more adept at nursing and the problems with breastfeeding disappear, you can stop wearing a nipple shield.
When To Employ A Nipple Shield
Before learning how to use a nipple shield, you should ideally speak with a lactation expert to ensure that you require one.
You shouldn’t use a nipple shield unless it is necessary because babies can quickly grow accustomed to them and it can be difficult to wean them off.
Some problems can be treated without a shield, such as painful nipples from a bad latch. But there are several reasons a nursing mother might require a nipple shield:
Baby Is Learning How To Breastfeed
When a baby is learning to nurse, typically in the first few weeks following birth, people utilize nipple shields.
For a variety of reasons, some infants have trouble latching or adhering to the breast in the early stages. Your baby may not receive enough milk as a result, which could hinder weight gain.
You Have Inverted Nipples
Nipples that are inverted withdraw inside your breast as opposed to protruding out. When your areola (the black region around your nipples) is compressed with your fingers or when you’re cold, you might detect this.
If alternative treatments are unsuccessful for women with inverted nipples, a nipple shield may help your baby latch on more deeply.
Your Baby is Premature
According to certain studies, nipple shields can be beneficial for premature babies. This is so that a premature baby can suckle more easily and without getting tired thanks to the shield’s ability to create suction and position the nipple in the right place.
Your Infant Has A Tongue Problem
Your infant may have trouble latching on to breastfeeding if he has a tongue thrust or tongue-tie, a disease where a narrow band of tissue joins part of his tongue to the bottom of his mouth.
Steps On How To Use A Nipple Shield
Before applying, flip your nipple shield inside out to improve the way your nipple is drawn into the cone-shaped region of the shield.
Put your thumbs on the nipple’s base and turn it halfway inside out. There will be a little indentation left over. When you apply the shield, you should bring your nipple into the shield’s nipple area as deeply as you can. Embrace that indentation with your nipple.
The nipple shield’s silicone base should then be stretched over your breast. Your nipple should be firmly encased within the shield’s nipple region, and it should feel snug around your areola. Your nipple should fit snugly inside without rubbing against the sides. Sometimes it might be aided by putting nipple cream or water on the edge of the nipple shield.
You can follow the directions that come with your nipple shield. Ask your lactation consultant to demonstrate how to use a nipple shield if you are working with them.
How To Use A Nipple Shield And What Size Should I Use?
The size of a nipple shield varies. The sizes are given in millimeters and are based on how big your baby’s mouth will be.
Your infant should have his mouth covering the entire nipple and his lips extending around the areola when he is properly latched to a nipple shield.
Your infant shouldn’t be sucking only on the nipple tip. Your nipple should not contact the side of the nipple shield and should fit inside its canonical form.
Consult your lactation consultant if you’re unsure of the size you require. They can even show you how to use a nipple shield while assisting you in choosing the appropriate size.
How Do Nipple Shields Work?
Nipple shields resemble additional nipples in many ways. The tiny openings at the end let milk pass from your nipple to your baby’s mouth as it glides over your breast and nipple.
It functions as a longer, firmer nipple, which aids newborns who have problems latching onto the breast.
Your baby will find it simpler to learn to latch and suck as a result. Once your baby is strong enough to nurse straight from your breast, you should discontinue using a nipple shield.
How To Use A Nipple Shield Correctly
To help keep the nipple shield from shifting, lightly wet the edges with warm water. Turn the nipple shield inside out with care. The tip of your nipple should fit into the nipple of the shield as you smooth it onto your breast. Your nipple should protrude into the tip, and it should fit snugly against your breast.
To help your infant latch on, put some milk into the tip or trickle some milk onto the nipple shield’s exterior. When your milk supply slows while breastfeeding, you can occasionally manually put milk into your baby’s mouth to keep him nursing. After each usage, properly wash the nipple shield in hot, soapy water or the hot cycle of the dishwasher.
Drawbacks Of Using Nipple Shield
Nipple shields can benefit nursing mothers and their infants greatly, but they can also be problematic:
Milk Production Can Decrease
If your baby isn’t sucking vigorously enough to stimulate it, your milk production can decrease.
Your Baby Has to Work Harder
Your infant could want additional assistance because a breast shield makes it harder to get milk through.
During nursing sessions, you can achieve this by gently compressing various parts of your breast. After nursing, if your breasts still feel full, pump to relieve the pressure.
This can lessen the likelihood of clogged ducts or possibly mastitis, a painful breast irritation that occasionally involves infection.
It May Be Harder to Breastfeed in Public
Using a breast shield can make this more difficult to breastfeed in public because you’ll need to fiddle with it before you can get your baby to latch on.
Lead to Dependence in Infants
If you choose to utilize one, you must collaborate with the lactation consultant. After a few weeks, a lactation specialist can assist you in weaning from the shield.
How To Wean Off A Baby
While your infant is learning how to breastfeed independently, nipple shields are meant to be a temporary solution. Ideally, you should work with a lactation consultant to wean your infant off the shield.
Always encourage your infant to latch on by himself with a wide-open mouth when using a shield. Give your infant daily skin-to-skin contact without using a breast shield so he can learn to latch on his own.
If your infant can latch on by himself, start removing the feeding shield earlier and earlier until you can eventually cease doing so.
Never attempt to wean your infant from the shield by cutting the tip because doing so could leave your baby’s skin with jagged edges.
Some tips to help you stop using a shield are:
-Consider weaning during your baby’s finest feedings.
-When your milk lets down, stop pumping and start nursing.
-Go to a place that is distraction-free, peaceful, and comfortable.
-Without the breast shield, give the infant a lot of skin-to-skin contact to see if your baby latches.
-When switching breasts during breastfeeding, gradually remove the shield.
-Feed your infant frequently, and before he becomes really hungry. Hungry babies often cry more.
-When your baby is dozing off or about to fall asleep, try to remove the shield.
-Continue nursing with it on and if you try to wean your baby off it and he appears to struggle or get frustrated without it. Particularly if he seems to be enjoying it and putting on weight, you don’t want this to develop into a protracted nursing conflict.
Consult a lactation expert for any extra techniques that could aid in a successful weaning.
How Long Is a Nipple Shield Effective?
The majority of lactation consultants advise against using a shield for more than a few weeks. It is typically more difficult to discontinue when you use it for a longer period.
Additionally, it can stop your milk supply. To make the process of weaning simpler for both you and your infant, consult a lactation specialist.
How Do I Know The Nipple Shield Is Working?
The strongest indicator that your shield is effective is if your child appears satisfied or full after a feeding and you can hear him swallowing while you’re nursing.
You can also keep an eye on how much milk he consumes by having him weighed on a medical professional’s scale or keeping track of how many wet diapers he has each day. At least six wet diapers should be changed on your child each day.
When Should I Get in Touch With My Doctor?
If any of the following apply to you, speak with your healthcare practitioner or lactation consultant:
-Not enough weight is being gained by your baby.
-At breastfeeding, your infant seems excessively fussy.
-You’ve been nursing; therefore, your nipples are cracked, painful, or bleeding.
-Six hours have passed since your baby’s last poopy diaper.
In some cases, your doctor might suggest a nipple shield and teach you how to use it properly to make nursing easier for you and your child.
If a shield is not advised, your doctor will assist you in finding an alternative so you can keep breastfeeding.
Does Wearing a Nipple Shield Reduce Pain?
Yes, using a nipple shield can help with nipples that are cracked, sore, or bleeding. Nipple soreness is a result of a poor latch. Even when wearing a nipple shield, you could still experience pain if your infant continues to latch poorly.
The first step in breast discomfort relief is getting your infant to latch properly. After that, breastfeeding ought to be pain-free for you.
How Do I Clean My Nipple Shield?
If at all possible, sterilize your nipple shield by submerging it in hot water for 15 minutes before usage. After each use, wash it in hot water with soap.
It can also be run through a hot cycle on the top rack of a dishwasher. Before applying it once more, make sure it is thoroughly dry.
Conclusion
Nipple shields can be very useful for both babies and their parents. Your lactation consultant could suggest a nipple shield and show you how to use it if breastfeeding your infant is difficult and nothing else has helped.
When applied properly, it relieves breast pain and enables your infant to keep up a healthy latch. It’s crucial to cease wearing a nipple shield and adhere to your lactation specialist’s advice when asked to stop using it once your baby has the hang of nursing.
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