Nipple shield why temporary

A faster flow Swallowing encourages sucking, which will help keep milk flowing. A baby who has become used to a continuous fast flow from a bottle may need help to persist with breastfeeding. Hand expressing for a few minutes can encourage a good flow of milk before your baby latches on. If your baby needs extra milk, a nursing supplementer can be used to deliver this through a tube as your baby breastfeeds. This avoids the need to bottle feed.

The end of the supplementer tube can be placed either inside or outside the shield. Consult an LLL Leader if you think a nursing supplementer may be helpful. Nipple shields are intended to be a temporary solution until your baby learns to breastfeed without them. When using a shield, help your baby to latch on by himself with a wide open mouth.

This will help him to learn to breastfeed without a shield. Offer your baby some time in skin-to-skin contact every day without a nipple shield so he has the opportunity to latch on if he is able. It can take time to wean from shields but do keep gently trying.

Try at times when you and your baby are most comfortable and relaxed and there are fewest distractions. You can try different methods to see what suits your baby. Whilst you may be relieved that a nipple shield is enabling your baby to breastfeed, it can be frustrating if he will not feed without it.

However, given time and patience, it is usually possible for a baby to learn to breastfeed without the shield. An LLL Leader can be a useful source of support if you need to choose, use and wean from nipple shields. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. Is my baby getting enough milk? Nipple pain — why and what to do. References The Breastfeeding Answer Book. Third edition.

Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. Fourth Edition. Breastfeeding your premature baby with a nipple shield by Paula P. Meier, R. Why do mothers use nipple shields and how does this influence duration of exclusive breastfeeding? Latch-on and positioning links. Resources: Is baby getting enough milk? How to find breastfeeding help links.

What is Normal? Can I Breastfeed if…? Nipple shields. A nipple shield can help a preemie create suction and position the nipple in a way they may not yet be strong enough to do themselves. The shield holds the nipple in an extended position, ideal for breastfeeding, and allows your baby to pause and breathe without having to reposition afterwards. This makes it easy for your baby to return to your breast and feed effectively.

In fact, research shows that milk consumption increases when a nipple shield is used with premature babies. Once your baby gains strength and skill, you can usually wean off the nipple shield. If you have flat or inverted nipples, your baby may struggle to latch on. The nipple shield is shaped like an extended nipple, and gives the baby a larger area to latch onto.