how to wean bubs from nipple shields
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Topic: how to wean bubs from nipple shields
Posted By: laurenw
Subject: how to wean bubs from nipple shields
Date Posted: 24 July 2008 at 1:38pm
| I have a 4 1/2 month old boy whom I have had to feed with shields since he was born. I am finding that my supply isn't really there now and am wondering if anyone has suggestions to get him to latch without using them? I have tried before, but he just screws up his face!! He seems to be fussier on one side more than the other, and will feed for a couple of minutes then break off and not go back on! |
Replies:
Posted By: Snappy
Date Posted: 24 July 2008 at 1:50pm
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Have you tried lying down with him in bed and offering the breast while he is sleepy?
Maybe place the shield in his mouth and allow him to root for the breast, then quickly take the shield off and latch him directly on the breast? ------------- Mummy to two beauties... Formerly Kaiz. |
Posted By: laurenw
Date Posted: 24 July 2008 at 2:06pm
| I will try lying down, I have offered the boob to him, but then he gets frustrated, so I have to put the shield back on. I think he's forgotten how to do it naturally. |
Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 24 July 2008 at 3:44pm
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I have 6 month old twins and have been using nipple shields since they were born.
The advice I got was to start with once feed a day without a nipple shield. Once that was established to move to another feed. Also what was suggested was to start the feed with the nipple shield but once the nipple had come out fully, to remove the nipple shield mid feed. I never ended up weaning them though as Aoife would have been more difficult to wean and they seem to be coping pretty well with them. |
Posted By: kakapo
Date Posted: 26 July 2008 at 10:25am
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Have you tried expressing milk at different times of the day, to increase your supply, but also to see what time of day you produce the most milk? If he's used to feeding with a nipple shield he may be put off by the faster flow of milk without the shield, so you could try feeding at times when your supply is less? Or the reverse may be true, he may prefer to try feeding when your supply is at its best, since he's relearning how to do this? Guess you just have to experiment and see. Good luck! |
Posted By: Troods
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 6:26pm
| Emily is 5 months old now. She was born 2 months prem and I had to start bf with a nipple shield when she was 2 weeks old. I started trying the odd feed without the shield from 1 month old and increased the frequency of feeds without the shield gradually until she was 2 and a half months old. I would mix it up by starting feeds without it which would last only a few minutes before she pulled away and I had finish the feed using the shield, and sometimes would try without the shield halfway through the feed. Eventually she got used to the idea and decided herself when she preferred feeds without the shield. I found that the shield became more of a nuisance to her when she would push it away with her mouth or hands and milk would leak from the bottom of the shield anyway when she did this. It took a lot of weeks of patience and persistence but if you just keep trying, but not pushing him too hard, eventually he might decide when he's ready to feed without the shield. Hope it all goes well for you and good luck! |
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 6:55pm
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I did as Tishy was told and weaned Rowan off them at 6 weeks. Just a bit of a warning though only do 1 feed a day to start. Don't be a dork like me and get all excited and start doing all the day feeds that way.
To cut a long story short my milk supply went nuts and I ended up with blocked ducts  But if you just do one a day and gradually increase then you'll be fine.
I also didn't do night feeds without them until she was well established with day feeds as trying to sort that out when half asleep didn't appeal at all. -------------  
 
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