How To Use Lansinoh Nipple Shield

Overview

A nipple shield placed over a person's nipple with a baby latching on to nurse. — A nipple shield is a thin silicone device that covers your existent nipple during breastfeeding. It helps babies who are having issues latching onto the breast.

What is a nipple shield?

A nipple shield is a silicone device worn over your nipple to help your baby if they struggle with breastfeeding (chestfeeding or nursing). Nipple shields have a base that wraps around your areola (skin around your nipple) with a cone-shaped area for your nipple. Some nipple shields take an area cut out to permit more skin-to-skin contact betwixt you and your baby. The nipple part of the shield has tiny holes at the tip that allow milk to catamenia into your baby'south mouth. Most nipple shields are thin, flexible and transparent.

You use a nipple shield when your newborn isn't nursing or nursing ineffectively due to poor latch or other issues. You stop using a nipple shield when your baby gets better at nursing and the breastfeeding issues resolve. Nipple shields are used as a last resort when other methods to plant breastfeeding don't work. They should be used temporarily and nether the guidance of your healthcare provider or a lactation consultant.

When practise people use nipple shields?

People utilize nipple shields when their baby is learning how to breastfeed, usually in the starting time several weeks subsequently nativity. Some babies struggle early with latching (or attaching) to the breast for various reasons. This tin can cause your babe not to go enough milk and atomic number 82 to poor weight proceeds. Using a nipple shield can give your baby extra time to larn to nurse or better their ability to suck.

For parents who wish to breastfeed, using a nipple shield tin let them proceed breastfeeding and avert pumping into bottles or switching to formula.

Speak to a lactation consultant before using a nipple shield. They'll want to endeavour other methods to meliorate breastfeeding before recommending a nipple shield. Once your babe gets the hang of nursing and things are going more smoothly, your lactation consultant tin can help you stop using, or wean from, a nipple shield.

What does a nipple shield assistance with?

A nipple shield helps with your baby's latch. Your baby'southward latch refers to how their mouth attaches to your nipple and areola during breastfeeding. A good latch helps your baby empty the chest and get enough milk during feedings. An improper latch is a common cause of breastfeeding pain. This is because your baby is sucking just the tip of your nipple instead of taking the entire areola into their mouth.

A nipple shield may be helpful when:

Your infant is premature. Premature babies may non be stiff enough to suck or latch on to a human nipple.
Your infant has a tongue-tie, tongue thrust or retracted tongue. These can be fixed or may improve over fourth dimension.
You lot accept inverted, brusque or flat nipples. A nipple shield helps past making your nipple longer and harder.
You have very soft breasts. A shield helps by making your breasts feel more than firm.
Your baby needs more than stimuli to begin sucking. A more than extended nipple can aid stimulate the roof of your baby'south mouth, where the suck reflex is.
Your nipples are sore, cracked or bleeding from a poor latch. Wearing a shield could help your nipples heal.
You take an overactive let downwards. A let down refers to the initial menstruum of milk from your nipple.
You're transitioning your infant from a bottle to breastfeeding.

Speak with your lactation consultant earlier using a nipple shield. They'll desire to notice your baby'south latch and nursing position to ensure a nipple shield is truly necessary. Sometimes, minor adjustments can forestall y'all from needing a nipple shield.

Process Details

How do you put a nipple shield on?

It's of import that your nipple shield is the correct size and is applied correctly. Using a nipple shield incorrectly will lead to more than bug with breastfeeding or prevent milk from flowing from your chest to your babe.

Steps for putting on a nipple shield:

Turning your nipple shield within out before applying helps draw your nipple into the cone-shaped area of the shield better.
Place your thumbs on the base of the nipple, then flip it halfway inside out. That'll leave a small dimple at the terminate. Your nipple should exist fatigued into the nipple area of the shield every bit deeply as possible once it's practical.
Put your nipple into that dimple. Then, stretch the silicone base of operations of the nipple shield over your breast.
It should feel snug around your areola, and your nipple should be deep into the nipple area of the shield. Your nipple should fit comfortably without scraping the sides.
Applying nipple cream or h2o around the edge of the nipple shield can sometimes assist it stick.

Your nipple shield will come up with instructions y'all can follow. If you're working with a lactation consultant, ask them to show you how to put on the nipple shield.

How should a nipple shield fit?

Nipple shields come in sizes. The sizes are measured in millimeters and depend on the size of your infant'southward mouth. When your baby is latched correctly to a nipple shield, their rima oris should be over the whole nipple with their lips extended around the areola. Your baby should not be sucking on just the tip of the nipple. Your nipple should fit within the conical shape of the nipple shield without touching the side.

If you're unsure what size you lot demand, talk to your lactation consultant. They'll guide you on selecting the right size and fifty-fifty demonstrate how to put on a nipple shield.

How does a nipple shield work?

A nipple shield is almost like a second nipple. It goes over your breast and nipple and has tiny holes at the end where milk can transfer from your nipple to your babe'due south oral cavity. It helps infants with trouble latching onto the breast by acting similar a longer, firmer nipple. This makes it easier for your babe to acquire how to latch and suck. Yous should stop using a nipple shield once your baby is potent enough to nurse from your nipple direct.

Risks / Benefits

What are the advantages of using a nipple shield?

Using a nipple shield is commonly a concluding resort for lactation professionals because the drawbacks may outweigh the benefits. A nipple shield is recommended when:

There's an issue with your baby'due south oral fissure or tongue that's affecting their latch. This can be due to prematurity or a condition like tongue-tie.
Your nipple is short or inverted and doesn't reach the roof of your baby's rima oris (where the sucking reflex is).
All other methods to amend your infant'due south latch have been exhausted.
Your nipple is damaged and needs a chance to heal while you lot piece of work on improving your baby's latch.

What are the risks of using a nipple shield?

A lot of lactation professionals will avoid using a nipple shield unless it's necessary. Some of the disadvantages of using a nipple shield are:

It acts as a bulwark between you and your baby. This tin affect milk supply because there is less stimulation between your babe and your breast. The more skin-to-skin contact yous can offering your babe, the better.
It's difficult to wean a infant from a nipple shield. They may get also dependent on it.
In that location is slightly less milk transfer. You could develop mastitis more hands considering your baby isn't fully emptying your breast each feeding. This could as well lead to a low milk supply.
It's hard to apply and employ correctly, which could lead to your baby getting less milk.

How do you lot wean a baby from a nipple shield?

A nipple shield is meant to be a learning tool to help your infant learn to latch and nurse. This means it's a brusk-term solution. Once your infant's latch has improved, your lactation consultant will advise yous to wean your infant from the nipple shield. Some tips to help you cease using a nipple shield are:

Try weaning at times when your babe feeds the best.
Pump until your milk "lets down," so breastfeed.
Get to a quiet, comfy area without distractions.
Offer lots of peel-to-skin contact without the nipple shield (to see if the baby latches).
Gradually remove the shield partway through nursing or when you lot switch breasts.
Breastfeed ofttimes and before your babe is as well hungry. Hungry babies tend to exist fussier.
Try to remove the nipple shield when your baby is sleepy or almost asleep.

Consider using your lactation consultant for support during this time. They may be able to offer personalized attention to you and your baby to help ease the transition.

Recovery and Outlook

How long can I apply a nipple shield?

Most lactation consultants prefer to use a nipple shield for a few weeks or less. The longer a nipple shield is used, the harder it normally is to stop using one. It tin can also disrupt your milk supply. Your lactation professional can aid you with the weaning process to make this easier for both you lot and your infant.

How practice I know the nipple shield is working?

The best mode to know your nipple shield is working is if your baby seems full or satisfied after a feeding and you hear your infant swallowing while nursing. You tin likewise monitor how much milk they become past weighing them on a healthcare provider's scale or counting how many wet diapers they have each day. Your infant should have at to the lowest degree half dozen moisture diapers per solar day.

When to Call the Md

When should I contact my healthcare provider?

Contact your healthcare provider or your lactation consultant if any of the post-obit apply to you:

Your baby isn't gaining enough weight.
Your baby seems overly fussy at the breast.
Your nipples are croaky, sore or haemorrhage from nursing.
Your babe hasn't had a wet diaper in six hours.

In certain circumstances, they may recommend a nipple shield to assist you and your baby with breastfeeding. If a nipple shield is not recommended, they'll help you find a solution so y'all tin can continue with breastfeeding.

Additional Details

Does a nipple shield aid with pain?

Aye, a nipple shield can help with cracked, sore or bleeding nipples. A bad latch causes painful nipples. If your infant continues to latch poorly to a nipple shield, you may still feel pain even while wearing ane. Getting your baby to latch correctly is the beginning pace in relieving nipple pain. In one case this happens, you should be able to breastfeed without hurting.

Are nipple shields recommended?

Nipple shields are recommended for some people, simply non recommended for everyone. They should be used under the guidance of a lactation professional and only after weighing the pros and cons.

Where can I get a nipple shield?

You tin get a nipple shield at retail stores, pharmacies or through your healthcare provider or lactation professional. They are often bachelor at the hospital after you lot evangelize your babe.

How do I make clean my nipple shield?

Sterilize your nipple shield before its beginning use (if possible) past placing it in boiling h2o for 15 minutes. You should launder your nipple shield with hot h2o and soap later each use. It can also be put on the top rack of a dishwasher on a hot cycle. Brand sure information technology'southward completely dry out before using it over again.

A notation from Cleveland Dispensary

A nipple shield tin be a great tool for frustrated parents and babies. If your babe is struggling with breastfeeding and nothing else has worked, your lactation consultant may recommend a nipple shield. When used correctly, information technology helps with nipple hurting and allows your infant to maintain a adept latch. It'southward important to follow the guidance of your lactation professional and stop using a nipple shield one time your baby has the hang of nursing. Know that you're not alone, and many families require breastfeeding back up.