Seeking Moms - Saint Paul, MN

Hi S.,
My baby had a lot of problems latching the first two weeks, so I can totally sympathize. I used the breast shields too, and it didn't decrease my milk supply at all. She settled down after a few weeks and things got easier. It was just incredibly tough in the beginning! Good luck.

I've never wore breast shells but here is what I know:

Pressure on the breasts can decrease milk production (constant pressure). But there are also many other things that can affect your production levels; insufficient water intake, insufficient caloric intake, and some moms just don't produce enough.

First make sure you eat enough food, if you are loosing weight, no more then 1-2 lbs per week. And drink water water water. Drink every time you nurse. If that doesn't work, talk to a lactation consultant. Many hospitals have them on staff.

There are artifical ways to increase your production; fenugreek (herbal pill) and mothers milk, or if you pump then getting a good hospital grade double electric will also help.

Good luck!

I am friends with a lactation consultant - and I am currently bf my youngest. I used the sheild for a short time - but she said to get away from them because they will decrease your milk supply. I am now having to supplement formula for my son because he didn't gain enough weight (not due to the sheild) they can't tell why my milk supply is lower - but the dr said it may increase. My friend told me to power pump twice a day for 3 days. You pump for 5 minutes & then rest for 5 minutes then pump for 5 more. She said this will increase your supply - plus nurse on demand. She told me that it dosen't matter what you eat or drink, or how long the baby nurses - it's the amount of times they nurse -the more often they nurse - the better supply will be.
Hope this helps - and try to get off the shield - it's hard but it is so much better now without it!! Good Luck!

The shells shouldn't decrease milk supply because you only wear them in your bra. The shields could decrease milk supply.

You don't say much about what's going on. How old is your baby? Do you feel like you have low milk? Why do you think this?

New baby's eat constantly. Their stomachs are the size of a Hazel nut when born and Walnut size at 1 month of age. Obviously you can't fit much in something that small.

Baby's of growth spurts around 3, 6 and 12 weeks. They begin to feed more often during these spurts. Many moms confuse this increased demand with not enough milk. As long as you exclusively breastfeed you will make enough milk. If you have concerns, contact a lactation consultant.

Hi-
I know this sounds crazy but I would suggest just sticking it out without the breast shells. When I first started breastfeeding the first 2 weeks to 1 month were really tough. I had blisters on my nipples at one point. It really does get easier, I promise. With my second, I didn't even get engorged when my milk came in and had no soreness what-so-ever.
I've never heard of breast shells causing low milk supply. As long as your nursing regularly you should be good. I chose not to use anything on my sore nipples except pure lanolin (they have it at Target--it's called lansinoh, I think...they make nursing pads too). Also, another good tip that worked for me was after each feeding, I would use a little bit of my milk--squeeze a little out or whatever--and just with my finger put in on like lotion all over the nipple area, then let it air dry. This works really well! This also worked for my sister, it's worth a try. That milk is magic. Good luck to you! I hope I could help.
A.

It's more likely your anxiety over breastfeeding and the pain that's decreasing your supply than it is the breast shells. As long as your baby is still latching on well and is managing to get milk out, then your supply shouldn't be harmed by the breast shells, although if you can wean off the shells, it will help a lot in other ways. If you're looking to increase your supply, there are a few foods you can eat/drink to help with that. Drink lots of fluids. If you like beer, that's something that can increase your supply. A lot of lactation consultants recommend drinking 1/day (the darker the better). Time it so that it's immediately following a nursing session so that the alcohol has time to leave your body before the next feeding. Also, eating old-fashioned rolled oatmeal (the slow-cook kind). Fenugreek can help, but only if you take enough of it that you start to smell like maple syrup. Mother's milk tea is more like a placebo-no real effect except what your own mind produces. Definitely see about making an appointment with a lactation consultant or look up the local branch of La Leche League. Good luck with it!

S.,
Hey there. Breast shields that you wear between nursings to protect your nipples wouldn't cause low supply, but a nipple shield that you wear while nursing could. Low supply could be because your little one doesn't have a good latch and isn't stimulating the breast enough to make more milk. I've found a lot of really great help and support at La Leche League. They have several meetings in the Cities and the leaders are available by phone 24/7. You can look up their website for more info. http://www.llli.org/
Good luck. Get some support!

I was told that it would by the lactation consultant. It didn;t take long for me to dry up after I started using them.
R.

I wore a nipple shield while breast feeding because my nipples would never stick out enough for the baby to latch on. I think everyone is different but it didn't decrease my milk supply and the lactation consultant I was working with at Regions Hospital never told me that it would. I had the worst nipple pain while nursing so I can sympathize with you but I never used anything but a breast pad in between feedings. After a few weeks my daughter started to reject the nipple sheild and latched right onto the breast. It took me about 6 weeks to build up a tolerance to the pain but it was worth it to stick it out. My daughter nursed until 9 months when she weaned herself. Good luck, I think breast feeding can be tougher than labor but just as rewarding for you and the baby.

I've heard that those can cause a small decrease in production. Try using these things called Soothies instead for instant relief and then use your breastcreams with lansinoh which is safe for infant to suck. That breastcream works wonders and the soothies are a jelly pad that you store in the fridge and after nursing..slap it on your nipples and it feels sooooo good, especially if you're chapped. The directions say to use them once and toss them, but they're very expensive so I cut them in 1/2 and used them a few times and washed them everyother use until they got cloudy. You can get a few days out of one pair that way.

GOod luck.

If your baby is getting less milk because of the shields, that can decrease your supply. The book The Complete Guide to Breastfeeding (my bible while nursing) recommends against using them for that very reason. So while I was sore I used them for every other feeding until the pain subsided (or at least was bearable enough). The soreness WILL go away and you'll soon be a BF pro!

It's hard to say what causes it S., but lots of moms experience a low milk supply. Midwives and herbalists, native women and our elders will all tell you that it is a diet low in milk-producing stimulants that is consistently the biggest problem.

Over the centuries, many remedies have been found for low milk supply from nettles (tea) to rye. Look to Traditional Medicinals at the natural food stores - they have a Mother's Milk tea.

When I was nursing, I used to eat rye bread and drink a little beer daily when my supply was low. The bonus there was the beer relaxed both me and the baby so that my milk could come in easily.

Susan Weed wrote a great book called, "The Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Years". You can still find this book in print at Present Moment in S. Minneapolis or perhaps on the web. It is a bible for new moms who want to breast feed their babies, have healthy pregnancies or raise healthy children.

One thing to make sure... ALWAYS DRINK A GLASS OF WATER every time you nurse. Not replacing the water your body loses is the biggest mistake you can make. Keep a glass of water handy each time you sit down and make sure that you drink every drop. Your milk supply will increase and your baby will be happy.

I also used breast shells for sore nipples. I didn't have problems with low milk supply. You have gotten some good suggestions so far. Make sure you are eating enough, I do notice that the days that I eat less, my milk supply dips. The best thing to do for your milk supply is nurse your baby on demand, and if you are away, pump when baby would regualarly nurse. I was surprised at how hard breastfeeding was at the beginning, but when you get through that first little bit, it gets so much better! You can try Hydro Gel, gel pads, by Medela (at Target) to help with sore nipples. Congrats on the new baby!! Good luck with breastfeeding, it is a wonderful thing to do for your baby!

I had to use nipple sheilds, and I don't think it will lose your supply as long as the baby can still attach and eat well. It is still sore but when you can wean him off it will get better and it's alot easier without the sheild. Make sure you drink alot of water it does make a big difference.

I also had to wear a shield w/ my first and it didn't decrease my milk supply. Like the other ladies said..drink water everytime you nurse would be best but get in as much as you can. Also, there is a tea...its called "nursing moms tea" you get it in the natural section and its suppose to help with milk production/supply, and its healthy for your baby. I would also talk to a Lactation Consultant if possible. Let us know what happens!

I wore nipple shields cause my nipples would never pop out and my baby couldn't latch on properly ever. That said my milk supply was affected by the nipple shields. When it started to go down to correct it I was told to try and pump between nursing and to try nursing more often. Also, they suggested I work on not using them anymore cause apparently his latch would get better as he got older. Well that never happened and after struggling with it and it going down more and more eventually I gave up. But I was told that the nipple shields did indeed effect my milk supply.