Do I need a nipple shield?

Do you remember the first time you chewed a piece of bubble gum? 

The delicious sweet taste of the novelty treat in your mouth. You chewed and chewed, not too sure what to do with your tongue, surprised by all the extra saliva now pooling in your mouth. Chewing bubble gum for the first time was a learned experience even if it was a rite of passage, and something you really looked forward to. 

Feeding your baby for the first time can be like chewing a piece of gum for the first time. It’s a moment that has been built up in your mind as a significant time between you and your baby. You put your baby to your chest, and suddenly it’s a balancing act of “Where do I put my arm? Is the baby in the right place? It’s pinching, should it pinch? What is their tongue doing?”

First, a nice deep breath.

We can look forward to new experiences like feeding our baby with excitement and wonder, and not have it pan out perfectly on the first go round. We have tools we can use when things don’t go quite as planned and/or needed.

“But I thought you said breastfeeding wasn’t supposed to hurt? Why do I need to shield my nipples? What am I shielding them from?” We hear you, we really do. You’re asking yourself, what’s the deal with nipple shields anyways? 

Oftentimes when we work with a family that plans to chestfeed, there is an awareness that feeding a baby in this fashion may take some work. Guess what? This is completely normal. Just like in pregnancy and labor and delivery there are points along the way where you suddenly need to use a tool to help get a certain job done. A nipple shield is just that, a tool to help move the activity, in this case- chestfeeding, along. 

A nipple shield is a flexible shield made of silicone, with  tiny holes in the tip that the parent feeding the baby can wear over their nipple during feeding. Like paper towels, nipple shields can come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Finding one that fits over your nipple properly is important in order to get the best use of this particular tool. Let’s also keep in mind that a nipple shield is meant to be used for the short term. 

Here are a few instances in which a nipple shield may be used:

-Your baby is having a hard time feeding.

-Your baby is premature.

-Flat or inverted nipples. (Nipples come in all shapes and sizes!)

A nipple shield could be the very  thing that helps your feeding relationship moving along, and there is no shame in getting some extra support if it’s needed. To best get your shield fit to your nipple, ask your lactation consultant or nurse to help you put it on. Getting a good deep latch with your little one, where you feel as comfortable as possible is a good starting point.

It might be easier to just keep your earbuds in and push through the discomfort you might be feeling during a feed. As Doulas and Feeding Specialists, we want you to know that tools are not a symbol of failure! Tools are often necessary to help get through things you and your baby are learning how to do. If you find yourself needing more support with feeding your new baby, connect with one of our Infant Feeding Specialists today for a specialized feeding consultation.