Nipple Shield Advice Please. TMI

So my little girl is 3 weeks old. I have been trying to EBF but she dosnt latch well. The only time she does okay is when they are empty and saggy and its easy for her to suck on. Otherwise if its full or even half full she has trouble. My nipple is very tiny, but the boob is big. So when she opens her mouth big she cant catch latch on well cause she can't feel the nipple. Also she has a short toung (sp.?). So that makes it even more difficult for her. I have an extremely short toung also, it dosnt extend past my bottom lip... My dad had to have his cut because that little line under the toung was so extremely short. Anyway! Would a nipple shield help? I try to Breastfeed and she pulls away continually, and then get frustrated, and cry and I usually give in and make her a bottle if breatmilk cause she is hungry. I just want to be able to EBF. It's frustrating when she can't latch, bottles are inconvient, and don't last long (for when we go out) cause I only give her breastmilk, and it's just not fun waking up in the middle of the night to go down stairs and make a bottle and then wait till she's back asleep to pump. Help please.

I would say you should definitely try it. Right now my DD will only latch with the nipple shield and it makes it much easier for her.

Have you thought about pumping?

<blockquote><b>Quoting Super Mommy!:</b>" Have you thought about pumping?"</blockquote>

I do pump. I give her the pumped breastmilk after her failing efforts to latch. But it would be nice and convinent to just nurse her instead of trying to nurse for half an hour and then pumping and giving her a bottle. Exapecially the night feedings.

I would try the nipple shield or a breast shell.. you can wear them and it will help draw out your nipple making it easier to latch

Her tongue is short...? have you taken her to a certified lactation consultant to check for tongue or lip tie? I'm on my phone and can't link, but google it. Those two are HUGE reasons why mamas have latch issues. <3 good luck! <3

The nipple shields are WONDERFUL

it sounds like shes tongue tied. id talk to her pediatrician about it. my lil brother had to get his cut.

<blockquote><b>Quoting K+J:</b>" I would try the nipple shield or a breast shell.. you can wear them and it will help draw out your nipple making it easier to latch"</blockquote>

I have never heard of a breast she'll but I will look it up! Thank you!

<blockquote><b>Quoting MommyCaroline:</b>" Her tongue is short...? have you taken her to a certified lactation consultant to check for tongue or ... [snip!] ... I'm on my phone and can't link, but google it. Those two are HUGE reasons why mamas have latch issues. <3 good luck! <3"</blockquote>

Yeah her toung dosnt go out nearly as far as a normal baby. That little line under her toung is sooo short. So is mine :/ my mom couldn't BF me, just FF. But I am determined!! I will find a way!
So since she has that issue would the breat shield be helpful? And to put the cherry on top my nipples are so small they are almost flat  

DDand I had MAJOR latch issues. I also had an inverted nipple which didn't help so eventually I really relied on the nipple shields. They bought us more bfing time

That line being short is called being tongue tied. If it causes problems with feeding, pediatricians usually recommend having it cut. Have you spoken to a lactation consultant? I was having a lot of trouble with getting my baby to latch, and they were really helpful. I used a nipple guard for a little while, but my baby didn't like it. Try it though. A lot of women have great results with them.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Tammy Carreras:</b>" That line being short is called being tongue tied. If it causes problems with feeding, pediatricians ... [snip!] ... used a nipple guard for a little while, but my baby didn't like it. Try it though. A lot of women have great results with them."</blockquote>




This!


And you should try the shells. Its for inverted nips, so I'm not sure if it would work on nips that are just small... try wetting your nip and blow on it to get it erect before putting baby to breast. That always worked for me. I have average nips, but DD had a rough time latching. She has a minor tongue tie. We tried the sheild from day 1 until I quit at 8 weeks. It def worked, but getting it on wile dealing with a crying flailing newborn was so stressful.   hopefully it will work for you! Check out Madela's ebsite to figure out which size sheild to get.