 I typically find it to take clients anywhere between 2 and 4 weeks to wean off a nipple shield from the time they begin working on it. An important first step is identifying why your baby is using a nipple shield to begin with.
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The first example above has no cut out, it is a complete circle. The second is a contact shield, it has a cut away. This is a nice feature that helps to keep a skin-to-skin connection between you and your baby when using a shield. They also tend to fit onto the breast better. The last two are similar to the second, but they have different shapes to their nipples.
A new nipple shield to hit the market a few years ago has a bottle nipple shape on top of it. Though it has in fact been the right tool for the job somewhere, sometime, it is not my first choice if a baby is able to latch onto one of the more standard options. I have personally witnessed it lower some client's supply when not used in conjunction with expression such as pumping after feedings while using it.
A new nipple shield to hit the market a few years ago has a bottle nipple shape on top of it. Though it has in fact been the right tool for the job somewhere, sometime, it is not my first choice if a baby is able to latch onto one of the more standard options. I have personally witnessed it lower some client's supply when not used in conjunction with expression such as pumping after feedings while using it.
So if you've been using a nipple shield now, or you have in the past, you probably know how much trouble they can be to keep track of, keep clean, keep on, and just manage overall. So let's explore some ideas about weaning off of using them.
It can be quite the dance to drop the nipple shield. There may be several good feedings without the shield in a row, only for baby to regress and want to use the shield again. Over time though these periods of better attachment will become more frequent until they are the new norm.
I typically find it to take clients anywhere between 2 and 4 weeks to wean off a nipple shield from the time they begin working on it. An important first step is identifying why your baby is using a nipple shield to begin with.
It can be quite the dance to drop the nipple shield. There may be several good feedings without the shield in a row, only for baby to regress and want to use the shield again. Over time though these periods of better attachment will become more frequent until they are the new norm.
I typically find it to take clients anywhere between 2 and 4 weeks to wean off a nipple shield from the time they begin working on it. An important first step is identifying why your baby is using a nipple shield to begin with.
Babies generally want to breastfeed, the inability to do so is often just that, that they are unable to. Through further investigation such as an oral exam to assess form and function inside of the mouth, and a latch assessment of feeding at the breast you can uncover and address the root cause of the issue. It may be something as simple as making some improvements in your hands/holding and latching techniques, or it could have more to do with the baby's oral function or anatomy. A skilled International Board Certified Lactation Consultant is a great asset to aid in your investigation and work alongside in your journey.
7 TIPS FOR WEANING
FROM A NIPPLE SHIELD
FROM A NIPPLE SHIELD
- Work with an experienced International Board Certified Lactation Consultant either virtually or in person to evaluate and assess why your baby is using a nipple shield to begin with. Even virtual assessments can prove to be extremely helpful in assessing and evaluating breastfeeding and your baby.
- Choose a shape and size nipple shield that fits your breast well, your baby can comfortably latch onto, and your baby can transfer milk with. Go for a cherry or bell shape with a gradual slope, vs one that looks like a triangle.
- Turn your shield slightly inside out when applying it to your breast and rolling it back onto your areola so that it is not easily knocked off at the beginning of a feeding. It is also helpful to "tack" the top of your shield down using your fingers. Scoop your baby up in a cross cradle position with your opposite hand and bring the baby to your breast pointing the shield to the roof of your baby's mouth.
- Try taking the shield off during let down and quickly latching your baby back on. If they get upset or cannot, put the shield back on and try again at another feeding.
- If you are using a cone shaped shield like a Medela, try sizing up your nipple shield to a 21-24mm if you are using a smaller shield and then repeating step 4. If you are using a cherry shaped shield or one like a Lansinoh shape, try sizing as close to your nipple measurement as you can get.
- Continue pumping to support your supply and/or supplementing if you have been to keep you baby on their growth curve. Through Step 1 - working with an experienced International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, your can assess your baby's transfer of milk at a feeding to ensure their efficiency at the breast is sufficient and they are ready for more changes.
- Continue weekly weight checks with your lactation consultant until you feel confident in your milk supply and baby's growth curve.
If you are searching for a virtual lactation consultant to talk you through weaning from your nipple shield I would be honored to assist you!
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Attend A Breastfeeding ClassIf there is one piece of wisdom I can pass on to new parents, don't wait until after your baby is born to learn about breastfeeding! After your baby is here you will likely be on an adrenaline high, and eventually an adrenaline crash.
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Immediately postpartum is not the best time to be learning new information, you may have more difficulty processing it due to the nature and whirlwind of the post-birth bustle. By taking a prenatal breastfeeding class in-person or online, you will be more familiar with your baby's feeding cues and ready to tackle that first latch on day one with confidence.
Protect The Golden Hour
The golden hour is the first hour immediately following your baby's birth. This is a time where your baby should be left undisturbed on your body skin-to-skin until after the first feeding has finished. By protecting this time, you increase your chances of being available when your baby first starts to show feeding cues. You can help them navigate to the breast quickly and efficiently, avoiding excess crying or escalating to a point that they need to calm down.
If you have a surgical birth, your provider may be open to beginning skin-to-skin in the operating room if you and baby are doing well. If not, when you return to your recovery room plan to get comfy and snuggle in together for your oh so sweet golden hour and give your baby a chance to root around and find the breast.
If you have a surgical birth, your provider may be open to beginning skin-to-skin in the operating room if you and baby are doing well. If not, when you return to your recovery room plan to get comfy and snuggle in together for your oh so sweet golden hour and give your baby a chance to root around and find the breast.
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Meet Your IBCLCMany families will first meet a lactation consultant postpartum, usually at the hospital or birth center after their baby is born. However, you can visit with one prenatally and meet them before birth too! Often covered by insurance, a one-on-one consult with a board-certified lactation consultant will be helpful to gather information about latch and positioning, best practices for using your pump, how to size your flanges, and best of all knowing who, when, and how to call for support postpartum.
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If you haven't had an opportunity to meet your lactation consultant prenatally, plan to schedule your first consult by 3 and 5 days postpartum. Clients working with a lactation consultant in the first week of life are far more likely to see their baby regain their birth weight by the two week time frame.
Watch The Baby Not The Clock
How long should you feed your baby? Ten minutes? Fifteen? Thirty?
You will begin to notice two types of suck patterns when your baby is nursing. A nutritive suck is an active suck that leads to milk removal and calorie intake. When looking for this type of suck pattern observe your baby's chin, it should be pumping and driving the let down. Often the temple is seen pulsing, and active drinking noises can be heard such as a "kaw" when baby is swallowing (after the first 3-5 days).
The non-nutritive suck pattern is one that is usually observed when baby is falling or has fallen asleep at the breast. This pattern is more relaxed through the jaw with the movement often feeling like a quivering vs a pulling, like in a nutritive sucking pattern. During this time is when you may be able to unlatch your baby and lay them down for a bit, as they are in a deeper stage of sleep.
If your newborn slows down their nutritive sucking pattern to a non-nutritive one, try rousing them to drink more by adding in breast massage or compression, tickling their feet, or wiping their forehead with a cool cloth. If your they will not rouse to drink more and are on the first breast, break their latch, take a short break to burp and wake baby a bit, and then offer the other side before they fall too deeply into sleep.
You will begin to notice two types of suck patterns when your baby is nursing. A nutritive suck is an active suck that leads to milk removal and calorie intake. When looking for this type of suck pattern observe your baby's chin, it should be pumping and driving the let down. Often the temple is seen pulsing, and active drinking noises can be heard such as a "kaw" when baby is swallowing (after the first 3-5 days).
The non-nutritive suck pattern is one that is usually observed when baby is falling or has fallen asleep at the breast. This pattern is more relaxed through the jaw with the movement often feeling like a quivering vs a pulling, like in a nutritive sucking pattern. During this time is when you may be able to unlatch your baby and lay them down for a bit, as they are in a deeper stage of sleep.
If your newborn slows down their nutritive sucking pattern to a non-nutritive one, try rousing them to drink more by adding in breast massage or compression, tickling their feet, or wiping their forehead with a cool cloth. If your they will not rouse to drink more and are on the first breast, break their latch, take a short break to burp and wake baby a bit, and then offer the other side before they fall too deeply into sleep.
Feed Yourself, Feed Your BabyAn important part of feeding your baby is feeding yourself. On the most basic level it takes calories to make milk. Approximately 300-500 calories per day, a similar estimate for the body's needs during pregnancy. Fueling yourself will give you the energy for your body to work on healing from birth and establishing your milk supply.
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Are you the main cook in your home? Consider making a meal plan for the first two weeks postpartum during your pregnancy to reduce decision fatigue on your part later. The Instant Pot, freezer meals, meal preparation services, Grub Hub and Postmates can all help you feed yourself while you are busy feeding your baby in those early weeks.
| Planning an out of hospital birth comes with many considerations. Who will be your primary healthcare provider? Will you birth in your home or in a free standing birth center? Will you plan for a water birth? Where will you purchase your supplies? No matter your final decisions, the journey to crafting a well tailored birth team is sure to be an exciting one! |  |
First, narrowing down your choices for midwifery care. When planning a home or birth center birth in Oklahoma you are likely to hire a midwife to oversee your prenatal, labor, and postpartum healthcare. Midwives take a relatively low number of clients each month compared to busy OBGYN practices, this means that their schedules fill up faster. Plan to reach out to your midwifery care potentials early to schedule meet and greet consults before they are fully booked!
So, what happens if your midwife can't attend your birth? What if they are already at someone else's birth?! We have a healthy and growing population of out-of-hospital birth midwives in Oklahoma! A midwife will have a list of back up midwives that they trust to care for you in their absence. Similarly your midwife may need to send a back up provider to another birth because they are currently serving you at your birth!
When I found out I was expecting my last baby I reached out to my midwife to secure services. Although she was available, it turns out she had planned to leave the country for vacation just days after my due date. Midwifery care was very important to me for my prenatal care, and I chose to remain with the midwife I desired and hoped she would be able to attend my birth but feeling comfortable knowing that our plan B was also in place should I birth while she was gone. She WAS able to attend my birth, and I am so grateful to have stayed in her care. It was exceptional and exactly what I needed.
- Jessica Cheatwood, IBCLC, RLC, HBCE
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Next you might choose additional support people such as your midwifery assistant, doula, and lactation consultant. A midwifery assistant is a trained assistant that accompanies your midwife to your birth to assist in caring for you clinically. A doula is a non-clinical role that offers emotional and physical support to you and your partner during your labor, birth, and postpartum. A lactation consultant is an allied health provider that works with other providers collaboratively to provide clinical care for you and your baby. They are trained to assist with all aspects of initiating, maintaining, and troubleshooting lactation questions and concerns such as latching, pumping, lip and tongue tie information, weight checks, and more.
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When families birth in a hospital they may have access to a doula, a lactation consultant, and definitely nurses on staff that can visit with them during and after birth. Families planning an out of hospital birth may wish to employ a private support for their birth. You may choose to employ all of these provider types for your birth. You simply cannot have enough support!
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Lastly, you will need to decide where you will birth your baby. Your midwife may offer both home birth and birth center options, or home birth only. If there are any birth centers near you, call and schedule a tour to visit so you can see the facility and ask any questions you may have. If you choose to have your baby in your home (a lovely choice!) your midwifery team will bring all the same safety equipment that would be available at the birthing center to your home. When choosing a home birth, your provider will generally plan to visit you in your home for a prenatal in your last month of pregnancy to familiarize themselves with your home's location and layout.
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No matter if you choose a birth center or home birth, typically your midwifery care team will continue your postpartum care in your home for the first couple of weeks postpartum. Not having to travel for consults in the early days are absolutely priceless! I have had clients tell me that they have had to travel out of the house with their baby nearly every day between baby well checks, postpartum checks for parents, lactation consults, chiropractic adjustments, routine infant exams etc. Home birth can help alleviate so much additional stress from travel and visiting in the those early weeks, a truly priceless gift to give yourself.
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During this complete childbirth education series you will learn relaxation techniques so that you can give your baby a welcome that is calm, gentle, and safe; achieving birth fulfillment–awake and alert–in a totally relaxed state of mind and body.
HypnoBirthing® classes are taught in a format of five, 2 1/2-hour units.
- Unit 1 – Setting the stage
- Unit 2 - Pre-birth family bonding and preparing your mind and body
- Unit 3 – Self-hypnosis visualization and advanced deepening
- Unit 4 – Overview and summary of childbirth
- Unit 5 – Birthing – The final act and bonding, preparing for the 4th trimester and breastfeeding
Included in your Registration:
Together we will:
- 1 Workbook
- 1 Rainbow Relaxation Download Card
- 1 HypnoBirthing Book
Together we will:
- Learn positive birth language
- Practice breathing techniques
- Explore affirmations
- Practice self-hypnosis
- Practice comfort techniques
- Explore creating a birth plan
- And more!
Author
Oklahoma City
Doula Support
Lactation Consults
HypnoBirthing® Classes
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