[PreachersWife]

Hi!

I fed both my older children using nipple shields. DD1 fed for six months, with the last few weeks of intense refusal and reflux leading to weaning. DS was my booby boy and fed (with shields) for over a year.

DD2 (nine weeks) has been a dream to fed so far, we've made it through the initial engorgement and like my other two after the first week we've been using nipple shields to feed. The hospital LC who I saw with all my babies recommended them due to flat and oddly shaped nipples, which combined with large breast and oversupply made it impossible for my babies to attach. But in the last week DD has decided that she doesn't lie the shield

Now my question. She has been attaching and feeding well (second day with no shields at all) but the first few feeds I think attachment was not great. I think the direct contact stimulated my supply (lots of leaking feeling full between feeds again) and I've had some pain in one nipple. Similar to those first few days, sharp pain for about ten seconds then all okay. Today after my shower I noticed a small crack, which is obviously what's caused the pain. My question, is this like the beginning, my nipples getting used to the baby sucking or a problem? When she comes off, the nipple looks good, longer, round and not squashed. There are no grazes and the other side is fine. Was it those first few feeds (only a few days ago) that weren't great that did some damage and it will get better? Also, pain is not getting worse.

Hope I've explained it okay. I was very happy to keep using shields, but it was obviously frustrating DD she swiped it away and latched straight on! I must admit that it's easier to feed without them in public and I also staying a lot drier!

[lucky 2]

Hi there,
If you did get a bit of damage early with direct feeding then your baby may have taken a bit less milk from the breasts which could be why your breasts felt a bit more full/? lumpy (but I could be wrong and it could be increased milk production as you said).
If from now on in your nipple heals and your breasts remain healthy (no blocked ducts or mastitis) and your baby continues to have lots of pale wee and yellow poos, then all is going well with direct bfing.
It sounds very minimal damage though so hopefully things will be ideal soon.
In terms of "is this what usually happens with direct bfing", the answer from me would be, not necessarily, you don't get nipple damage unless your nipple doesn't get to the "safe zone" at the back of baby's mouth, whic has happened on the one breast.
The link below might have some tips re bfing without a shield, attachment to the breast is a bit different, with the shield the baby latches centrally to the shield, but without shield an uneven latch can work better.
http://www.rebeccaglover.com.au/graphics/attachment_big.jpg
Good luck!

[PonyoLand]

Anecdata here but I had the same thing when DS transitioned off the shield - one small crack on one side. I used lanolin on it & DS got better at it & we were perfectly fine without the shield after 2-3 weeks
If it gets a bit painful, popping the shield back on that side will help cushion the crack, IME.

[MoonPie]

If you get stuck with the pain but are confident your latch is good, try a physiotherapist who can offer some laser therapy to help the healing.

[PreachersWife]

Thanks for all the replies. So far so good, no further damage, although still painful on that side. She was quite tired last night (catnapping all day) and wanted the shield back on for the evening feeds, so it had a bit of a 'rest'. But back without this morning.

I'm fairly confident that she's attaching correctly and it's less/no pain after the initial toe-curling latch. If the pain persists for more than two weeks, I'll go and see the LC and have her check.

[lucky 2]

Sounds very promising, all the best.