All You Need To Know About Nipple Shield

Nipple shield overview

For breastfeeding mothers, you are probably aware of this term now but for the rest of you, here’s a guide that would bring you through what a nipple shield really is and what it does. 

So a nipple shield is basically a device used by breastfeeding mothers to feed their newborns. This is specifically used when a baby has a latching problem. This will be extremely useful for new mothers who have just started on their breastfeeding journey. It is made out of silicone which is thin and transparent. It comes in various sizes and it usually has an area cut out with little holes on top of it allowing milk to flow directly into the baby’s mouth. New mothers are advised to seek health professionals help first before using this nipple shield. This is vital because not everything would work for everyone and that not all the bodies are the same. Consider both the pros and cons before starting your breastfeeding journey with the nipple shield. 

Concerns 

Mothers who have inverted or short nipples would love this device as it would help ease the process of breastfeeding. This would also prevent dry and chapped nipples from becoming even worse. It acts as a barrier in protecting your nipples. Other than that, mothers who have babies starting to teeth would swear by this as it will prevent their nipples from getting hurt. Nipple shields are very easily available in pharmacies and other healthcare stores. It is also available in maternity wards at hospitals. 

Directions of usage

It is advised to wash and sterilize the nipple shield before using it for hygiene reasons. Take and place the device on your areola area which is the skin surrounding your nipple. Make sure it doesn’t move or else your baby would have a hard time latching on it. Place your baby’s mouth directly on the device and begin breastfeeding your little ones. You may find that it takes a little longer to feed your baby using the nipple shield as it will take time for the milk to flow against the shield but trust the process and keep going. You will get a hang of it after sometime. 

Dos and don’ts 

As your baby uses it often, they will begin to gain strength and will be able to latch and feed without your assistance. As time passes probably you would not need its help. Always remember that a nipple shield is just a temporary solution, so for any other underlying issues please seek assistance from a medical professional preferably a lactation consultant. It would also be troublesome if your baby gets too used to being fed using the nipple shield because as time passes they would refuse to be fed the usual way. Although it is extremely useful to breastfeeding mothers, it could also cause serious problems if not taken care of. Let’s say if a baby is not able to drain the milk very well because of the usage of nipple shields then there is an increased risk for the mother’s breast to become swollen resulting in blocked duct which is also called mastitis. So do your research and most importantly consult professionals in this issue.