My sister has some breastfeeding difficulties. Everything was going fine, but suddenly she noticed some problems occurring due to the over usage of a nipple shield. She consulted a doctor. The doctor recorded the sucking pattern of the baby’s mouth during the feed. I will tell you what I heard about the adverse effects of nipple shields from her.
Using nipple shields has become almost an epidemic in North America and Europe. These are considered the solutions for some particular breastfeeding problems. Most moms use nipple shields during the first week after the baby’s birth to help with feeding and soreness.
Nipple shields are helpful in so many respects. Using a nipple shield is not recommended for long-term purposes. There are many effective treatments to get the baby to take the breasts. The use of a nipple shield causes gas. So, all the moms have to be very careful about using it.
Does Nipple Shield Cause Gas: Detailed Discussion
Nipple shields can be used for a more extended period in some cases, mainly with a premature or ill baby. These shouldn’t be used unless prescribed by the doctor.
What Do You Mean By Nipple Shields?
A nipple shield is a piece of silicone placed over a mother’s nipple. It is a nipple-shaped object designed to feed the mom’s breast milk to the babies who have trouble learning how to breastfeed. These are designed to adhere to nipples and promote skin-to-skin contact.
Nipple shields work as a short-term solution for the baby to latch during breastfeeding. They provide the mother relief from the baby latch on issues. Soreness in the nipple is significant in breastfeeding in the first two weeks. Sometimes, a nipple shield helps to breastfeed.
The silicone teat gives a stimulus to the roof of the baby’s mouth. So, the baby can suck mom’s milk more effectively. Nipple shields can be found in retail stores, local hospitals, or Medicare Centers.
Is The Use Of The Nipple Shield Safe?
A nipple shield has never been proved safe for the child. It is meant to use for a shorter period and with a doctor’s prescription. There are a few cases for which you can use it for a longer time. But there are so many cautions a mother should never forget. Otherwise, a nipple shield can affect breastfeeding negatively.
Talk to your healthcare provider to advise and direct you correctly. It would be best if you never decided on your own what would be good or bad for you. Only an expert can confirm whether using a nipple shield will be safe for you or not. Doctors suggest using this for a more extended period for some extreme cases.
This object should not be used to cure sore nipples. It would be best to remember; you have to use it with caution.
What Are The Problems With The Use Of A Nipple Shield?
There are specific breastfeeding problems that can be solved by using nipple shields. Many think that using nipple shields is equally effective as breastfeeding. The nipple of the nipple shield is not as soft and supple as the mom’s breasts. It is much more complicated and broader than the mother’s nipple, for which a baby on this object is not latched on.
To wean your baby off of the nipple shield can be difficult. A mom’s nipple may obstruct the milk supply. The mom may also be affected by Mastitis, inflammation, and breast infection.
Is Using A Nipple Shield Effective As Breastfeeding Directly?
Not at all. It doesn’t matter whether your baby is taking milk from a soft or hard nipple shield. When you put the nipple shield on your baby’s mouth, he uses his tongue and cheek muscle with maximum strength to get the milk. If your baby is used to getting milk from a nipple shield, it will be difficult for you to switch your baby to feed breasts directly.
The baby doesn’t do it on the breast. When you breastfeed your baby as a mom, the baby uses an entirely different process.
How Does Nipple Shield Cause Gas
You will see many reviews from any related post that a baby can experience a gas problem. A nipple shield is a reason that causes the baby to fuss a lot while feeding. The shield affects the baby’s sleep as well. The mother uses a nipple shield that causes the baby to suck too much air.
If you consult with a lactation consultant about this issue, they will suggest proper medicines and suggestions. A mother shouldn’t make the baby suck a nipple shield because the shield may cause sucking, leading to air in the stomach which may cause pain in the stomach.
Does A Nipple Shield Save Breastfeeding?
If you think that nipple shields are good alternatives to breastfeeding directly, you are mistaken. Though many think this is a good tool and use these in premature babies, this is nothing but a fantasy to experience something odd.
You might say, using a nipple shield can help to teach how to suck but not how to breastfeed. But the truth is, even with a nipple shield, both you and your baby need to learn how to breastfeed.
The mothers might often face difficulty weaning their babies off a nipple shield. They can wean their baby off the nipple shield when the babies get stronger. If your baby is latched on, you might feel pain and damage to her nipple. The nipple shield can’t recover the damage.
For severe cases, you must consult a doctor. But, the best thing would be if you consult a doctor just after noticing the symptoms. There is no substitute for an expert’s consultation.
When To Use A Nipple Shield
Though it is suggested not to use a nipple shield much, some situations can be beneficial when using a nipple shield. The cases are explained below-
- Breastfeeding a premature or ill baby: For a baby who is born prematurely, using a nipple shield is more effective. Studies show that premature babies who learn how to use a nipple shield can take more milk than babies who don’t use a nipple shield.
- Baby’s sudden breast refusal: A baby’s refusal to breastfeed can lead you to use a nipple shield for a while. This is called a breastfeeding strike. But it doesn’t mandatorily mean that your baby is ready to wean. For this breastfeeding issue, you need to contact a lactation consultant.
- Flat or sore nipples: The nipple shield can help hold the sore or flat nipples in the accurate position for your baby to latch correctly. Do everything to help your baby get as much milk as possible.
- Cracked or inverted nipples: If you have cracked or inverted nipples, it will be difficult for your baby to attach to your breast correctly. You can use a nipple shield for this problem. An inaccurate latch of your baby may irritate your nipples. It will be difficult latching in that case.
- Switching from bottles to breasts: Sometimes, your baby might feel comfortable using a nipple shield. They refuse to take breast milk without the aid. In that case, they might prefer a bottle nipple.
- Soft breast: If moms’ breasts are too soft, they can’t feed the babies properly. That time, babies may pull back their tongues.
- Tongue-tie of the baby: If the baby is highly tongue-tied, the mother needs to use a nipple shield. Your baby’s tongue-tie requires a vast struggle to latch in the laid-back position.
How To Get Rid Of Milk Blisters
You may experience breastfeeding engorgement in the first week your baby is born. Milk blisters are caused by an improper latch, shallow sucking, too much milk supply, or breastfeeding from the wrong position. Wearing uncomfortable and tight-fitting underwear can cause milk blisters as well.
- If you experience milk blebs or milk blisters during breastfeeding, go for the available home remedies and proper treatments to cure the problem.
- Put warm compresses on your nipples for ten minutes before nursing and cold packs for the same duration after nursing. Soak a cloth in warm water and wring out the excess liquid to make a compress. Pat your skin very gently.
- Nurse or breast pump often. Limit the nursing to ten minutes until the milk supply is going better.
- Remove the blockage with saline solution. Soak the nipples in the mixture of salt and warm water. Do it three or four times a day to unblock the duct.
- A nipple massage can release the blister. It will be best to take a bath with soapy water to soften the skin. Don’t put pressure while messaging. Otherwise, it will cause nipple pain.
- A doctor may suggest you take antibiotics for the bacterial infections that cause milk blusters.
- It is essential to reach out to a lactation consultant when a baby cannot latch appropriately onto the nipple. The lactation consultants provide good breastfeeding advice.
Prevent The Need For Nipple Shields
Using nipple shields is an excellent temporary solution to getting your baby latched. But you shouldn’t use a nipple shield until your milk supply runs, typically within the first few days of the baby’s birth. Read the instruction about do and don’t of using a nipple shield. Don’t feel shame in asking for help.
The baby will keep gaining weight when it gets enough milk from the mother’s breast. If you want your baby’s weight gain, it will be problematic for you to use the nipple shield. It’s okay to keep using a nipple shield as long as the baby gains weight. The baby grows slow if it can’t get the mother’s milk. It becomes challenging for the baby to latch on if the milk supply decreases due to the excessive use of the nipple shield.
Bottom Line- Be Aware Of Using A Nipple Shield
There are many pros and cons of nipple shield use. If you can’t wear a nipple shield correctly, it could affect breastfeeding. Come with its advantages and disadvantages. Inaccurate use of nipple shields causes low milk supply, pain in your nipple, weight loss of your baby, and other different issues.
This guide on ‘how does nipple shield cause gas’, covers some essential areas to consider before using a nipple shield that causes gas since it may cause gas in your baby’s stomach. Find out from the direction what to do to reduce specific breastfeeding problems and how. If you see the shield is causing gas to your baby’s stomach, but you have no other ways to feed the baby, consult an expert immediately.
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