2 question re: nipple shield...

Since DS has major nipple confusion, many have suggested a nipple shield, because a) it will help him latch to the breast (right now he is latching to me like he does the bottle and destroying my nipples) and it will help him tranisiton back and forth between the 2 (bottle/breast- because they will "feel" similar)

1. Will I be able to wean him from the nipple shield- when/if he stops having the confusion...

2. What are you thoughts on whether or not this will work...????

Im not ready to give up nursing... and my poor baby just cant go between the 2 and will literally refuse to eat after having a bottle....Im hoping that despite not wanting the shield, it will help..

After this, I dont know what else to try...

Re: 2 question re: nipple shield...

I am a case of horrible first weeks of nursing. It took us 8 weeks to really get it going. I did use the nipple shield for a little while, it did work because it is similar to the bottle not the other way around. When I took it away he was latching on better, but it still hurt. I was sore for a good 6 weeks. Don't it up, I swear it is such a snap now! Takes DS 10 minutes to nurse and he's done.
The beginning sucks, but I can't even tell you ho much better and rewarding it gets! hang in there.
One advice I have is you gotta bite the bullet and not let him have the bottle at least until he's a proficient nurser. It is soooo much easier to feed form the bottle but in the long run it really hurts the chance of you both getting acustomed to nursing. I even fed DS with a medicine dropper for 2 days hoping to wean him off the bottle. That way you can give your nips a break but you are not sabotaging anythign by giving a bottle. It's not easy at first but hang in there!!!!!!

Re: 2 question re: nipple shield...

He is going on 3 months old- not giving bottles is not an option as I'm going back to work and I have an older child who I'm trying to spend some quality time with. Ds was a proficient nurser unntil I introduced the bottle at 6 weeks. I have to get him to go back n forth BEFORE - I go to work, because once I go back the stress of hunger strikes while working will make me give up!

Re: 2 question re: nipple shield...

1. Will I be able to wean him from the nipple shield- when/if he stops having the confusion...

In the second week of nursing I started using the nipple shield with DD, because of the pain. I forget exactly when I stopped using it, maybe around the 2 month mark? But she was fine. When I was ready to wean, I would start her nursing with it, then remove it after a few minutes. It did not take long for her to get off it. It was a life saver for me.

2. What are you thoughts on whether or not this will work...????

I did not use bottles with DD until she was much older, like 6 or 7 months so I have no experience with that transition, but I don't think it would hurt to try if you think it will work