Hi,

I have a 20 days old baby. My nipple is so small due to which it is becomming difficult for
the baby to suck the milk. so i started using nipple shield after my cesearian from my
5th day onwards...in 3 to 5 days time milk has lessened in my breast.
so the baby started taking bottle feed and once mothers milk using nipple shield.
milk has reduced so much that it is not sufficient not even for one feed and baby
stopped sucking also...she got more accustomed to bottle feeding.

now my worry is i haven't feeded the baby properly for 2 to 3 days after my 20 days of
operation. i want to know whether
1. nipple shield is the only solution for mothers having small nipples.
2. i heard milk can be generated only if baby starts sucking the breast and only then
harmones can get activated properly. is this true...if so what should i do.

Thanks rekha replied. hi
i also had a c section and faced the same prob bcos of flat and sore nipples but with help of lactation consultant it was ok.i used to pump milk for only 3days after which i tried a lot to latch him on.........try ur best .try to get manual pump for time being bcos only if sucking motion is there milk supply will be more.... Susi replied. I also had the same problem for my first son. It was a lot of tension for both me and the baby. Then I started using a breast pump to pump milk and did feed the baby using nipple shield only twice a day. I used to pump both breast every 3 hours and then my milk supply increased gradually. After 2 weeks I totally started pumping and stopped using the nipple shield.

Then when my son was around 5 months he started drnking directly from me. Also the breast pump also increased the nipple size.

I would suggest you to buy a breast pump. I know how it feels to got through this problem. Be strong and try to give what you can for the baby. If you are not interested to pump milk then stick with the nipple shield, eventually your son will drink directly. Also if he is not getting enough just give him formula. Don't feel guilty about it at all.

Good Luck.
Susi replied. I also had the same problem for my first son. It was a lot of tension for both me and the baby. Then I started using a breast pump to pump milk and did feed the baby using nipple shield only twice a day. I used to pump both breast every 3 hours and then my milk supply increased gradually. After 2 weeks I totally started pumping and stopped using the nipple shield.

Then when my son was around 5 months he started drnking directly from me. Also the breast pump also increased the nipple size.

I would suggest you to buy a breast pump. I know how it feels to got through this problem. Be strong and try to give what you can for the baby. If you are not interested to pump milk then stick with the nipple shield, eventually your son will drink directly. Also if he is not getting enough just give him formula. Don't feel guilty about it at all.

Good Luck.