Hey friends. My son is 2 weeks old today and has been doing beautifully latching in the past week with a nipple shield. I am really thankful that he is able to eat and has been having an easier time. His pediatrician recommended that I stop using the nipple shield at some point because it will start to hurt me when he is eating. It has begun to hurt a little as he is getting stronger (yay! ☺️) I got him to latch a few times without the nipple shield and this morning he semi latched but only got my nipple area. I noticed that he was swallowing but not gulping like he does with the nipple shield. He only ate for 4 minutes and then kept falling asleep. I switched the nipple shield and he ate for another 4 minutes and then unlatched. I was thinking he didn’t get any milk when not using the nipple shield but obviously since he unlatched it was enough. He has not wanted to eat again yet and he usually only eats for 10 minutes on one side and then I have to switch off to the other breast the next feed.

Does anyone have any advice? Sometimes it’s easy to get him to eat without it but other times he gets super fussy because my nipples are short.

Thanks!