Help after nipple shield weaning

[Gingerandcocoa]

I am desperate for help! DS is 4 weeks old, and I have been breastfeeding + expressed BM feeding. DS had a TT and his latch wasn't good so my nipples were really badly damaged (bits missing, bleeding etc). About 2 weeks ago, after his TT got snipped, I started using a nipple shield for every feed, to see if it would help my nipples heal as I couldn't bear the thought of breastfeeding anymore. About a week later my nipples were better so I wanted to wean him off the nipple shield. I was sort of successful in that he will now take the breast at the beginning of a feed. However for the past two days, he's been feeding NON STOP. This is new as previously he would feed every 2.5 to 3 hours. I am exhausted. He will feed for 10 minutes then fall asleep, then if I take him off the breast he starts crying and screaming. Previously he would feed for 40 minutes to an hour, with the help of the nipple shield.

I think it could be because he's used to the nipple shield + bottle which are obviously easier... but what do I do?? I want to continue breast feeding but I cannot spend another day feeding him 24 hours a day!

[Scoobyblue]

Why not continue with the nipple shield? My sister bf her dd1 very successfully for eight months with a nipple shield. She found it painful without and the baby didn't seem to care.

[Gingerandcocoa]

only because i've found the nipple shield began to hurt me! my nipples began to crack between the nipple and the aureola and even bled once :( So i thought, if i am going to hurt for a while, then at least I don't want the pain of having to wash the nipple shield :)

[DontstepontheMomeRaths]

He's having a growth spurt I suspect and the feeding will settle again. Don't worry.

I used to find the kellymom website great for advice when I breastfed. I'm sure there's articles on there about weaning off a nipple shield. But I'm on my phone right now.

It will get better.

[Gingerandcocoa]

Dontstep you were spot on. It's definitely settled back into his normal 40-minute feed pattern!!!

[DontstepontheMomeRaths]

That's so great