A NICU nurse called me and said words I hear more often than I wish:
“I think I’m done. This is just too hard.”
This mama wasn’t new to babies.
She works in the NICU.
But this was her baby. And breastfeeding felt impossible.
The Beginning: A Nipple Shield Without Support
Baby Girl was born at 7 lbs 2 oz.
On day 3 in the hospital, a nurse handed Mama a nipple shield.
There was no explanation about why she needed it.
No guidance on how to use it properly.
And no lactation consultant ever came to see her.
Just… here, try this.
By one month old, Baby Girl weighed 8 lbs 2 oz.
In that first month, Mama experienced:
- Cracked nipples
- Mastitis on day 5
- Multiple clogged ducts
- Ongoing nipple shield use
- Painful feeds
She had begun pumping and offering a Dr. Brown bottle in the evenings, carefully using side-lying and paced feeding techniques — doing everything she could think of to preserve breastfeeding.
When she called me, she said quietly,
“You’re my last call before I switch to formula.”
She had searched one simple phrase:
“Lactation near me.”
And that search changed everything.
I’m so glad she did.
What I Saw During Our First Visit
Baby Girl presented with:
- Upper and lower lip blisters
- Lips not flanging properly
- Consistently pushing out a pacifier
- Difficulty maintaining a deep latch
Mama was exhausted and in pain.
During the oral motor exam, I noted:
- Lip tie
- Buccal ties
- A posterior tongue-tie
However Baby Girl had excellent tongue range of motion, strong lateralization, and beautiful tongue protrusion past the gum line.
Function matters more than appearance.
Our First Feeding Together
Before feeding, I performed cheek and lip stretches.
Mama immediately said:
“That was one of her best feeds.”
Using the nipple shield, Baby Girl transferred:
- 1.5 oz on the left
- 1.5 oz on the right
Total: 3 oz
Feeds were lasting 30+ minutes at this point.
I also sized Mama for pump flanges and recommended switching to a 19mm flange to improve comfort and efficiency.
The Plan
We created a clear, simple plan:
- Daily lip and buccal stretches + oral exercises (3x/day)
- Visit a chiropractor for right-sided tightness
- Consult a pediatric dentist for evaluation
- Consider releasing only the lip tie (not the tongue)
A few days after seeing the chiropractor, Mama noticed Baby Girl was turning well to both sides.
Based on strong tongue function, I recommended releasing only the lip tie.
The 48-Hour Follow-Up
Two days later, I returned for a weighted feed.
This time, Baby Girl transferred 3.5 ounces up from 2 ounces during earlier measured feeds.
We also noticed:
- Shorter feeds
- Less dependence on the nipple shield
- No more pain during latch
- Baby sleeping 4-hour stretches at night
Mama’s confidence was growing.
The Second Follow-Up
At our next visit:
- No nipple shield
- 4 oz transferred
- No lip blisters
- No pain
- No clogged ducts
- No mastitis symptoms
- Strong latch with beautiful flange
All signs and symptoms of oral restriction were gone.
Mama looked at me and said:
“I’m so glad I didn’t give up. You were my last call.”
What This Case Teaches
- A nipple shield without guidance can create more problems.
- Early mastitis is often a symptom not just bad luck.
- Ties must be evaluated based on function, not just presence.
- Chiropractic and bodywork can dramatically change feeding.
- Sometimes all a family needs is in-home, hands-on support.
This mama almost stopped breastfeeding.
Not because she wasn’t capable.
Not because her baby couldn’t nurse.
But because she didn’t have the right support.
If You’re On the Edge of Quitting
If feeding feels more painful than peaceful…
You’re relying on a nipple shield without fully understanding the reason…
Or if mastitis, clogged ducts, and recurring pain have become your norm…
Please don’t assume this is just how it has to be.
Please don’t assume this is just how it has to be.
Sometimes you’re just one adjustment away from everything changing.
And sometimes that support coming to your home makes all the difference.
