Medela SoftShells Breast Shell Soothers - Inverted Nipples

 (32 customer reviews)

I was really not looking forward to wearing the hard plastic shells I'd gotten from La Leche League to help correct my inverted nipples during my last pregnancy. Knowing I was in for a world of trouble if I didn't wear them, I dug them out and just couldn't bring myself to put them on. Then I discovered these soft shells at Babies R Us, and decided to give them a try. They have a soft backing against the breast/nipple instead of rigid plastic, so comfort is key here. Instead of being small and highly domed, these are more shallow and larger, so that they are more discreet when you wear them. There are washable inserts to absorb milk, rather than having to deal with dried pooled milk. And best of all, they do indeed draw the nipple out to prepare for nursing. I'm wearing them now, and I can't even see them through my t-shirt or feel that they are there (I actually lifted the shirt up to make sure they were properly positioned, and they were!). If you have inverted or flat nipples,...Read more

I purchased these for my second pregnancy, and began wearing them about four days a week at 35 weeks. They really do work to draw out inverted/flattened nipples. I would recommend wearing a looser-fitting shirt because the shape will be visible if you wear a tight shirt. If you are on your first pregnancy and have questions about shells, check with your doctor, especially because they may begin to draw out colostrum or even induce premature labor. I had no idea the first time I was pregnant that I might have problems with breastfeeding! By the time my first child was five days old, I was so exhausted and frustrated that I was ready to switch to the pump & bottle method. I'm hoping with these that I'll be able to breastfeed my second child. So far, I've seen a definite improvement, and these are comfortable enough that I can forget I'm wearing them. Nice side note: these are dishwasher safe. Try putting them in a dishwasher basket with a top so they don't go flying around the...Read more

Before breastfeeding, I had inverted nipples. My midwife suggested these. I started wearing them a few weeks before my due date. They didn't work at all. First of all, having the silicone surface against my breast, trapping sweat all day made my breasts get red and irritated, so I could only wear them every other day. Second, as soon as I took them off, my nipples would go back as flat as pancakes in a matter of a few seconds (far shorter than it takes to achieve latch-on). As far as I can tell, these shells have made no permanent change in my nipples at all.

I still use these guys but not for their intended purpose: when I nurse on one side, milk leaks profusely from the other side. So I use the breast shells to collect milk from the other side (without the absorption pads and after sterilizing them). I collect this milk all day and bottle feed it to my baby right before bedtime to help him fill up and sleep a bit longer. It is much less involved than pumping, but doesn't...Read more