Medela SoftShells Breast Shells For Sore Or Inverted Nipples - Sore Nipples

 (10 customer reviews)

This is the best shell out there. The others I give 1 star to and this item would get 3 1/2 stars.
First of all, the backing part is soft. It prevents too much rubbing on nipples especially when you are first starting to breast feed.
Issues I had:
1. There is a circle in the plastic inside which is part of the manufacturing that sometimes rubs on the nipple - when you nips are sensitive you really don't need extra plastic in there.
2. They are obvious if you are wearing a thin cotton bra and 1 layer shirt. On me it was very obvious that I was wearing a round thing over my breasts. Looser tops probably wouldn't be an issue nor would a double layer top which some nursing clothes are.
3. I sort of believe that they made my thrush worse. I bought them to keep my nipples aired out but in reality it does still keep them fairly moist and yeast - thrush culprit- thrives in moist environment so I eventually stopped using them.

Verdict: Good for the...Read more

I had gotten some of the hard shells from the hospital but they were pretty painful & stuck to my breasts. These were much more comfortable & could barely be seen through my shirt... they look much more natural. the foam inserts soak up a ton of milk! the only negative was because i am dealing with overactive letdown... i read that shells of any kind may increase the problem. you will definitely need a large bra... if your bra is the right size for you, these may be pressed against you harder than necessary and could cause discomfort. I had a minor issue with these sticking to me but i cut a little scrap of flannel to lay on it, that helped. also, these slide around in sports bras or nursing tops with shelf type bra.

These shells do the trick for sore nipples. In the first couple weeks of breastfeeding, I had issues with sore, cracked, and bleeding nipples. I heard about these shells from my sister who swore by them - so I ordered a pair. They create a barrier between your nipples and bra, while still allowing air to flow in - providing a MUCH needed rest where absolutely nothing touches or rubs against your nipples. I don't think mine would have healed as quickly without these shells! Why 4 stars? The silicone backing is slightly uncomfy against your breast and leaves a little indentation on my skin. Not a huge deal, but not perfect either.