I have experienced the birth of four children in six years. I have attempted to nurse all of them, only once have I failed. My first went real well. I did all the necessary preparation (nipple exercise, etc.) For the first 2 weeks I was very sore but then I started to heal and all was well until I weaned him at six months.

My second was the most successful in terms of length. I breast fed her for 10 months. Then came my third child. I did all the necessary nipple exercises taking care not to over do it or do too little. Well, I was sore for the first two weeks as with the others, I kept thinking “soon I will be able to breast feed without clinching my teeth.” Well I was wrong. From day 2 or 3 to 3 months I nursed thinking that soon my nipples would heal and all would be fine. I ended up taking her straight to the bottle one night when I couldn’t take it any more, so she was essentially a bottle fed baby.

Then came Sarah. The only red head of the bunch. After I delivered her one of the nurses gave me a set of O-Cal-ette Breast Shields. I did a little nipple exercising just like with the others, but in this case I not only breast fed her for 7-8 months (she weaned herself at that time) I did not have any discomfort at all during the course of time that involved any kind of nipple soreness, cracked or otherwise.

I believe in all honesty that if I had had the O-Cal-ette breast shield after I had my third child I would have been able to enjoy the leisurely and less expensive way of feeding my baby.
Thank you so very much,
Mrs. Paula W. (a very pleased customer)