• Protects nipples from sore irritations
• Soft, flexible silicone for maximum comfort
• Highly absorbent, washable foam inserts
• Vented fronts provide air flow

SoftShells Breast Shells were created with working mothers in mind. Offering the same care for sore, flat or inverted nipples as Medela s other shells, the SoftShells offer increased comfort and a more flattering appearance. Soft, silicone backs on the shells flex to match the contour of a woman s breast, creating a more snug, comfortable fit. The fronts of the shells are vented on the top to provide proper air circulation. Highly absorbent foam inserts protect against leaking.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Not for large breasts.
Comment: These shells, although completely comfortable, simply don't have enough suction if you have large/extremely large breasts. I wore them for several hours the day I got them - at least six hours - and my nipples were not even potruding right when I took them out of my bra.

Also, as a word of warning, if you are pregnant and attempting use of this product, PLEASE consult your OB/GYN before purchasing. I was unaware that stimulation of the nipples can cause uterine contractions, and in some cases, premature labor. So, you want to be certain to clear it with your doctor first. I spoke to a certified lactation consultant that said anything of the sort should only be used after 36 weeks, but even then, you must have your doctor's approval to ensure everything is safe.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Not useful for intended purpose, other products better
Comment: 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 work very well on the go. It also saves me from going through tons of nursing pads.

Breastfeeding was a huge challenge at first, but after a couple of weeks we were doing fine. I would make several recommendations if you have inverted nipples... First of all, the only useful thing you can do before the baby is born is pumping on a regular basis. When I first started breastfeeding, I pumped in the hospital. It was incredibly painful and made my nipples red at first. The lactation consultant said that it was because my nipples were inverted and they were coming out, so raw skin was getting exposed. This made feeding and pumping considerably more painful than it needed to be during the learning phase. When you pump at first, you draw out the nipple and get that raw skin exposed. Hopefully by the time your baby comes, your nipple already has some experience being drawn out (although likely it will still be flat/inverted when you're not pumping). Pumping may cause your colostrum to come out or leak more than it did before. If your nipples get really sore during pumping, use lanolin creme on them afterwards.

Second, buy a nipple shield! I have no idea why people don't know about nipple shields, but it helped my baby latch on when nothing else worked. We would probably be on formula now if it weren't for nipple shields. My first lactation consultant frowned upon full-time use of the nipple shield because she said it wouldn't allow the baby to stimulate my milk supply enough to keep it going. This assertion is controversial at best (see LLL's article on the supposed evils of nipple shields) and was simply not true for me! I used it full time for 6 weeks and my baby gained plenty of weight. Now I'm just starting to "wean" him off of the nipple shield since he is more coordinated and able to draw out my nipples on his own. Furthermore, the nipple shield actually helps draw out your nipples (you will find that when you're done nursing, they are sticking out). After prolonged use, I found that my nipples stayed sticking out to the extent that I could at least grab them and help my baby latch on. The nipple shields that I used were both made by Medela and one was "contact" (had a piece cut out for more contact between baby and breast). The regular one worked better for times when feeding was frustrating because it would stay on my breast more easily than the "contact" one.

Third, see a lactation consultant if your baby doesn't latch right away. Many hospitals have one on staff. I had to insist on seeing one the first day I was in the hospital because it was protocol to send the lactation consultant on the day that you leave (so my baby is supposed to starve in the meantime?).

Good luck with breastfeeding and don't give up!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Works GREAT!
Comment: The medela soft shells were comfortable to wear and worked well for drawing out my inverted nipples I have even recommended this product to several friends that are nursing.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: soooo worth it!
Comment: The most useful thing I have had since I had my baby.
I don't have inverted nipples, I have 38 DDD or E breasts
which were not to easy for a little baby to get a hold of the nipples
with all of the extra flesh smothering her face, I know that sounds
weird but hey... everyone has their own problems with breastfeeding in the begining.
I just needed an extra boost so that my daughter could get a good latch.
I stopped wearing them after a couple of weeks after she got the hang of it.
Like I said... The most useful thing I have had since I had my baby.
It really calmed us down in an already stressful time.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: NOT USEFUL FOR LARGE-BUSTS!!!
Comment: I bought this item on my own because I read the wonderful reviews it received. I really don't know HOW this item can be used. Even if you don't use the air-vented cups (which collect the leaking milk), you can plainly see the soft shells in loose clothing. I was wearing a sweater & you could see the shape of the shells right through it. If you do use the cups they supply, you look absolutely abnormal. I guess this doesn't work for large-breasted women!

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