Soreness often originates from poor positioning or a latching issue. Friction with fabric from bras or clothes and the direct contact with absorbing breast pads can make matters worse. The best remedy to sore cracked nipples is your own breast milk. Shellies Breastfeeding Seashells ® let your nipples remain in close contact with breast milk and therefore soothe them more efficiently.

If you are looking for more breastfeeding support:

La Leche League will provide information and direct you to support near you.

Boober provides a great network of lactation consultants that can come to your home.

You will receive two polished seashells in the size you ordered. Remember every pair is unique and the shells may vary in size, shape and pattern. The seashells come in an organic cotton pouch that you can use to store and carry them in. You will also get an information pamphlet about the product and how to use it.

Wait until you are at least 7 months pregnant and your breasts swollen to measure your areola (the pink/brown part of your breast that surrounds your nipple) in inches or cm. Use a flat ruler on your breast and ignore the nipple. Use the diameter of the areola where it is the largest. Then refer to our sizing guide.

Ideally your seashells should be roughly the size of your areola but if they are a little bit bigger or smaller it will not prevent them from being helpful in soothing you. 

If you are still unhappy, you can return your seashells for a refund.

The seashells do not stick or hold on your breasts on their own. They need fabric to hold them in place, whether a bra, bralette, brassiere, bathing suit or a tight tank top. Unfortunately you won’t be able to wear them in the nude or with loose clothing.

Maybe. Unless you are wearing a padded bra you might see the contour or smooth peak of the shell through your clothes. But they are more discreet than most breast pads or other types of breast shells. Your breasts are beautiful and nurturing, it is important to keep them healthy for your baby, that is what the seashells are for.

They are sustainably sourced from various regions in the Pacific where the limpets are consumed for food and the shells are usually discarded. They are hand polished by artisans at a local specialized workshop. We inspect, size, pack and ship from our Brooklyn studio.

You can try using seashells you found on the beach. But you should be very careful of sharp edges and rough shells that can hurt your breasts or damage your clothes. Most shells are also too small or too pointy or flat to fit comfortably.

Shellies Breastfeeding Seashells® brings you the peace of mind that the shells are appropriate in size, shape and polished enough to ensure they feel like second skin.

Nursing seashells are a great gift for an expecting partner or friend.

You can order a Gift Card if you want the receiver to choose their size. We have included US taxes and domestic shipping so they won't have to pay anything extra.

If you want to gift them in person we recommend ordering either a size 2 as they would fit most mothers or a size 4 for extra large bosoms.

We have read about a few small studies from Scandinavia but no official large scale studies have been conducted. All we have is the testimony of thousands of European women who said seashells helped soothe and comfort their nipples. Shellies Breastfeeding Seashells ® have been chosen and adapted to provide the most comfort to nursing mothers.

Yes there is! Breast milk is the most natural, healthy and affordable way to soothe dry and cracked nipples. Shellies Breastfeeding Seashells ® help you maintain your nipples moist in drops of your own healing milk.

You can read more here:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16127520/

Shellies are for use in between feedings and can be worn for a few hours at a time.

We do not recommend wearing for prolonged periods of time without airing your nipples and cleaning your shells. Do not wear all day or overnight if you are not nursing regularly.

Our seashells will hold a few drops of milk but will not prevent heavy leaks.

You can use Shellies in conjunction with nursing pads if you are concerned about leakage.

Shellies Breastfeeding Seashells ® used right after birth with drops of your own breast milk can prevent dryness and the need for creams. Nipple ointments create a protective moisture barrier that can also help soothe your nipples if you need extra help.

You can use creams with Shellies. We recommend Lanolin or natural creams you can use while nursing. Here are a few good options:

Lansinoh HPA Lanolin Cream

Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter

Using breast pads alone is a great way to prevent leaks but can lead to dry nipples. We recommend keeping your nipples moist in close proximity to your own breast milk. Shellies Breastfeeding Seashells ® will hold a few drops of your milk but if you are experiencing heavy leaks you can also use cotton or bamboo pads over your seashells as extra protection.

We recommend:

Mother-Ease Reusable Contoured Nursing Pads

Bamboobies Disposable Nursing Pads

When it comes to breastfeeding bras, we recommend natural fabrics with easy access and no underwires that would obstruct your milk ducts. Shellies Breastfeeding Seashells ® stay in place inside your bra and protect your nipples from rubbing and sticking to fabric.

Here are some links to great bras for nursing:

Go for a simple brassiere from Storq

We like the crossover from Kindered Bravely especially at night

If you need more support Motherhood also has good wireless options

We accept returns without conditions for up to 30 days after purchase. You can ship your shells back to us with their pouch and we will refund you automatically once received.

If your seashells arrive damaged, inform us immediately at contact@shellies.co and we will make it right by you.

Please refer to our returns policy for more information.

We accept all major international credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover, Diners Club, JCB). You can also pay using Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Shop Pay and Venmo.