Nipple that is deformed?

Question

My left nipple is not the same as my right. It looks like there are 2 nipples put together. It is very embarassing. I am pregnant and am wondering iam i going to still beable to breastfeed? Dose anyone know why they are different? I know there is only one hole in the nipple where the milk passes. Please help me on this one. thanks

Answer 1

Honey, there is more than one hole that your milk comes out of.

The lactation system inside your breasts resemble a tree. The milk glands (the leaves) are grapelike clusters of cells high up in the breast that make milk. Milk travels from these glands down through the milk ducts (the branches). These ducts then widen beneath the areola (the dark area surrounding the nipple), forming milk sinuses (the tree trunk), which then empties into the approximately twenty openings in your nipple (like the channels going down to the roots of the tree). These milk sinuses are located beneath your areola.

I don't see any reason why your unique anatomy should cause any problems with producing or delivering milk. You may want to work with a lactation consultant or a La Leche League Leader on how to best latch your baby on. (You should be able to see a LC at the hospital when your baby is born and a LLL Leader will help you for FREE and might even be able to visit you at home.)

Answer 2

There is not one hole in the nipple where the milk passes, there are a hundred of them and the milk comes out in a spray pattern. Everybody has different nipples, not all are the same. Some women's nipples are inverted even. If you have concerns about your nipples and your ability to breastfeed you need to speak to a lactation consultant. They are free to see and are usually in your hospitals or parenting clinics (at least they are around here)

http://www.babycenter.com/baby/babybreastfeed/index/