I want to Breast feed but I have Inverted Nipples. HELP?

Question

Im pregnant with my second child and I didn't breasr feed my first child because it was too difficult because I have inverted nipples. So i quit after a couple weeks. I really want to breast feed with this child. Does anyone have any advice on what I can do to be success with this time around? My sister as well has inverted and she uses a shield thing everytime she feeds her son but I don't want to use it because it seems like too much of a pain in the butt. So, any advice? Thanks!

Answer 1

Had the same problem and used breast shells every night wearing them overnight for 6 months and had no problem with the baby latching on like I did with my first baby. I didn't have to wear them after the baby was born. Check @ babiesrus in store.

Answer 2

I didn't have inverted ones but I did have flat ones. One of the suggestions my midwife gave me was to roll out my nipple each time before offering the breast. Like to try and get it to stick out. It was hard the first 3 days I had scabs and cracked nipples and bleeding from an improper latch. baby was just latching anywhere since it was flat. Ro9lling it out helped a little. Sh also suggested grabbing the breast with hand cupped like a C shape and squishing it as much as I can. Then to tickle the babies chin which will cause the baby to open when he opens mouth just stick it in as far back as you can. Remember the nipple should be in the back by the throat, he shouldn't just be sucking on the tip of the nipple, the whole areola should be in his mouth. But I am of Cuban descent and have fairly large areolas but as much of it as possible should be in the mouth. I guess what no one tells you is that it is hard and takes some practice and getting used to. But I got through the first week even though I felt like quitting because I felt like I was doing it wrong.

What I would suggest like what really helped me was a support system. I found La Leche League meeting and started attending those and also a breastfeeding meeting that took place at the birth center and attended those to. It was very helpful they got my latch right and really helped. I also did not want to use a nipple shield and they said I didn't have to that I can do it. Maybe you can start attending meetings now just so you can have the support when the baby is born and then if you are lucky you'll meet another breastfeeding mom with inverted nipples who can show you how to do it.

I would just say hang in there, it's hard but is so worth it. I am now weaning my son, he is 20 months old already and I am pregnant with number 2 and I just don't have much more milk anymore. And guess what my nipples are no longer flat. He just sucked them right out. lol. Now they are permanently erect. Yours will probably suck yours out too. Remember it shouldn't hurt though. If it does the baby is not properly latched undo the latch and redo it till you dont even feel it that is when it is right. :) Hope this helps. Email me if you have any more questions.

Answer 3

I used a shield for the first few weeks then my nipples started to stay out farther so I ditched it..i would try with out it first..if it doesn't work then use it..try without it once in a while(like every other day)...remember baby has to learn how to nurse also..the shield could help or hurt...baby may not latch on after using it, or he may latch on after he learns how it all works??I would play it by ear..every baby is different..give it a try...good luck


ADDED...if you do use a shield i believe that it is very important to nurse very frequently as the shield is associated with low milk supply and baby not getting enough milk...nurse on demand or more

Answer 4

My lactation consultant swears by Medela's breast shells to help inverted nipples. I know you mention them being a pain, and I've never had to use them, but I've heard that they are awesome. The lactation consultant reccomended using them during pregnancy, and stated that if you do so, your nipples may "learn" to be erect by the time baby gets here. She also reccomended lots of self-stimulation.

Congrats on your choice to breastfeed!!!!

Answer 5

OMG, I had the same problem. My nipples are inverted and i tryed EVERYTHING, the sheild, pumping a lilttle before letting her latch on , rolling my nipple in btw my fingers, an nothing seemed to work. At first it was very fustrating, but your baby needs to eat so if what your doing is not working just know that in your heart you tryed and it just wouldn't work. It's ok, you'll still bond with your baby. keep your head up. My baby is 2 months and is as healthy as a brest fed baby.

Answer 6

Yes, the sheild should be a last resort only. There are things you can do now to help prepare yourself. You will also want to meet with a lactation consultant and probably get in touch with the LLL and attend a few meetings beforehand. Its good to have people you know you can contact for help. Heres from a site:

"While it's very important to remember that most babies who latch-on well can draw out even an inverted or flat nipple, and that a baby does not "nipple-feed", there are several possible options for treating a flat/inverted nipple that may make latch-on easier for the baby. Some of these treatment measures can be employed before birth and others will want to be delayed until the baby arrives. Still others can be used as treatment options both during pregnancy and after breastfeeding has begun.


Breast shells. Breast shells, also referred to as milk cups, breast cups, or breast shields, take advantage of the natural elasticity of the skin during pregnancy by applying gentle, but constant pressure to the areola in an effort to break the adhesions under the skin that prevent the nipple from protruding. The shells are worn inside the bra, which may need to be one size larger than normal to accomodate the shell. Ideally, shells should be worn starting in the third trimester of pregnancy for a few hours each day. As the mother becomes comfortable wearing the shells, she can gradually increase the amount of time she wears them during the day. After the baby is born, these same shells can be worn about 30 minutes prior to each feeding to help draw out the nipple even more. They should NOT be worn at night and any milk collected in them should NOT be saved.

Hoffman Technique. Doing this technique several times a day may help loosen the adhesions at the base of the nipple. To employ this technique: place a thumb on each side of the base of the nipple - directly at the base of the nipple, not at the edge of the areola. Push in firmly against your breast tissue while at the same time pulling your thumbs away from each other. By doing this you will be stretching out the nipple and loosening the tightness at the base which will make the nipple move up and outward. This exercise should be repeated 5 times a day, moving the thumbs in a clockwise fashion around the nipple. It can be used during pregnancy and after baby begins breastfeeding.

Breastpump. After birth, the use of an effective breastpump can be helpful at drawing out a flat or inverted nipple immediately before breastfeeding to make latch-on easier for the baby. It also can be used at other times following delivery to help further break the adhesions under the skin by pulling the nipple out uniformly from the center.

Evert-it Nipple Enhancer. Available through La Leche League, this device helps to draw out the nipple by providing uniform suction similar to that obtained with a breastpump.

Nipple stimulation. After birth, if the nipple can be grasped, a mother can roll her nipple between her thumb and index finger for a minute or two and then quickly touch the nipple with a moist, cold cloth or ice wrapped in cloth (avoid prolonged use of ice as it can inhibit the letdown reflex and numb the nipple too much).

Pulling back on the breast tissue at latch-on. As you support your breast for latch-on with thumb on top and four fingers underneath and way back against the chest wall, pull slightly back on the breast tissue toward the chest wall to help the nipple protrude.

Nipple shield. ONLY TO BE USED AS A LAST RESORT, the nipple shield is a flexible nipple made out of silicone that is placed over the mother's nipple during feedings so that latch-on is possible for the baby. To prevent the baby from becoming too addicted to nursing with the shield, it should be removed as soon as the baby is latched-on and nursing well. The length of time during the feeding that the shield is used should also be steadily decreased. Possible problems associated with the use of nipples shields include a drop in the mother's milk supply and insufficient transfer of milk to the baby. Because of these possible risks, it is strongly recommended that you only use a nipple shield under the direct supervision of a lactation expert such as as a lactation consultant or La Leche League leader. It should be noted, however, that even with the possible risks of using a nipple shield, as long as the mother is aware of what to watch for, breastfeeding with a nipple shield is much more preferable to not breastfeeding! "


Hope that helped some! Goodluck!

Answer 7

Go to your doctor for some advice and also to senior relatives who had the same problem. The shield is teh last resort...but even if it is painful, I think you won't back off this time---for mothers do go through a lot of pains for their children.

Answer 8

Get hold of le leche league and they will guide you to an answer. Sometimes you do have to use adaptors and the satisfaction should be the same...