Inverted Nipples

[rabrog]

I'm having my third baby (surprise! ) in February. I nursed my first two - DD for 10 months, using both sides, nipple shield for about 3 weeks; DS for 13 months, one side only (right side),nipple shield the whole time.

I'd like to breastfeed this little one and would like to do whatever I can to help my nipples be ready and "out" and....you get the picture.

Can someone help?

Jenn

[crystal_buffaloe]

Avent makes a product called the Niplette -- I haven't used it, but it looks promising.

My nipples aren't inverted, they're just kind of flat, and I've thought about using it for my left side, which gives me no end of problems. (So it sounds like we have that in common.)

I did use breast shells between feedings to try to draw my nips out, and had a little bit of success with them, but I think they're more for getting ready for breastfeeding, and I was trying to use them after the baby was born, and then we came down with thrush so I threw them out.

Good luck!

[MilkyMuse]

My nipples were inverted and quite flat before the birth of my first baby. The most effective way I found to evert them was with my fingers: hold your nipple as far back as you can grasp it (it might seem like mostly areola) between your thumb and first finger and gently pull for a few seconds. Rotate your hand 90 degrees and repeat...i.e., grasp the nipple with your thumb above and finger below, then grasp it with thumb on one side and finger on the other. I don't feel you need a gadget to pull your nipples out -- although there are several and there may be some mothers who've had success with them. Your fingers are easier and more comfortable to manipulate, IMO. :-)

I also wore breast shells between feedings during the day for about the first two months. They did make my nipples protrude, although they went back to normal after a few minutes.

My first son ended up nursing exclusively on my right breast, from about 7 months until he self-weaned. I had to give my left nipple a bit of extra attention after my second child's birth, but the right stayed protruding. Now I'm tandem nursing DS2 and DD1 and have had no nipple problems. Good luck to you!

[momasana]

[QUOTE=MilkyMuse;15579875]My nipples were inverted and quite flat before the birth of my first baby. The most effective way I found to evert them was with my fingers: hold your nipple as far back as you can grasp it (it might seem like mostly areola) between your thumb and first finger and gently pull for a few seconds. Rotate your hand 90 degrees and repeat...i.e., grasp the nipple with your thumb above and finger below, then grasp it with thumb on one side and finger on the other. I don't feel you need a gadget to pull your nipples out -- although there are several and there may be some mothers who've had success with them. Your fingers are easier and more comfortable to manipulate, IMO. :-)

I also wore breast shells between feedings during the day for about the first two months. They did make my nipples protrude, although they went back to normal after a few minutes. /QUOTE]



I did a lot of pulling and rolling to prep for DS, and I tried to keep the shells on until right before he nursed. The only problem with the shells is that I leaked something awful and they would always fill up with milk.

[myk]

i'll second and third the recommendation to draw out your nipples manually. breast shells never helped me, but probably still worth a try