flat nipple help please

[juju's mom]

I am not one to talk about my breast so this is hard. I have semi flat nipples. Did not breast feed my first baby because of lack of support and knowledge. I tried but ended up with split, cracked and very painful nipples. I have heard about nipple shields (they may not be called this) for helping with flat nipples. You wear them before the baby is born and in between nursings. Anybody have any ideas of when I should start wearing them, what they are called, and if they are actually worth it?

[kathteach]

I had the same problem, Juju's Mom. It can be kind of embarrassing I know. I really think you should speak with a lactation consultant about this, even pay out of pocket if you need to. It's so worth it. She can look at your breast and diagnose whether or not you really need them. I had the same problem with my son, but it was diagnosed way too late and I had already started supplementing him with bottles which destroyed the bf relationship.

By the way, I think you mean breast shells. Those are different from nipple sheilds. I have heard of something called the Avent nipplette which is supposed to be very helpful, but have never known anyone to actually use it.

I wish you luck, let us know.

[dharmama]

nak...

here's an old thread about my experience w/ flat/inverted nipples.


it made me : to read it. i'm still nursing her at 27 mos and didn't need shields to nurse ds (5 mos).

[juju's mom]

Yes I meant Nipple Shells. Sorry. I was really just wondering if I should start wearing them later in my pregnancy so I can nurse easier when the twins are born. They are due in April but I am pretty sure they will come earlier. I just want to be ready. I am devastated that I didn't nurse my dd.

Thanks for the link to the older post.

Jenn

[2crazykids]

Originally Posted by juju's mom

I am not one to talk about my breast so this is hard. I have semi flat nipples. Did not breast feed my first baby because of lack of support and knowledge. I tried but ended up with split, cracked and very painful nipples. I have heard about nipple shields (they may not be called this) for helping with flat nipples. You wear them before the baby is born and in between nursings. Anybody have any ideas of when I should start wearing them, what they are called, and if they are actually worth it?

This is a very short version of a very long, important story:

I had very flat nips and had no idea they would be a problem until my babe could not latch. It was very hard, I did lots of pumping, finger-feeding, etc. But I ended up gettting a bad infection and had to have surgery and eventually almost dying. I got horrible advice from a lc at the hospital. She gave me the nipple shields which were horrible, horrible, horrible.

For my second baby, I got a private LC to come to the house and hospital, told the other LC to go to hell, and nursing went fine. I used the hard nipple shells before baby came to help pull out my nipple. I think I went into labor early b/c I was wearing them, but she was fine 7.8 oz. I pumped for 10 minutes on each side right after she nursed, for a while to build up my supply and finger-fed her the pumped milk to help get her weight up quickly. She nursed great for over a year...That was the best thing that could ever have happened to me.

FWIW: Your nips will crack and bleed the first few weeks anyway, flat or not. That's just how it goes. Get some All purpose nipple ointment from your pharmacy, you need a script... and you'll be fine. Pain is part of the process. It goes away after the first few months, then it should be smooth until babe is 7 months when the nursing strikes happen, but stay with it and keep getting support here.

[2crazykids]

Originally Posted by juju's mom

Yes I meant Nipple Shells. Sorry. I was really just wondering if I should start wearing them later in my pregnancy so I can nurse easier when the twins are born. They are due in April but I am pretty sure they will come earlier. I just want to be ready. I am devastated that I didn't nurse my dd.

Thanks for the link to the older post.

Jenn

I have heard that wearing the nipple shells can cause early labor in some women, and I think that is why I kept going into labor and then luckily got it stopped...I had no idea at the time it was b/c of the shells, but I still kept wearing them. I am glad I did and glad labor was stopped. I think they really made a difference in my nursing good start.

If the shells are not an option, wear them right after having babes, all the time. They are not fun, but pumping and wearing the shells will make a huge difference. Your nips are going to go through hell. But it's worth it!

[lissi]

I have (well had) flat nipples. I did not know it until after DS1 was born and an LC told me, so I didn't do anything beforehand. The LC worked and worked with me to make sure DH latched properly. The worst part for me was that initia latch on was painful for about 3 or 4 months, whereas most people experience that for only a couple weeks.

I'm stubborn and stuck with it, though. It did get a lot easier as DS got older, he nursed passed age 2 and now I'm on #2, which was soooo much easier! I still have to be vigillant about proper latch, and I've seen others nurse in positions that just make me cringe, but you can do it! Tell yourself you can do it and don't give up when it gets rough!

[mayamama]

DON'T use a nipple SHIELD

Hi. I just wanted to tell you that I had the experience because I REALLY have flat nipples. Happily nursing at 3 months, but I just weaned from the nipple shield at 2 months. In the hospital they had me use that so she'd have something to latch onto, but I would reccomend NOT using a nipple shield. That's different from the SHELLS that you use before and between nursing to bring out the nipple. They never worked for me but it was SO frustrating to nurse with the nipple shield and you can't just do it anywhere and it's hard to get them to keep latched on. You have to make sure it's always clean and that you have it with you and if you don't baby won't nurse, blah blah blah. SUPER big hassle. I would reccomend stimulating your nipple right before you feed. That way your baby would just get used to nursing the way YOUR nipple is, and not the nipple shield. Because let me tell you it is a PAIN to try to wean them from it. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions about the nipple shield or shells. I'm an old pro!

[dharmama]

Originally Posted by mayamama

Hi. I just wanted to tell you that I had the experience because I REALLY have flat nipples. Happily nursing at 3 months, but I just weaned from the nipple shield at 2 months. In the hospital they had me use that so she'd have something to latch onto, but I would reccomend NOT using a nipple shield. That's different from the SHELLS that you use before and between nursing to bring out the nipple. They never worked for me but it was SO frustrating to nurse with the nipple shield and you can't just do it anywhere and it's hard to get them to keep latched on. You have to make sure it's always clean and that you have it with you and if you don't baby won't nurse, blah blah blah. SUPER big hassle. I would reccomend stimulating your nipple right before you feed. That way your baby would just get used to nursing the way YOUR nipple is, and not the nipple shield. Because let me tell you it is a PAIN to try to wean them from it. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions about the nipple shield or shells. I'm an old pro!

Sorry you had such a difficult experience. Glad you are doing so well now.

But just wanted to say that I could not have nursed w/out the shields. I used them for 11 weeks. Yes they were a PITA and I lost them and haf to wash them but I am SO glad they were an option.

[Love my 2]

Originally Posted by 2crazykids

FWIW: Your nips will crack and bleed the first few weeks anyway, flat or not. That's just how it goes.

I have to disagree with this. If you can get help latching the baby on well from the start, this shouldn't be the norm.
If you have pliable areola, you may be able to Ridge" the area to fit your baby's mouth. Definitely see an LC to help you out. They can help show you how to draw out the nipple prior to nursing. The breast shells you were decribing can help some women. A nipple shield may help also. You may not need either of these, only time will tell.
I wish you the best.

[newbad]

After the baby is born, you can also pump for a minute or two to pull your nipple out before latching infant. It's best to try this first (before the nipple SHIELD) because the infant can learn how to breastfeed with inverted/flat nipples but they need to be familar with the feel of the breast tissue, not the plastic object.

[juju's mom]

Thank you all so much for your advise! I really hated myself for giving up so easily with my daughter but I really want to nurse the twins when they get here so I will be reading these boards a lot! I may need a lot of help!

Thank you all again.

Jenn

[Ammaarah]

Originally Posted by Love my 2

I have to disagree with this. If you can get help latching the baby on well from the start, this shouldn't be the norm.

I agree. I think some tenderness and pain is normal but I don't think cracking and bleeding is inevitable for all. Using expressed milk on my nipples and aereolas really helped prevent these issues, I think.

[dharmama]

Originally Posted by juju's mom

Thank you all so much for your advise! I really hated myself for giving up so easily with my daughter but I really want to nurse the twins when they get here so I will be reading these boards a lot! I may need a lot of help!

Thank you all again.

Jenn

Jenn ~ Be gentle with yourself. You did the best you could with the information/support that you had at the time.

BIG congrats on your twins!! I would definitely research LC's in your area and go to LLL meetings if you can so you have a support network already in place when your babies arrive!! Also talk to your care provider about your challenges with bf-ing your first and let him/her know that it is very important to you to BF your twins and that you will need support. You *can* do this mama!!!

[sparkprincess]

Originally Posted by dharmama

Sorry you had such a difficult experience. Glad you are doing so well now.

But just wanted to say that I could not have nursed w/out the shields. I used them for 11 weeks. Yes they were a PITA and I lost them and haf to wash them but I am SO glad they were an option.

This was true for me, also.

I would recommend:

1. Trying the nipple shells to help draw the nipples out.
2. Pumping before nursing to help draw the nipples out.
3. Resorting to shields if necessary.

I did wear the nipple shells prior to giving birth and after, but it didn't help.
Pumping beforehand did seem to help IF I could get my reluctant nurser to latch on right away!
The nipple shield ended up being a godsend for us. Yes, it has many downfalls. Keeping it clean, fumbling around for it at night, weaning from it...but it enabled us to breastfeed successfully! Ds is 27 months and we are still nursing!

Good luck and good for you for trying to figure all this out and get the support you need!

[gilamama]

I *had* one flat nipple (never diagnosed - that is just the shape and in the beginning of nursing dd1 i would roll the nipple between my fingers to stretch it out b4 latching her on. that helped alot. now after 3 plus years of nursing my nipple is no onger flat in fact when i was preg and nursing a 2 yr old i wore padded nursing bras to keep my nipples from sticking through my clothes. you can do it mama!

[_betsy_]

I had flat nipples too, and have always had very dry, sensitive skin.

When I had double cracked, bleeding nipples at 2 weeks and was in so much pain I resorted to a bottle of formula, I bought the nipple shield. It's a pain, but it helped me keep going. I used it for a little over a week, and have weened her off it now at 5 weeks. I wouldn't have been able to keep going had it not been for the shield. I don't think they should be used without serious consideration/need, but I certainly don't think they are evil.

I haven't used breast shells and DD has managed to draw out my nipples quite effectively on her own.

Don't beat yourself up over not sticking with it the first time around. I think it's wonderful you are so committed to nursing this time, and with twins! How wonderful!