flat nipples... baby on the way

[nandodianenicole]

Hey everyone. I would love some advice on this. You ladies are always so helpful.
I had a tough time nursing my dd 4 yrs ago. I have flat nipples, that and her lethargy the Hep vax (but that's another story!) left us with a not good situation for BF those first cruicial days. My midwife was over 2 nights in a row, she couldn't get her to latch either, saw lactation consultant (pt person at the hospital)and low and behold she got on no prob, but that was a one time thing. It was quite frustrating and being 1st time mom, I gave up and pumped exclusively for 7 months.

Well, I have a baby on the way and would really like to bf this time. I want to think the nipple isn't so flat anymore from the months of pumping... but they flatten out at night etc. Can I do anything now to help them stay out? Should I wear a sheild now? Who can I line up to help me those initial days to make sure we are on the right track? I really really really want to have everything in place so it is as seemless as can be this time.

Any advice would be appreciated!! Thanks.

[marisa724]

Diane, you might want to wear breast shells now -- these are the plastic domes with the hole cut out for your nipple -- just use them sparingly because the pressure on your nipple/breast may encourage labor to start.

You will need a nipple shield, the clear silicone thingy that fits just over the nipple and areola, in order to give your baby something to latch on to. I used one with my son for about 6 weeks, at which point my formerly flat nipples were permanently drawn out into the shape of the shield and he could latch on without it.

[rachelagain]

One of my friends would just pump for a minute before breast feeding-- to pull the nipple out.

[stacyann21]

I have flat nipples too. I usually pump a little and feed it to DS. He always wants to nurse afterward. I think it draws out my nipple and gives him a little taste of what he's missing

[CorasMama]

Ditto the silicone shields and the pumping.

Dd was also lethargic, and had seemingly very little motivation to nurse. I had inverted/flat nipples, too. We had to pump, attempt to nurse, pump, feed w/ bottle @ each feeding for about two months, at which ppoint it finally just clicked.

I had to use the silicone nipple shields for about 10 weeks. Somewhat a PITA, but worth it.

Positioning is also even more important with flat nipples. I have larger breasts, and if I lifted them up too much, or not enough, the nips would go back into hiding! Try a bunch of different support (pillow) configurations, positions.

Our bfing story is a HUGE success story. We had, due to multiple problems, not just flat/inverted nipples, an incredibly hard time for the first couple months. But we stuck it out, and ended up nursing 2 and a half years!

If you want, put me on your list of people to contact for help. I am awake a lot at night, so I'm good for that 3am-freaking-out-baby-won't-nurse (or whatever) problem. And if you're in the Seattle area, I can help you in person.

[nandodianenicole]

Thanks. I think I will try the domes/sheild to draw them out before hand. I guess the pumping can work if I'm at home and having some trouble. I just want to be one of those moms who can just put the baby on anytime anywhere without a problem. I guess we will make that our goal.

Corasmom: Thanks so much for your offer. Unfortunately I am on the opposite coast, maybe it can still work out, 3am for you is 6am for me. I will keep you on my list!

[nandodianenicole]

Diane, you might want to wear breast shells now -- these are the plastic domes with the hole cut out for your nipple

Where would I get these?

[sedalbj]

I have one inverted and one 'outie'. I remember it took a few months for the nipple to allow itself to draw out (I think they said it is caused by natural lesions inside the nipple, and it hurt a lot), but after they were 'broken', it would come out w/ no problem. I don't expect any trouble w/ nursing this time, my nipple is still inverted looking most of the time, but I can use my fingers and just pop it out now, I couldn't do that pre-nursing. Since you pumped for several months before, you may be perfectly fine. Engorgement will make it harder to pop it out w/ your fingers so you may have to pump or express a little to relieve that, but I'd say you'll be fine. Those shields were a pain for us, and it made it harder for DD to compress and get milk (we had oral rejection too, fun fun), and I remember the day I threw them away out of disgust. I also tried the shells and they must made me leak constantly.

Oh, and we used the football hold for months, it was easier for me to position the latch w/ the inverted nipple. I would also lean over a little and let gravity assist in getting the nipple in her mouth, then lean back. Good luck w/ whatever you decide to do!

[_betsy_]

I found the breast shells at my local Babies R Us.

I have flat nipples. baby drew them out on her own just fine. It was a painful first few weeks, but she did it and never complained - it was really not much of an issue at all for baby.

[littlemizflava]

i am flat too i had no problems with dd went 17 1/2 months bf'ing but with my ds he is 7 weeks to get him to latch i hold the breast behind the nipple to make it stick up for him to feel it so he latchs on and one other thing to try is different positions my ds likes to sit up straight from day one good luck

[PapayaVagina]

Definitely try nursing your baby without any shield first and then just see how it goes. I have really deeply inverted nipples but was blessed with a baby who doesn't care. She latched on right away when I was in recovery after my emergency c-sec and after that would latch if I would use just a little bit of ice on them. I did end up using a shield for a little while because it took almost a week for my milk to come in and I ended up with blood blisters on my nipples and they were killing me!! I didn't care though that she was on it as long as she was getting some food. I left her on it for longer than what she needed though. I kept thinking that she was crying because she wanted the shield when instead it was because I have major overactive letdown. She's 7 weeks old now and we've been totally off the shield for a week - yay!