[dharmama]

My beautiful little girl was born Sat. night. Labor and birth were absolutely amazing...I feel very lucky to have had such a blissful birth. Nursing on the other hand...

It's been rough.

I have had inverted nipples my whole life. I was even told as a teenager by my GYN that I would NEVER be able to breastfeed.

During my pregnancy one nipple (right) started to come out. The left is still deeply inverted.

After birth we tried to get a latch on the right side, figuring that was our best bet. We struggled and struggled. I would stimulate my nipple and get it out and then try to latch her on quickly but Lily wasn't sure what I was asking her to do and by the time she'd try to latch on the nipple would relax, invert, and there would be nothing for her to latch on to.

By Sunday afternoon the LC suggested that I could pump and hand feed or try using a nipple shield. I chose a nipple shield. We had to use formula as a tease on the shield to get Lily to take any interest and then finally she latched on. I sobbed and sobbed

joyful crazy post-partum tears. It felt so good to feel her suck - even though it was through the plastic shield.

THe LC said we would get some breastfeeding established and then try to wean her off the formula tease and eventually, hopefully, if the nipples came out more, off the nipple shields.

By Sunday night I was able to latch her on to the right side w/out the nipple shield and both sides w/out the formula tease.

I was thrilled.

So now it's Tuesday. We are home from the hospital and I'm just looking for some support/advice...whatever anyone is able/willing to give. For the most part I am nursing the right side w/out the shield and the left side with the shield. A few times she's gotten frustrated on the right side because the nipple still sometimes inverts and I've used the shield on that side too.

I read in the Womanly Art that nippple shields should never be used and that they are an invitation for problems later down the road. And that they can decrease supply.

I want to do what is best for my baby's immediate needs as well as our long term nursing relationship.

Does anyone have any information/experience with inverted nipples and/or nipple shields that they are willing to share.

Please be gentle...I'm 3 days post-partum and "getting started and overcoming difficulties" has been VERY emotional thus far.

Thanks mamas!

~Erin

 

[monkaha]

First off, congrats!!

With the nipple shield, I know where you're coming from: I had to use one with DD. You're already doing better than I was-it took weeks for her to nurse without the shield. I never had any problems with supply, though I was very paranoid that I would because of the shields. I always pumped when I felt engorged, this helped letdown and built up my supply. After a week or so, I would nurse her for a few minutes with the shield then take it off and try her without it. When she got frustrated, I'd put it back on and try again another time. Eventually, the nursing pulled out my nipples enough that she could grab on without the shield, and she nursed till she was over 2. I think she was about 3 months old when we put the shield away for good.With DS, I used the shells a few times(do you have those? You wear them in your bra between feedings to help make the nips stick out more. They are MESSY cuz they make you leak, but that might help avoid supply probs too.) but I didn't need the shield.

Good luck, you can do it!

 

[dharmama]

Oh Monica thank-you!!!

I am

again (little bit of a trend here) because I am so happy to hear that you had a wonderful long-term nursing relationship begin with nipple shields.

Yes...I'm wearing the shells...and yes they ARE messy.

But (for now at least) I kind of like it because I can see that my breasts are "working".

Off to nap w/ my Lily-pie. Thank-you again for your response...it was just what I needed today.

 

[linnea]

nak

there's a lot of information out there based on the older style of nipple shield, thicker rubber devices which did cause supply issues. today's thin silicone shields do not interfere with supply and can be an excellent tool to help get a difficult breastfeeding relationship started!

i had to use one with my dd for the first 3 months or so, due to latch issues in the beginning and having to pump and bottlefeed for several days. it took longer than the lc thought it would to wean off the shield, but when she was ready she just didn't want or need it anymore. she latches on like a champ now and we have a beautiful bf relationship!

i know how emotional it is to have to rely on this tool especially in the early days. be strong and don't give up! before you know it you won't need it anymore. you are absolutely doing the best thing for your daughter and i support and commend you!

eta: keep in touch with your lc and try going to an lll meeting when you feel up to it. without those great sources of support, i wouldn't have been so confident that it would work.

welcome, lilia hope!

 

[babynell]

I don't have inverted nipples, but dd and I also had to use nipple shields at the beginning of our nursing relationship.

They did cause a problem with supply for me, and I did have a VERY hard time weaning her off of them, but we managed and by the time she was 5 months old we were off them completely. She went on to nurse until just about her 2nd birthday.

Hang in there mama!

 

[margaritamama]

Good for you! Don't worry about the nipple shield so much. Just think that if it wasn't for that she wouldn't have latched on! When it is possible you can wean her from it.

I also had to use a nipple shield to get my ds to latch on initially--I have flat nipples. I guess I was lucky because once he learned to latch without the shield, he never wanted to go back to it! But my situation is different my nipples aren't inverted.

I did have low milk supply but I don't think it was related to the shield because I stopped using it after two weeks and my milk didn't come in for 4-5 months.

Best wishes!

 

[dharmama]

Thanks so much mamas for your good wishes and for sharing your experiences.

Each day is getting a little easier...we're finding a rhythm that works for us.

I talked to my LLL leader today and she was very supportive and reassuring.

Hungry baby...must go...

 

[marisa724]

Erin, congratulations to you and your family!

We also used a shield for about 2-3 months in the beginning, we had many issues that made BFing difficult including a poor latch right at the beginning, which led to mastitis (raw nips getting infected), then thrush, etc. Long story short....

We successfully weaned off the shield at around 3 months and he has been doing great ever since! He's over 20 pounds at 5 months. I agree that the literature is mainly about the older style of shield; the new ones are much better as far as maintaining contact, supply, etc.

If you are concerned at all about supply, try some proven boosters like eating oatmeal (I have it at least once a day still) or taking fenugreek (I like the Mother's Milk tea or tincture). There are benefits from direct skin-to-skin contact (your baby's saliva stimulating your breast directly prompts changes in your breastmilk -- miraculous!). But it sounds like you're still getting some of that, and when you're ready to leave the shield behind, you'll likely find your nipples have changed shape as well. Mine definitely did.

Good luck to you!

 

[dharmama]

Thanks Marissa. I'm psyched to hear that about oatmeal because I

it!!

Last night I somehow lost the nipple shield during the night (note to self...get a spare). I had it at the 1 a.m. feeding and then at 4 a.m.....could not find it ANYWHERE. I nursed the right side only twice and then in the morning I went to change Lily's diaper and there it was sitting on the floor next to the changing table. NO idea how it got there because we nurse in our room and the changing area is in the other bedroom. I'm guessing it was stuck to my skin and then when I went to change her before the 4 a.m. feeding it fell off.

I tried nursing the left w/out it just for the heck of it but there is still not quite enough for her to latch onto...though as many of you have said...my nipples are changing. The right is OUT and staying out.

The left is maybe starting to think about coming out.

 

[marisa724]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dharmama Last night I somehow lost the nipple shield during the night (note to self...get a spare). I had it at the 1 a.m. feeding and then at 4 a.m.....could not find it ANYWHERE.

LOL... I had about FIVE when I was finally finished. I'd leave them everywhere I thought I might nurse. I hated losing them -- but they're just like giant contact lenses, aren't they?

 

[dharmama]

Quote:

but they're just like giant contact lenses, aren't they?

:LOL Yup DH and I were laughing this morning while we were looking for it because he said...ok so we're looking for an invisible plastic nipple that could be anywhere in our room...no problem!!

 

[dharmama]

For the last two weeks Lil has been batting at the shield and (from my interpretation at least) wanting to nurse without it.

So I would try starting her on the shield and then pulling it off. Worked great and she kept nursing.

Then I started trying to latch her on without the shield at all. She would be fine -- unless I was engorged or she was very sleepy.

All of the sudden I realized that we were nursing less and less with the shield.

And since Saturday we have only used it maybe twice (for sleepy night-time feedings). The rest of the time she is latching on BEAUTIFULLY and pulling that nipple right out!!

Thanks for all of your support!!!

~Erin

 

[USAmma]

Congrats!!!!

I too have inverted nipples (severe) and unfortunately I was never able to bf my dd. My one big regret was not getting to try shields because if I had maybe it would have worked out. Using shields is better than not nursing. I just didn't have the support/education at that time. Sounds like you do, and that's wonderful!

The first LC I saw 2 days after the birth was anti-shields and she basically held my baby's head onto my breast screaming, in an effort to break her will. I said it's not worth it, I'd rather pump than put my baby through that. The second LC I saw was a couple months later and we did try the shield but dd was too set in her ways with bottles.

Besides the shields, I wish I had tried to just relax, shut myself away, and nurse. No pressure, because baby can feel the tension. Believe me, I know about holding your breath and seeing if she'll latch or not.

You want to get baby to try to nurse when she's not starving hungry, but maybe about 1.5 hours after the last feed so she's not frantic and wanting instant gratification. Because she won't be in learning mode at that time.

Rebirthing was a great trick. I wish I'd tried it when Abi was a newborn. The second LC said to run a warm bath, float baby in the water (supported of couse!), and then lift her out of the water and immediately to my breast. It gets that baby's nursing instincts stronger. It was the one time that Abi tried to nurse of her own free will, at 4 mos. old. She only sucked once but it was nice. I think your baby will enjoy nursing in the bathtub skin to skin with you.

I think things are going to be just fine! You sound like you are doing a great job and have some good local support!! I"m so thrilled to read that a person with inverted nipples is actually nursing her baby!!

Darshani

 

[linnea]

Erin, that's great news. Congratulations on making it through a very tough time! I'm so glad you and your babe are nursing well together. Isn't it the most wonderful thing? Soon you'll be amazed that you ever had to deal with those infuriating little shields... always making sure you have one clean, losing them in the bed... that will all be behind you soon!

 

[dharmama]

Thanks!

Last night I put the shield on at 4 a.m. (or whenever it was that we were nursing) and she cried. I took it off and she latched right on!!!

Darshani ~

Quote:

she basically held my baby's head onto my breast screaming, in an effort to break her will.

That must have been torture for you.

That's so unfortunate that the LC was so anti-shield. I have to say I was REALLY scared about it. I thought I was going to have suppply issues...need it forever etc. but I called my LLL leader and she really encouraged me to use the shield. And now, of course, I'm so glad I did.

Interesting that you mentioned about the bath. We take baths/showers together all the time and always nurse during and after.

How's Nitara doing? I read your post a few weeks ago that she was able to take some of your milk.

ETA: I just looked at your pictures. Oh Darshani! Your family is so beautiful!!!

Thanks Linnea!! (and thanks for your earlier post too)

A couple of things in case others w/ inverted nipples read this...

My nipples are still inverted "at rest" - Lil has learned to pull them out while nursing but as soon as we are done they fold back up and disappear.

One thing that helped me a lot was carrying the shield right in my bra (now that I actually have cleavage, I can tuck it right in). At first I had three different shields - upstairs, downstairs and diaper bag - and I was forever losing them. VERY frustrating when you have a hungry baby. I also found it awkward in public to take the shield out and put it on. One day when I was going somewhere I attached the shield to my nipple and put my bra on. That didn't work as it stimulated let down and I leaked all over the place.

Eventually I started tucking it between my breasts and that has been the best thing. I could grab it and slip it on w/out anyone knowing what I was doing.

Thanks again to all my supportive MDC friends.

 

[Greensleeves]

That is really wonderful for you, congratulations!

 

[USAmma]

I'm SO very happy for you! Your victory is in a way, my victory. And I'm happy that you will have a great bfing relationship with your baby. Hope it lasts a long, long time!

Have you found that your adhesions are getting any looser (are your nipples not as flat anymore?) I heard that in most women they loosen up with nursing. Hope that's the case because maybe any future babies won't be as much trouble for you to get started with. (In my case my adhesions are super tight and didn't correct with pumping. Oh well.

)

Oh man, I'm so proud that you tried so hard, and that you had such an awesome circle of support. I can't tell you how much.

You should send your story to the LLL magazine.

Nitara-- well she's doing good in some ways and worse in others. Little munchkin's learned how to spit out food/milk so she's no longer eating by mouth at all. Getting a g-button in her tummy a week from Friday so we can get that horried tape of her face. But otherwise she's happy and carefree and a very easy and delightful little girl. What more could I ask for?

Darshani