'Flat' nipple, am I likely to face problems?

[cheapredwine]

Am currently 23 weeks, and a slightly (haha) anxious 40 year old first timer. Really want to breastfeed but one nipple is basically flat, even if it gets erm cold... Can anyone offer any advice? Anything I can do to tease it out? It's not inverted, just flush with the aereola. Does it even matter? Just can't see how a latch is going to be possible. Thank you!

[Questionsagaintoday]

Babies do t latch on to the nipple - think of the mouth of a tap - to make water flow you need to do stuff to the bit behind the mouth of he tap right? Babies need to get a good mouthful of breast including most of the areoles. Nose to nipple head back big mouthful of breast and the actual nipple is at the very back of their mouth and their suction clamped around the strokes chin tucked in

Anyway so your nipple in itself will hopefully not be sucked on!

I am sure hose with more experience might be over soon with help and if nipple shields would help. Maybe worthwhile contacting your local La Leche League And going to one of their meetings to discuss face to face free of cost and hear other mums experiences

[FetchezLaVache]

I was advised to use the breast pump on my flat nip for a minute just to pull it out, as it were, and that and nipple shields did the trick. The best thing about it is that the nipple has never gone back to being flat. I now look like a pair of chapel hatpegs on a cold day. :)

I would generally say, DON'T HESITATE to ask for help with breastfeeding if you're struggling at all. I had the midwives to the house every day for about ten days until I was happy with my latch, and they were more than happy to help! I suppose it depends a bit on your NHS trust, but in my area they were avid to get their BF statistics up, or so I'm told.

[cheapredwine]

Thank you so much, really grateful. It's so bloody obvious now I think about it, but I never thought of the baby sucking on more than the nipple before! Oh God, so much to learn! Will definitely be getting some support for this in RL...

[rewardformissingmojo]

I suspect nipple shields will be helpful initially, but as pp said, do no hesitate to ask for help. Be pushy if you need to.

[cheapredwine]

Will get nipple shields. And will definitely be pushy if needs be! Thanks so much

[lucycole]

i had exactly the same experience, both sides! It really was not a problem, but it was very painful at the start to feed (my midwife told me that was normal though not cause there was anything wrong). I had sit with my teeth gritted and my toes curling. Now (baby girl is 3 months) i can't even remeber doing anything but sticking her on and sitting with a smile. i agree with the posters here, it is somethign you definitely need to ask about, it looked so natural at B&B groups but it was really fiddly at first.
I am going back to work soon, have a great nursery booked and they said they will be happy to give her expressed milk. Did anyone else try this at all? I am so nervous about leaving her, I am thinking at least if i keep the feeding going that will be one thing.

[LadyMonicaBaddingham]

I had really flat nipples on both sides before I BF. Now my baby is a very tall 11 year old and I still have sticky out nipples...

[Ughnotagain]

Mine were flat. I found the rugby ball hold very helpful in helping the baby to latch on.

(She's now 9.5 months - not so flat any more!)

[Ughnotagain]

Oh - and see if you have any local support groups. You can often go while you're still pregnant to suss them out and get some advice.

[underrugsswept]

They won't be flat by the time you've finished breastfeeding . My formally flat nips have a lovely point to them nowadays.

[lucycole]

Hah! I will look out for the pointy then! It's been so cold in the bedroom of late I reckon I could hang hats off them some nights.