Flat nipples

[HitTheRoadJack]

I had my ds 19 months ago. Had a home ambulance birth and he wasn't put to my breast immediately as it was cold they wanted to get him checked out due to his temperature.

I had to kick and fight and scream to get him put to my breast once in hospital. The SCBU unit was so warm I struggled to feed and was given nipple shields to "pull out the nipple". I fed "ok" for about 16 weeks but my lo became rather fussy and I had zero support (the breast feeding support group was closed for Easter) and my HV just kept saying it was "colic" which it clearly wasn't.

Have researched since and found that you can indeed feed with flat nipples and the more you do it the more they "come out". Am due DC2 in 4 weeks and I am determined to breast feed from my BREAST and not through a nipple shield (unless of course I might be bleeding/sore etc).

I found expressing rather useless as I couldn't get enough out, but ds would feed every 2 hours and seem to be satisfied. I tried to express whenever I wasn't feeding-tbh I think I was given so much mixed information that I confused myself.

I don't particularly want to express as I don't want this baby having a teat. Any advice to make the process last as long as it should?

My nips are not just flat, they're completely inverted! Ds is 6 weeks and I've been using shields like you. I start off the feed with the shield in place and that sometimes draws my nipple out enough to get ds to latch on without it. Unfortunately I cant keep him on and usually end up with the shield back on. So far we've managed ten mins at most without the shield and thats only on one side, the other side is even more inverted and I cant get him on at all. You can also get something called a latch assist to suck your nipple out just before a feed, its made by lansinoh. Ive not had much luck with it but you might if your nips arent as bad as mine! I had planned to gradually increase the amount of time ds was latched on to my actual nipple until I could stop using the shield altogether and I think thats all you can do. Unfortunately I am still heavily reliant on the shields, its hard enough without having to worry about trying to lose the shield every feed and ds gets distressed trying to latch on without it so I keep giving up. Id rather just get a feed in him, especially in the middle of the night! Im worried about my supply though, so a bit encouraged that u managed 16 weeks with the shield. Not sure if any of this has helped. Will watch this thread with interest and see if anyone else has any advice.

Yes I had the same with my son- the panic when you've left the house and realised you don't have the shields, making feeding impossible.

I have scouted so many websites and it is possible, but when you're knackered and baby is starving you just don't need to pressure.

I'm hoping someone with more insight that me will come along and help me out.

I'm desperate to NOT use shields or well any sort of aid, women in third world countries manage it. Congrats on your new arrival btw!

I had the same problem, I didn't use nipple shields (other than on one side when I had a painful fissure), and I found that over time, my nipples did change shape. I'm still BFing DS at 14 months.

Good luck Jack.

Did you have to erm twiddle them? (I'm trying so hard to not sound like a pervert) The HV suggested some ice but tbh it's a lot of faffing.

I had lots of problems feeding DS1-combo of flat nipples/low supply/jaundiced & sleepy early baby. We struggled on for about 8 weeks using nipple shields but ended up switching to formula.

DS2 is 2 weeks old & is feeding like a trooper without shields . I think is due to him being bigger than DS1 & stronger-he has a Hoover suck which pulls the nipple out. I also used the latch assist and wore medala breast shells continuously for the 1st week which has helped to change the shape of my nipples-less flat, more pointy! Have unused nipple shields in cupboard just in case but haven't had to use them at all.

So there is hope that 2nd time round will be easier for you too. I'm also less stressed about it all which I'm sure helps.

Good luck!

Yes I think the lack of stress will factor into it.

Can you link to the breast shells?

Ds1 was born 7lbs 8 so not tiny but very very greedy.

Do you express? (to help to pull out the nipple rather than to use a bottle).

Nope, there was no twiddling , ice, or expressing involved.

I'd read that they'd change shape once I started BFing, so I just sortof believed that. I did find BFing difficult to establish (and very painful at the beginning) but I don't know whether my nipples affected that or not.

One of the MWs on the postnatal ward commented that I didn't have the best equipment for BFing , so if anyone says anything stupid like that to you, ignore them!

What you have to remeber is that you are Breastfeeding NOT nipple feeding, although flat or inverted nipple's can make it harder to get a good latch to start with it should be no barrier to BF, Baby's latch onto the breast and compress the breast tissue forcing the nipple into the back of the mouth on the soft palet (which is also why breastfeeding shouldn't hurt).

There is some good info hear www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/bfhelp-mother.html

On phone & can't work out how to add link sorry! But have checked mothercare website & you can buy breast shells there. Called medela breast shells & are £7.99-not the ones for heavy leakage, but the ones with little holes in the top.

Hope you can find them-let me know if not & I'll get on computer to post proper link.

I haven't expressed yet-nipples have changed shape the more DS2 feeds so I now don't need the latch assist/shells. He latches on pretty easily now & it gets slightly easier every day

I have flat nipples and bf DD for a year without shields etc. They did 'come out' a bit whilst I was feeding, but they haven't stayed out, they're flat as a pancake again now! I did twiddle them at first to help DD latch, but didn't need to after the first few weeks once she got the hang of things. Latch must have been okay as I never had any pain/cracks/bleeding.

I struggled to establish feeding as DD was born by crash section under GA 3 weeks early and was very sleepy for the first week. After that I didn't have any problems, despite flat nipples. I was worried about it before DD was born and thought about buying one of those things that pulls the nipple out (Niplette??) but I'm glad I never got round to it - the flatness made no difference.