Advice from experienced breast feeders and or lactation consultants please.

[mummyhill]

Right have found out I am expecting No 3.

FF dd as I was told I would not be able to breast feed as I have inverted nipples (like a prat I believed them).

With DS I couldn't get a latch and expressed for 4 months and mix fed as I couldn't keep up iyswim.

What can I do to ensure that this time round when baby arrives in November I can get the hang of breast feeding? I would really like to do it this time so any guidance is welcome.

Nipples tend to change over subsequent pregnancies, mummyhill (no reference for that, but widely observed). The research - what there is of it - indicates that nothing you can do in pregnancy by way of exercises and devices makes any difference (check out the MAIN trial which was one that looked at this several years ago) and you have just as much of a chance to bf if you do nothing as if you do something, if you know what I mean.

I'd suggest looking into biological nurturing positions and self-attachment as well as the more 'technique' based positioning and attaching stuff. Get help from a knowledgable source as soon as the baby arrives.

Good luck!

Hi mummyhill

Congratulations! I can't advise you on the nipple issue I am afraid, but you have come to the right place for advise. I'm sure some more knowlegable people will be along soon.

What I would recommend in preparation is finding your nearest baby cafe or breastfeeding group (ask your MW), as when no.3 comes the best help you will get will be face to face from a breastfeeding counsellor.

Good luck and well done for thinking so far in advance.

Mummyhill,

Congrats!

How about posting on here with a question like 'Anyone managed to bfeed with inverted nipples?'...might get some people in who aren't usually advising but will have specific knowledge and support.

For instance I know of someone who used nipple shields and someone else who used a pump to 'pull out' her nipples pre feed, but no first hand experience.

HTH and good luck.

Thanks.

May post that question a bit further into the pregnancy.

Tiktok thanks for that advice, I will have a chat with the midwife and ask about bio nurturing and self attachment.

Oops, using friends pc and posted under wrong name!