I want to breast feed but.......

[Mitsi]

I have inverted nipples. Does anyone have any info or advice on this?

Here are some good articles.

It makes a difference if your nipples are still inverted when erect. And some women's nipples stop being inverted in pregnancy. How pregnant are you?

Kellymom inverted nipples

Ha, Mars, we both linked to the same thing.

Also good article here

I have one, not a proper inverted one, it does come out a bit when cold etc. I fed my older two till they self weaned and am now 3 and a bit weeks into feeding twins. Use an avent nipplette to draw them out if you are not too pregnant. I only realised about this too late but have one and it works well. Other than that all i've found that works is using an avent nipple shield for feeding until they are drawn out - took six weeks with my singletons and has taken three with the twins. Use lansinoh or kamillosan for moist wound healing if you get any cracks and breast compression to speed the flow if you think the shields are impacting the flow rate negatively . If one gets really sore and you need to give it a break pump it for a while and feed from the other to maintain your supply rather than giving formula which might decrease your supply.

Thank you...
I'm 16 weeks & there doesn't seem to be any sign of them coming out. One of them occasionally pops out but not for long. They do seem a bit cracked already, not really sure why. Am seeing my midwife today, will ask her.
Oh, the joys....x

Good plan to think ahead. I do think inverted nipples can make breastfeeding a bit more tricky, but not impossible.

When you get to around 35 weeks, it's worth finding out about local breastfeeding support, and even go along to a few groups, to see what they're like. The people running them will be happy to talk to you about your concerns, and they will know more about breastfeeding than most midwives.

And then you'll know where to go, after the baby comes, if you're having a hard time, or even just to meet up with other mums.

mitsi - I think you should be able to use the avent nipplette then. As far as I remember you only have to stop using it at the third trimester.

I believe, based on my own experience, nipples that spend some or all of the time folded in on themselves have a pattern of fissures on them naturally when they come out. These don't hurt whereas cracks caused by breastfeeding do hurt and they often bleed. My own one normally has a phase of getting cracked and healing each time I've had a baby and then is fine. In fact, that side normally makes more milk and is preferred when drawn out because the natural fissures make the milk flow more quickly.

Be prepared and persevere.

I also think the definitions of flat and inverted and diagnosis of problems in those articles on inverted nipples are not all that great. I read similar things before I had my first and because my one can be drawn out I believed it would be fine for feeding. It wasn't and I really struggled with terrible pain and cracks for 6 weeks with my first. Take steps to sort them now. It took me till well into my third pregnancy to click that I should have been using the nipplette all along and by then it was too late and I have had to go through the hardening and drawing out phase again with all the pain. I would say any nipple that spends time inverted on itself could do with drawing out before starting breastfeeding because the baby's mouth is normally too small to be able to fit enough of the breast in when it is first born and once you have nipple damage it's pretty difficult to get through as you can't really rest the nipple very easily. I wish you luck but really, thinking about it so early will give you a good chance of getting away without the pain. The nipplette is good, expensive but good

Thank you ladies...

I will go & buy it immediately!

Lol Mx