Flat nipples...please help

[MummySSB]

Hi all - I had my baby boy delivered by emcs on sunday - he's 4 days old now and a real star. Unfortunately i have flat nipples so its been tricky getting him latched on...I have struggled to get anything out by massage etc until day 2/3, when a mw suggested using a 10ml syringe. But obv have been needing to give my baby proper feeds using formula in a little cup...
My milk Is coming in but he's not latching on ... I'm just getting really down about it and need some help and advice plz...feel a bit like I'm letting him down cos my nipples won't stay out so he cant suckle...

Congratulations :)

Does your hospital run breastfeeding workshops? I found them really useful (although I just had latching problems which weren't to do with flat nipples). La Leche League also give advice over the phone and will also come and help.

I think there is something you can buy which draws your nipples out but don't know much about it. You might want to try reposting this in the breastfeeding topic - there is a marvellous poster on there called Tiktok who is very helpful with bfing issues who can probably give you much better advice but I didn't want to leave your post unanswered because I know how hard it is to be struggling to establish bfing.

Good luck

I have 1 normal and 1 inverted nipple. I managed to exclusively bf for 9 months but it wasn't easy. Couldn't get baby to latch on so expressed for 6 weeks and gave bottles. The expressing does draw the nipple out so if you are quick you can get a latch. Best to post this in the bf section- lots of good advise there- have a read about breast crawling- that may work well for you.

expressing/ nipple shields really helped me with latch, my nips have actually drawn out a bit now (16 weeks) so it can be ok.

Forgot to say at 6 weeks baby sussed the latch and managed fine on the inverted one.

Hi,
I have three babes all born by CS. It does take longer for your milk to come in... In my experience.
I have flat nipples too and can tell you by the time you've had three theyre not flat anymore!
Anyway, each baby is different, some fed better than others. You can try nipple shields and other contraptions but for me really 'pulling' the nipple before attempting to latch was the only way. Ds1 managed only a bit, but I expressed for six months so he exclusively had breast milk. Dd2 was better, but not a big eater full stop, but had to express a lot too. Dd3 was by far the best, but by the time you've expressed for two babies your nipples aren't flat anymore.
This is just my opinion, but the first thing I really think you need to do is to make sure you're baby isn't losing weight, or losing too much. Formula really isn't the end of the world at all and you can still breast feed.

In the early days a really cold shower for you so your nipples are as pointy as possible then feed straight away can help. After caving and giving formula as one of my babies was losing too much weight the way we got back to purely breast milk was by having long baths together and she would find her way to latch. And a really lovely bonding experience.
Good luck. It's not easy but whatever you choose to do your baby will be just fine. It's so much more important that you're happy and your babyS happy than formula / breast feeding / expressed Breast milk.
Enjoy your baby. Couldnt not respond as I feel for you - it'll get better!

Years ago I used a little contraption for this - from Boots I think - forgotten the name of it though - was really easy just a little plastic cup and a syringe to suck the air out of it and that was it after a few weeks. I'm not sure if you can use it while breast feeding though -just remembered the name: Niplette - I think.

Have you thought of asking your DP to help :o ?

I just googled Niplette - there's lots of information about it (but not about getting hubby to help!)

I had flat nipples and tried a nipplette when I was pregnant with DD1. It really didn't do much and was rather painful.

When DD was born the breast feeding was tricky to start with but I used nipple shields and these really helped.

After a few weeks she was able to feed easily without them.

I found expressing a little drew the nipple out enough to latch, also you can help by holding your breast in a pincer type grip to push the whole breast out which seemed to work ok too. If you really want to breast feed you could do a bit of mixed feeding for a while too I did a combination of bottle formula and ebm before finally getting GP it sorted by 3 weeks old. If you ff you can always express after to keep milk supply up. Bf is so emotive try to keep relaxed about it, be kind to yourself. I totally panicked first it e around and could not do it. Second time Round approached as above and this e entually worked. Dd2 bf for 9.5 months and would not take a bottle once bf established (not ideal but shows bottle feeding at the start skittle does not always equal never latching).

Good luck and enjoy your beautiful baby.

GP meant bf

i used nipple shields as they are just over a cm long so you can ram them down the babys throat lol, and they seem to stay on. After about 4 or 5 weeks once he had got the hang it all seemed easier

I also had this problem and used nipple shields. It was the middle of the night we were desperate with a screaming hungry baby who would latch on and we were feeding her by hand-expressing and cup-feeding her. DH went on to Amazon and ordered them for next day delivery. They are controversial as some say babies get nipple confusion and don't learn to latch on properly, but that wasn't my experience. As she got bigger and knew how to feed better, I let her try without the shields at each feed until she could manage without. I think it took about 3-4 months until we could get rid of them and I am still breastfeeding her at almost 7 months. I could never have managed breastfeeding without them.

Ahhh...ladies, thank u all sooo much!! I can't tell you how much your msgs have helped

I went along to a bf drop in yesterday aswell and had a bf lead mw visit at home today - have got some shields after reading your experiences and they seem to have done t trick! They r bloody brilliant! My little guy hasn't stopped - t bf'ing mw reckons he might be able to learn to latch without them soon but I'm not overly fussed as long as he is taking it somehow!

Feel do much better and do much more like a proper mum now!!
Thank U all again x

Excellent news! It's such a great feeling when it works!

Artificial milk is not 'proper' milk. It is just a good substitute.

Doing lots of skin to skin, may help. You could try taking the baby into the bath with you then letting him crawl up your abdomen to your chest. This will help his neonatal reflexes. Have a look at www.biologicalnurturing.com. For more details.