Breast feeding aids

[Purringporcupine]

Hi, I’m not sure if there’s a breast feeding board or not? I couldn’t find one though so hoping someone has some advice on here!
I’m currently pregnant with baby number 2.
DS came 6 weeks early, and as such we struggled to establish breast feeding. The consultants said it might be because he was born before his suckle reflex developed. However i really feel it was largely to do with the size of my nipples - they’re very small (sorry if too much information), and I think he struggled to latch onto them.
There was no supply issue as I expressed for 8 weeks, and then because he still wasn’t feeding from me I gave up.
I’d really like to give breast feeding another try with baby number 2, does anyone know of any aids or anything I can do in advance to make it easier for baby to latch onto small nipples? Or if even having small nipples is a reason babies might struggle to latch?

I have exactly this problem and really struggled with DD1, who was born full term but just couldn't latch on properly. Lots of recommendations to use nipple shields, which I just can't get along with but definitely worth a go. DD1 was combi fed for a while until I could figure out how to breast feed her, her mouth got bigger and she got stronger.

I've now got DD2 4 weeks old, who I EBF. I use my thumb and forefinger about an inch or so from my nipple and sort of flatten my breast for her to get her gums around. She then latches and starts sucking and I can let go. So if she's feeding in the left side, I hold her with my left arm around her body and use my right hand to shape to do the squeezing. I found with DD1 that the older she got the less I had to do this until eventually I didn't have to at all.

Good luck! When are you due?

This baby may not have the same problems latching on as your last baby, however I’ve just found these which may be worth a look at

shop.medela.co.uk/products/breast-care/nipple-formers/

The best thing I found was niople shields they come in different sizes and really helped my LB latch on as we struggled for first 2 weeks until midwife told me to go get some it was then a lot easier so definitely recommend these x

Hi mine are small too,my baby is 12wks & breastfeeding is going well but it did take me 6wks to get the hang of it & into it.i dont use anything but will say a maternity pillow has helped me.
Speak to your midwife & when you have your baby there is so much help out there.

I didn't know I had small nipples until I needed to pump for my second baby and had to but the smallest diameter funnel bit for my pump so I could produce enough milk.
Could you speak to a icblc lactation consultant or a leader from your nearest Le Leche group, they would have the best specialist knowledge if what the issue could be.

Also best advice I got was that breast feeding is hard, you've got to persevere. Up until then no one had told me it would be difficult!

For me was always useful the breastfeeding pillow. I have large breasts and not so firm, plus baby's were small, found it difficult to breastfeed with a normal pillow to support them nicely while feeding.

As others said, breastfeeding shields were a lifesaver for me. It helped a lot with latching and took away the initial pain.

I also used Lasinoh nipple cream, as I got so sore each time.

I had a breast pump which I used to help when my milk came on and didn't want to get engorged. I mastered afterwards to hand express.

I've been looking into breastfeeding, and come across this never used it before but it might be worth a look

Lansinoh Latch Assist Nipple Everter with Case for Breastfeeding mums https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00C93WS4C/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_bgihEbJW4SZYW

I had the same problem (DS was 6 weeks early too) and I used a nipple shield in the beginning.

Small nipples how? As in the whole thing is small in diameter? Or small as in the actual teat of the nipple is quite flat/not pronounced.
I had very flat nipples and my first baby struggled to latch, although part of that was due to having a high palate unfortunately. But I do wonder (with the benefit of hindsight) if the shape of my nipples perhaps didn't help. One of them was almost inverted. You can get a little sucker type thing that can help to pull the nipple out. And after 2+ years of feeding DC1 my nipples are now very prominent and I had no issues whatsoever feeding DC2.

Was your DS checked for tongue tie and high palate? Did you see a proper lactation consultant for advice? It's often said that any size or shape breast/nipple can breastfeed, but that doesn't mean that it won't be a lot harder for some. But a good lactation consultant will give you the best shot. Not sure where you live, but I saw a lady in Leicester who was great. Also the John Ratcliffe has a very experienced feeding specialist midwife.

Sorry to jump on the thread... I’m in Leicester @Marahute don’t suppose you could tell me which lactation consultant you used ? Due on Friday and would like to have something in place just incase. Thanks x

Thank you so much everyone, some food for thought here :)
@marahute They’re quite small in diameter, but also quite flat. I saw a breast feeding consultant in hospital but it didn’t help that he was in the neonatal unit for 3 weeks, had to be NG tube fed for a while and was jaundice - so probably a bit too tired to give it a good go!
I’m determined to give it another go this time. I just got so tired last time of putting DS on the breast, then giving him expressed breast milk and then expressing - the whole feeding process was taking hours!

Did you have baby 1 properly assessed for tongue tie? Make sure you do that as a priority if next baby struggles to latch. Not just by a midwife but by a specialist feeding midwife or consultant.

Nipple shields are great. There's loads of crap spouted about how babies can feed from any shaped nipple but in my experience there can be certain anatomical challenges!

Remember they're all different so what happened with your first may be totally different this time round

@Igowl I saw Suzanne Barber, and she was a great help. Although coincidentally I have a friend who also saw her and she didn't have a great experience, but she's got quite a brisk manner so I can see how maybe she could potentially rub someone up the wrong way. She definitely knows her stuff though. I was actually a bit gutted when DS had no TT to cut, so no quick fix!

@Purringporcupine - expressing is HARD. I take my hat off to any mum who does it. Had to do this in the early days with DS and it was truly ridiculous.
Good luck this time, I hope it all goes how you would like!