Flat nipples

[dollymoo]

Can anyone who has had flat nipples been able to breast feed successfully.

Also could you recommenced anything anyone has used to try and extract the nipples during pregnancy to reduce the flatness at all.

Hi @dollymoo I always had flat nipples prior to having my DS. Turned out two years of breastfeeding has totally sorted them out. I have always been able to make my nipples less flat if they are stimulated so breastfeeding was no issue (I would either give them a fiddle or my DS would nuzzle enough to make them erect) but I also found that having engorged breasts stopped them lying very flat anyway.

Are you able to make yours erect if needed? If so then I wouldn’t worry. If not then you could speak to your midwife for advice?

My friend has inverted nipples and was able to breastfeed. Unfortunately nobody told her until she'd had the baby and was struggling to feed that's she'd need nipple shields to help at first. Ask your midwife for advice

I've fed 2 babies with flat nipples. I use nipple shields, my nipples don't really come out, they stick a bit by the end of a feed but are flat again in a few seconds.

My right nipple use to be flat but within the first few weeks of breastfeeding it was permanently out . I never had any issues breastfeeding even when it was flat.

I breastfeed for 14 months and now , 5 months later , both my nipples are “outies” all the time 🤷‍♀️

I had flat nipples before having a baby. Nothing flat about them anymore!

That's reassuring, I have one dd and never knew I had flat nipples until attempting to breastfeed for the first time In hosp and was so unprepared for that. I had no help and did not know what to do so quickly turned to exclusive pumping which was not a great time for me.

Hoping I can try it 2nd time round now that I'm aware and can prepare as best I can, was looking at the nipple extractors to use in advance to try and help.

I have flat nipples and fed three babies so far. Doing the pinch and flick into a wide open mouth to get them to latch is vital. I also recommend using nipple shields at the start -full time or intermittently, as it helps with baby getting the volumes they need at the start and honestly I've never had any problems with cracked or bleeding nipples and I genuinely think it was because the shields allowed my nips to get used to everything without the serious tug. After two or three weeks my babies mouths were big enough and their latch was good enough that I didn't bother the shields anymore. But flat nipples are not a problem for feeding!

Sorry I meant to add, the shields are magic for helping to latch if you are engorged and your nipples are flat because your boobs are so full! 😂

If you are going to try and tease your nipples out in some way then make sure you speak to your midwife or doctor first about when it is safe to do it because it could cause preterm labour.

I have inverted nipples and managed to breastfeed, but it was really hard at the beginning. I found nipple shields great because they helped to sort of suck my nipples outwards, if that makes sense. I also found pumping helped because, again, it sucked my nipples out. After a while I didn't need the shields anymore. I think this was around the 4 month mark. My nipples are now permanently out, so when my next baby comes I don't anticipate the same problems.

@TitsOutForHarambe

If you are going to try and tease your nipples out in some way then make sure you speak to your midwife or doctor first about when it is safe to do it because it could cause preterm labour.

I have inverted nipples and managed to breastfeed, but it was really hard at the beginning. I found nipple shields great because they helped to sort of suck my nipples outwards, if that makes sense. I also found pumping helped because, again, it sucked my nipples out. After a while I didn't need the shields anymore. I think this was around the 4 month mark. My nipples are now permanently out, so when my next baby comes I don't anticipate the same problems.

Midwife here. Touching your nipples won’t cause premature labour.

I was going to say the same about nipples, i expressed colostrum throughout my last pregnancy. Nipple stimulation doesn't cause labour.