Inverted nipples- will I be able to breastfeed?

[Lovebythesea]

I am due very soon and worried that baby won't be able to latch on due to my inverted nipples. They do stick out a little when hard but I am worried it won't be enough. I've heard you can wear nipple shields, are they worth it? Any success stories from others in the same position?

Hi! I really struggled with feeding my first daughter (but she was premature) but have had loads more success second time around. I'm still feeding at 5 months. Mine was more severely inverted than yours by the sound of it. She started off with a preference but quickly lost it. I didn't find nipple shields helped at all, but I got through A LOT of lanolin. It's true what they say about them breastfeeding not nipplefeeding. As long as they get a big mouth full (sandwich method helped), they can latch on. I did get help from the NHS infant feeding team which was great. Good luck and don't panic!:

Might be a little more challenging at first, but definitely possible. If I were you, I'd ask to see a lactation consultant as soon as possible if there's one available in the hospital. Have you heard of the Latch Assist? Maybe get hold of one now and see if that works to draw your nipple out. The sensitivity can be difficult as your nipples aren't used to being 'out' as often, and tend to be more sensitive. But maybe you could get used to drawing them out now.

DD1 really struggled, we switched to a bottle completely by 5 weeks as her weight gain was affected. DD2 was EBF until 6 months and partly breast fed until 9 months. Sometimes, it's not you! I had minimal help, luckily DD2 just seemed to get the hang of it.

I had this on one side, I exclusively breastfed both of mine and didn’t stop entire until they were 18 months old. I used nipple shields for the first 3 months or so (less the second time around). They were great, and not sure I would have been able to do it without them.

@Lovebythesea I don't know what's available in your area, but it would be great preparation to organise some breastfeeding help/support now. Infant feeding team, lactation consultant, La Leche League(?).

I'm not in the UK....we have daily home visits from a midwife (breastfeeding expert!) for a few weeks after the birth and I probably wouldn't have breastfed successfully without her!

I used nipple shields for a while and they really helped. Eventually I was able to stop using them but I'm not sure I'd have been able to get started without them.

I used shields whole time in order to be able to breastfeed.

Manual pump to help draw the nipple out just before feeding, but as a someone else mentioned sometimes it’s not you it’s the baby, my little boy was such a good feeder and made it so easy from day one, my daughter however is 6 months old in a couple of weeks and I still struggle daily with her, I think having the right support is absolutely detrimental to a strong breastfeeding journey, good luck mama! 🤗

Nipple shields really helped me to get started but I didn’t need them for long. I have big boobs and big flat nipples and my baby was only 6lb so it was really a question of squishing as much nipple into her mouth as I could to start with until we both got the hang of it and she got bigger. A local breastfeeding support group and a good midwife helped a lot

Same here. Manual pump to draw them out until you both get the hang of it. EBF first Dd to 2.5 years, second to 1.5 years.

it will be harder and more painful than if you had non inverted nipples but a bit of persistence and decent midwife support, you’ll get there

I found the shields made it worse not better, so don’t assume you need them, but worth trying

Can you get some oil / cream and massage them / roll them / gently pull at them to encourage them out ?
My nipples were not inverted , but they are not really pointy out nor big but I still managed to breastfeed my two . Good luck .

Mine are very inverted. I tried to breast feed but when my son was a day and a half old, and had still failed to latch on I was told by the midwife that his blood sugar had dropped and that I needed to bottle feed him. I was advised to concentrate on bottle feeding him so I did. It was over twenty years ago. I would hope mums get more support nowadays. Good luck. I always felt guilt with my decision.