Flat nipples

[Phexia]

Hey

I'm not yet pregnant but TTC nr. 3. I breastfed both my girls exclusively until about 6 months when they didn't want the breast anymore. The whole time I breastfed I had to use a nipple shield because of flat nipples, although EVERY SINGLE MIDWIFE I spoke to said I wouldn't last for long with the shield. I proved them wrong.

ANYWAY .. I just wanted to ask you girls if there's anything I can do to prevent needing the nipple shield? When I was BF'ing the girls I tried numerous times to stop using it, because ppl really seemed to have a problem with it .. but I just couldn't.

The nipple would get hard when I pinched it and they latched on for 10 seconds, then it just got flat again and they lost the grip. Is there any way to fix this? I'm asking now so I can maybe work on it until I conceive nr. 3

 

[Pyrrhic]

Did you ever express?

I had flat, almost inverted nipples that wouldn't extend. I expressed every few hours for a couple of weeks and now they are totally fine.

 

[Phexia]

Nope. Well I tried it with my first since she was jaundiced and didn't have the energy to drink, but it was only for a couple of days. I might have to express with the third if I get preg soon because I´ll be at Uni and my OH will have to feed her breast milk.

 

[Pyrrhic]

I think you'll find that expressing will help the nipples a lot, as it draws them out a lot further than natural BFing does. It helped me a lot.

 

[Phexia]

What sorta pump do you recommend? I had the Avent hand pump and I didn't really like it. If I'm at Uni I´ll probably need an electric pump.

 

[Pyrrhic]

I hated the Avent pump, though it is all I used at first. Now I have the Medela mini electric, and it's great. I really recommend it! It's electric, but really easy to use and has different settings.

 

[Phexia]

Thanks for the advice

 

[sam#3]

Also there is a little device that you can use, i think its called a nipplette, its like a little cup thing that you wear in your bra and its used to help to permanently draw out flat/inverted nipples.

https://www.poshmums.com/breastfeeding/avent-niplette.htm

 

[Mervs Mum]

The best thing to do is make sure you get a good latch - if they have a big mouth full of breast then they will draw the nipple out themselves. It's not the nipple they feed from rather the breast - hence Breast not nipple feeding!

If you want to ditch the shields (well done BTW for doing so well with them! ) then the only other thing I'd siggest is as Rafwife said - pumping before to draw the nipple out - my mini electric freaked me out the first time....it really draws the nipple in.

Good luck honey.....

 

[charlottesma]

I have flat nipples and breast fed my daughter for 9 months, we didn't use anything special I just grabbed the areola and helped it into her mouth.

 

[Pyrrhic]

Also, breast shells worked for me too, just worse them inside my bra during the day