Breast feeding with inverted nipples?

RaquelO89

I am 26 weeks with my 2nd child and my sister-in- law brought up about breast feeding. I didn't breast feed with my 1st child even though I wanted to, because I was told I had inverted nipples & it would be more difficult. I just want to know other peoples experiences and what you used (breast pump etc.) and if it was fine? Any information will help me with my decision.

arschm02

@RaquelO89‌, a double electric high quality pump is best. With my first I had a Medela and loved it. It came with all the parts that I needed.

 Also, it's worth it to put in a call to your insurance company and see what they cover and how to obtain one. Tucked within the Affordable Care Act is a provision requiring insurance companies to cover breast pumps and visits to lactation consultants at no cost to the patient -- although, I think some insurance is better than others and some will only provide a manual single pump while others provide top of the line double electric pumps. Some insurance companies will allow you to get one strait through the hospital at no cost, others make you pay for it and they'll reimburse you, and so on.

Here's a website that has a lot of great tips and questions to ask your health insurance in order to benefit from this. Good luck!

https://hygeiainc.com/requesting-a-breast-pump-from-your-health-insurance-carrier/

raesue22

Lurker here- saltbox40 is right. I had to use a shield for six months, but was eventually able to wean off after (my son was lip tied as well.) you can do if you want to mama! Ask a LLL or a lactation consultant to help- they are invaluable!

tdmloverrn

Hi there,

I have inverted nipples too and breastfeeding is what I'm most nervous about!

I also was a postpartum nurse as well as a home visiting nurse for new moms for 4 years, and helping new mom's breastfeed with inverted nipples was always a bit of a challenge. The happy news is that I have seen multiple moms breastfeed with inverted nipples, so there are success stories out there!

We may need to wear shields or use devices to help the nipples come out (sometimes pumping a couple mins before helps) but I've also seen a mom with fully inverted nipple put her baby on and he sucked them right out, I was amazed and also selfishly hopeful for myself some day!

I'm going into it with the attitude of knowing it is going to be tough, but also knowing it can be done.

I'm taking a breastfeeding class in a couple weeks and plan on asking them if I should be seen by the LC before giving birth. I also wrote on my birth plan "request LC after birth ASAP, I have inverted nipples."

If you are interested, I'd love to do a weekly check in after the baby's are born to share challenges and experiences. I think support is definitely necessary!

travelnut11

I don't have inverted nipples but I have really flat ones so I'm also concerned about this.  I did a little pinch test on mine (found on the internet) and they actually kind of invert a little rather than going out!  I'm debating a breastfeeding class too though a friend who's done it said you should wait until the baby is born to see if you have problems and not just assume that you will.  Of course, that particular friend has very baby-friendly nipples so it was no big deal to her.  :-)

arschm02

sugarCraze said:

I do believe I have this same issue, and now I'm wondering what the pinch test is ( @travelnut11 ). I was told before that I was inverted and I've always had a terrible time with latching. Can someone explain the pinch test to me? Edited: bc autocorrect keeps changing pinch to lunch

https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programsServices/WIC/breastfeeding/Documents/PinchTest.pdf

RaquelO89

I did speak with a lactation consultant today and she tol me even though it's a little difficult I can breastfeed. She said a nipple shield will help along with breast pump. I know they say it's a bonding moment with the mother and baby, but if I can at least pump and bottle feed I will still bond with her. My main reasoning for breast feeding is I've heard and been told it is better for the baby. Does anyone know what breast pumps are good? And what accessories I would need??

tdmloverrn

I agree with checking with your insurance to see what kind of pump you are covered for. I just got an email reply from my insurance letting me know I'm covered for an electric pump and that I can order it up to 180 days after the baby is born. I will be calling Tuesday to ask what kind of pump it actually is.

@secondarypulse you do home visits as well?! I was doing mom/baby nursing in the hospital and also had a per diem position where I did home visits for the hospital's d/c patients. I left both those jobs in March to start working in public health and have been doing a lot of work in preconception health. It was interesting, but not really my thing. Feb 1 I will start doing antepartum/postpartum visits and I am so happy to be going back to the maternal side of nursing

Babykells3

AmyG* said:

Some women have luck using a nipple SHELL in their bra before baby is born to help pop out the nipple.

A Supple Cup is another option that's fairly new, but has good reviews by IBCLC's who report moms who try them are usually able to nurse after wearing them for a few weeks.  Check with your LC and do a search on them, I'm not sure how far out before delievery they'd be acceptable to start trying.

A latch assist or pumping before trying to latch for some moms get the nip to stay out there enough for baby to latch

and a nipple shield is the option when there isn't anything that will stand up for baby to latch to.  Shields (and many of the above items as well) should be used with the assitance of an IBCLC lactation consultant to ensure baby is able to latch effectively to get enough milk and pumping after feeds for a while may be recommended to ensure your supply isn't effected.

This. I'm hoping to breastfeed this baby, I wasn't able to with my boys because they were both preemies and wouldn't latch.
I've spoken to a few friends who are LC and doulas and I've also been reading a lot of Dr. Jack Newmans information on Breastfeeding. Everyone has basically said to leave the shield at home and give it a good try without it. When using a shield you really have to watch baby's latch to make sure they aren't latching onto the shield as they would to a bottle (Dr. Newman actually calls using a shield just bottle feeding on the breast because baby will often latch the same as if on a bottle nipple, which can really affect your supply). If you need a good Breastfeeding book I would highly recommend Dr. Jack Newmans Guide to Breastfeeding. I've also heard great things about Ina Mays Guide to Breastfeeding as well, just haven't read it myself, yet.

be888

I hâve inverted nipples, and was able to breastfeed for 15 months. I met the LC in the hospital right after I gave birth. I wore shells in my bra and would do a short period of pumping after feeding to pull the nipple out. My DH and I would then feed our son with a syringe with what I had pumped. I personally didn't like the nipple shield, but I know it works well. It took a lot of effort at the beginning, but after about a month we had a normal breastfeeding relationship. Best of luck!