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Flat Nipples

chizzle09chizzle09
in Breastfeeding
My daughter is 3 weeks old and I am attempting to exclusively breastfeed but it isn't going very well. I have flat nipples and she isn't able to latch on b/c of this. The LC at the hospital gave me a nipple shield which has helped a little. I just don't think she's getting a lot of milk using the shield. She doesn't have a strong suck so the milk kind of sits there in the shield instead of going in her mouth. What can I do to get rid of the shield? I have tried pumping beforehand to draw out my nipples but I end up losing a lot of milk this way. Plus she is used to the shield and gets very frustrated when she doesn't have it. This is very hard!! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also if there is anything I can do to improve her sucking would be great too!!! 
TTC #1 since 7/09
Dx: LPD, underdeveloped follicles, blocked left tube
3 C/P, 1 BO, 1 Ectopic
IVF#1=BFN (3/11)
FET#1=BFP
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Re: Flat Nipples

  • shotzieshotzie member
    There's a product called a nipple shell that you wear in your bra for a while each day. It helps to draw your nipple out - that might be worth a try.
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  • greenqueen11greenqueen11 member
    I used the nipple shells for 30 minutes before each feeding with DD1 for 6 weeks, and it really helps "make" a nipple for them to latch on. My nipples have slowly come out more and more with the shell. I only had to use them for a week or so with DD2. I highly recommend them.
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  • kevin11kevin11
    If your daughter is having enough wet/dirty diapers, is happy and gaining weight, I wouldnt assume that she isn't getting anything because of the shield. I had very flat nipples when we started too and we used a nipple shield exclusively for two or three months. Good luck!
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  • misssurlymisssurly

    I used a nipple shield for a few weeks ("shy" nipples/cracking and bleeding, yikes) and pumped a few times a day to draw my nipples out on advice from my midwife. I fed LO with a bottle (with pumped milk) during the nights and pumped... it was very tiring but after about a month my nipples finally came out a bit and she was a bit bigger so was able to take more in her tiny mouth. It did increase my supply quite a bit but more was better than not enough. To drop the nipple shield, I just tried without every couple days but at our better sessions (relaxed during the day), never during the nights as those were the most stressful when we were learning how to BF.

    Give her time, try to get her to open her mouth wide and get as much of your breast/nipple in as you can. You'll both get the hang of it, just try to be patient.

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