Breastfeeding - Inverted Nipple?!!

Chellezy · April 2012

So my DH and I attended a Breastfeeding class today as part of pre-natal classes.

The nurse mentioned "inverted nipple" and said "If you have one, come talk to me after class"

I was like .. omg! Ive never Heard of such a thing!! She never went into detail.. and I dont believe I have inverted nipples... yes, yes Im sure I do not have an inverted nipple...

I just have to know... is this a common thing??!! What do women do who want to breastfeed?? This baffles me.

ateal2490 · April 2012

I've got weirdo nips too...didn't find out until right after I had DD and they placed her on my chest to nurse. The student midwife pointed it out for me (didn't realize she was looking that close, lol).

Anyhow, they gave me a nipple shield at the hospital and it really helped. Not only was DD able to nurse, but it pulled my nipple out in a way that its not longer inverted. I used the shield for about a week and then weened DD off of it because it was such a PITA (you have to wet it before use...not too fun stumbling to the bathroom at 4 am to wet your plastic nip) and I wanted to be able to breastfeed without searching around for the damn thing. It was a tiny challenge to get DD to transition but once I got her to latch correctly once she was good.

HTH!

ELF4321 · April 2012

It's certainly not rare to have them, although most women don't. You cannot tell just by looking down at them because they can look "normal" but then invert when pressure is applied by the baby's mouth during feeding.

My breastfeeding book recommends the following "pinch test" -- place your thumb at the top of your areola and your first finger at the bottom of the areola, and gently squeeze together (make sure you're squeezing the whole areola, not just the nipple itself). If your nipple protrudes out while squeezing, it's not inverted. If it flattens or goes inward, then you should talk to a lactation consultant for advice to help with breastfeeding. They make a special plastic shield to help make it less painful and more productive to feed.

mrsjengle · April 2012

ELF4321:
It's certainly not rare to have them, although most women don't. You cannot tell just by looking down at them because they can look "normal" but then invert when pressure is applied by the baby's mouth during feeding.

My breastfeeding book recommends the following "pinch test" -- place your thumb at the top of your areola and your first finger at the bottom of the areola, and gently squeeze together (make sure you're squeezing the whole areola, not just the nipple itself). If your nipple protrudes out while squeezing, it's not inverted. If it flattens or goes inward, then you should talk to a lactation consultant for advice to help with breastfeeding. They make a special plastic shield to help make it less painful and more productive to feed.

Thank you so much for this. I suspected that I had a flat or inverted nipple when I tried to BF last time, but the nurses said everything was fine. Even DH commented after the fact that the one never "stood up" like the other Tongue Tied I just tried your test, and I'll be, the right one perked up and the left one kind of went flat and sucked back in.

I actually asked for a shield at the hospital last time and the nurse refused to give me one or tell me how they work. I didn't know it needed to be wet to work. I have a lot to learn.

Temp200154562509288 · April 2012

I have one flat and one inverted nipple, I never really noticed until I was pregnant with DD1. Like the pp I used the shield in the beginning, I don't know if I would have been able to without it, at least at first. With both girls I weaned when they were around a month old and then continued BFing until they were 12-14months. The lactation consultant should definitely offer you a shield. But ever since DD1 I always come prepared with my own shield. You can get them at walmart, target, amazon etc.

koolgrl512 · April 2012

I have "flat" nipples. I know it does change things, especially if you have inverted nipples, but it at least means you can still breastfeed in most cases. I plan to just play it by ear and speak with the lactation consultant at the hospital.

laoch101 · April 2012

There are also shields that can be used ahead of time to help break the little adhesions that hold the nipple back. Woman can still do it just takes some tweaking.

hoping4sticky · April 2012

You should be able to use a shield for a little bit and generally you are fine after a few weeks. I recommend a 18mm shield. LCs seem to give 20mm and they are huge and never worked for my LO. Wasn't until I had an LC give me a 18mm one that we were able to be succeessful.

PrayThenWait · April 2012

Definitely don't be shy about asking for a different lactation consultant at the hospital if the one who is sent in doesn't work with you to fix any problems, doesn't check on you again, etc. My lactation consultant that they sent in after DS was born was SO UNhelpful. She just kept saying he'll get it and gave us a cup and syringe to feed him until "he got it", and we went home to three days of DS not being able to nurse. When we went back to the hospital the lactation consultant we worked with was wonderful! She watched him attempt to latch on, said I was doing everything right and then she immediately solved the problem with a shield due to inverting nipples, and he immediately ate more than the 3 days combined!

My shield did not need to be wet to work, and he took a loooonnngg time to ween off the shield, but it was well worth the headache of using it, to allow him to nurse. One concern they have with the shields is that your nipple is not getting the same stimulation, so it can cause supply issues... but if LO needs it to nurse, it's better than not nursing at all!

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