Inverted Nipples?

hereforthefruit · May 2015

How do you know if you have them? My mom said she wasn't able to breastfeed because of inverted nipples and didn't find out until after my sister was born...I assumed it was some visible formation of the nipple and she said it was an internal thing you couldn't see! Is it hereditary? I am 30 weeks and have not had any leaks; could this mean mine are inverted too?

CaliforniaDream87 · May 2015

An inverted nipple is just a nipple that retracts into the breasts. This has nothing to do with leaking colostrum before baby is here. Many women don't leak while pregnant and go on to BF just fine.

I have them. Depending on how severe your inverted nipple (mine isn't severe at all) is there are ways to help you BF. It doesn't necessarily mean you can't BF. The nipple shield helped tremendously those first few days.

hereforthefruit · May 2015

Thank you for the info!

If it retracts into the breast that still seems like something that's visibly noticeable when looking at your breast...I'm so confused as to how my mom didn't know hers were inverted...

2gr8pits · May 2015

Squeeze the base of your nipple, does it go in or out? I have one inverted nipple but just used a nipple shield until it is trained.

I am thinking your mom may not have known it would be a challenge to breastfeed and that played a part in the decision. Plus, we don't know what type of support she had to educate her on the fact she still could.

hclzmm14 · May 2015

I have one inverted and one flat! Super fun. I used nipple shields and I hated every second of BFing, but I am going to do it again haha. If you google it I think La Leche League has instructions and illustrations so you can check yourself.

saraheve23 · May 2015

I have inverted nipples and had to use a nipple shield for the first three weeks but was able to breastfeed until my daughter was 17 months, so it's do-able!

ammc07 · May 2015

I have inverted. I struggled with actual nursing DD but was I was able to exclusively pump for quite a while.

Miz_Liz · May 2015

In addition to the shields they have these "dome" things with a hole in them that you can put in your bra over the nipple between feedings (not in public, very noticeable) to help draw your nipples out. The hospital gave me these to use and I did not end up needing the shields. Don't stress, the LC will help you with all of this, many still successfully BF with inverted nipples. The things we never used to have to worry about, right?!

stow2009 · May 2015

I'm not sure how your mom didn't know, I have two inverted nipples and they literally looked like slits. The mammory glads are short and pull the nipple into the breast. I couldn't even squeeze the base to get them out. I ended up having surgery (it's apparently the most common elective surgery according to my doc). The surgery was intended to help me breastfeed (this was six years ago, so it was a future plan), and of course for cosmetic personal reasons.

I'm hopeful I will be able to breastfeed- the surgery actually cuts mammary glands that are too short to "free" the nipple. My mom (also had inverted nipples) wasn't able to with me because I couldn't suck hard enough, but could with my brother. I've heard the nipple shields make a world of difference, though!

carriebelle77 · May 2015

I had them and with DD #1, I used the domes to help pull the nipples out and shields the whole time. I successfully BF her for 9 months. Then with #2, he was able to latch without the shield and he nursed successfully until 12 months when he bit me and we called it a day. Now with this pregnancy, my nipples are out and proud all the time....so I'm thinking I won't have any problem. It's a process, but you'll get the hang of it...just stick to your guns if it's something you really want to do!

CaliforniaDream87 · May 2015

@carriebelle77 I've noticed that my nipples aren't inverted at all anymore this time around. They are totally different. Do you think using the domes/shields trained them in some way? I'm sure I won't even need the shields this time at all.

hclzmm14 · May 2015

What kind of domes did you guys use?

Miz_Liz · May 2015

cllgarrison said:
What kind of domes did you guys use?

Not sure if this is the brand I had, but same thing https://www.amazon.com/Medela-SoftShells-for-Inverted-Nipples/dp/B000058DPM

carriebelle77 · May 2015

@CaliforniaDream87...I only used them for pregnancy #1....I was worried about it with #2, but I had no problems nursing him...no need for shield or domes....so now w/ #3, I'm not stressed at all. I think the babies trained the breasts...sounds odd, but I have no other explanation.

carriebelle77 · May 2015

Miz_Liz said:

cllgarrison said:
What kind of domes did you guys use?

Not sure if this is the brand I had, but same thing https://www.amazon.com/Medela-SoftShells-for-Inverted-Nipples/dp/B000058DPM

Yep! This is what I used!

JESSICAFALLAH · May 2015

saraheve23 said:

I have inverted nipples and had to use a nipple shield for the first three weeks but was able to breastfeed until my daughter was 17 months, so it's do-able!

So after three weeks were your nipples extracted? So you didn't have to use the shields anymore? Wondering because I'm in the same boat.

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