|
Let's be honest. As women we would love to have long, everted nipples if we plan to breastfeed. Many women think that they have flat or inverted nipples and therefore will have a hard time breastfeeding. Some are so discouraged, they don't even try. It is a misperception that in order to be successful at breastfeeding we have to have nipples that any baby would appreciate.
Flat Nipples:
I hear every day that one of my patients has flat nipples. If the nipple becomes a little longer with stimulation from a pump, the baby sucking, or massaging the nipple, then the nipple isn’t flat. Flat nipples stay flat no matter what stimulation you may try. The true flat nipple appears to have no shape or contour. Hopefully, the mother has a protruding areola that will help compensate for not having the nipples protrude. It is a great help to keep the breasts soft. Using the areola or breast tissue when the breast is soft can trick the baby into thinking the nipple is larger than it is. Some Moms need to pump or hand express for a few minutes before every feed to help bring the nipple out a little. Sometimes engorgement will make these nipples flatter, and Mom may need to express for longer periods to soften the breast so she can use the breast tissue as part of the nipple. Note: Avoid any rubber nipples. This will only teach the baby that there are "easier" nipples out there, therefore making the baby upset that he has to work harder with flat nipples.
 |
Print