Breastfeeding was then great and we kept going until he was 21 months old. She may become frustrated and pull away and cry, or even fall asleep at your breast.
If this is happening, ask a lactation consultant or breastfeeding specialist to check her latch. There are several techniques you can use just before each breastfeed to form your nipples into an easier shape for your baby to latch on to.
Sioned suggests:. Before feeding on that side I always tweaked and squeezed it a bit and eased it into his mouth. It was a bit tricky early on but got a lot easier as time passed. If none of the above work and your baby is still struggling to maintain her latch, your lactation consultant or breastfeeding specialist may advise you to feed your baby through a nipple shield. This is a thin, flexible piece of silicone, shaped like a nipple, with holes in the tip for your milk to pass through.
The nipple shield offers your baby a larger, firmer target, as well as stimulating her palate to encourage her to suck. In general nipple shields should be considered as a short-term solution. If problems or pain occur, consult your lactation consultant or breastfeeding specialist, who will ensure your baby is latching well with the shield in place.
If anything, the pierced nipple was the favourite! Other mums find breast milk leaks from their piercing holes, or suspect scarring from the piercing is reducing their milk supply 4 — although there has been limited research in this area. Or you could try a supplemental nursing system so your baby can practise feeding from your breast while being topped up with expressed milk through a tube. This noncancerous condition occurs most commonly during perimenopause. This rare, cancerous condition occurs in the nipple and areola.
They include:. You may also feel a lump on your breast. Nipple retraction can be a symptom of more common types of breast cancer , such as carcinoma.
This symptom may occur when malignancies are large enough to be seen on a mammogram and felt during a physical examination. Retracted nipples that have been apparent since birth and those that occur gradually over time are typically not cause for alarm.
If your nipples suddenly appear retracted or inverted, see your doctor. Remember that there are many causes for this symptom.
Many women with flat nipples breastfeed successfully. A lactation consultant can help you adjust the way you hold your baby while nursing to see if that improves breastfeeding. Your doctor will note your medical history and do a physical exam of your nipples and breasts.
They may also order a diagnostic mammogram and sonogram to get images of the breasts and nipples. These images can help your doctor determine the root cause of your condition. You may also need an MRI. If cancer is suspected, a needle biopsy will be done.
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Here's how to breastfeed when your nipples are flat or inverted — and baby has trouble getting a grip. Back to Top.
In This Article. Continue Reading Below. Read This Next. How to Get a Proper Breastfeeding Latch. Breastfeeding Positions. View Sources. Low supply. Nipple Stimulation Before Feedings If you can grasp your nipple, roll it between your thumb and index finger for a minute or two.
Afterwards, quickly touch it with a moist, cold cloth or with ice that has been wrapped in a cloth. This method can help your nipple become erect. Avoid prolonged use of ice, as numbing the nipple and areola could inhibit your let-down reflex. Pulling Back on the Breast Tissue During Latch-on As your hand supports the breast for latch-on with thumb on top and four fingers underneath and behind the areola, pull slightly back on the breast tissue toward the chest wall to help the nipple protrude.
Reverse Pressure Softening Using your finger tips to encircle the base of the nipple and push toward the chest wall for minutes prior to latching may help push other fluids aside, trigger milk flow and allow your nipple to protrude so baby can more easily grasp it. Nipple Shield A nipple shield is a thin, flexible silicone nipple that is worn over your own nipple. It has holes in the tip to allow milk to flow to the baby. If other strategies are not working, a nipple shield could help your baby latch on and nurse well by providing the stimulation to the roof of his mouth that signals his suck reflex.
Nipple shields should only be used with the guidance of a lactation professional as they can lead to problems if not used properly. It is important for the baby to learn how to open his mouth wide and bypass the nipple, allowing his gums to close further back on the breast. Experimenting with different positions is a good way to find what is most comfortable for you and helps baby latch most effectively.
Some mothers find that the football clutch hold or cross-cradle hold gives them the most control, which also makes it easier for baby to latch on well. Breastfeed Early and Often Plan to breastfeed as soon after birth as possible, and at least every hours thereafter. Lots of practice at breastfeeding while your breasts are still soft often helps baby to continue to nurse well, even as your breasts become more firm which can make a flat nipple more difficult to grasp.
Achieve a Deep Latch When latching your baby on, hold him in close against your body, with his ear, shoulder, and hip in a straight line. Pull back on your breast tissue to make it easier for him to latch on.
Then latch him on, assuring that baby has bypassed the nipple and is far back on the areola. The resulting latch should be off-center — deeper on the bottom more breast taken in on the chin side than the nose side. If your baby becomes upset, immediately take a break and calm him. Offer a finger for him to suck on, walk, swaddle, rock, or sing to him. Wait until he is calm before trying again.
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