![\"Types](\"https:\/\/medela.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Ev2_1_Types_of_nipples-1024x576-1.jpg\")
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Most women\u2019s nipples protrude and become more erect when stimulated by touch or sensation, but some have nipples that are flat or inverted. And some women have had one or both nipples pierced. Many mums with inverted, flat, or pierced nipples breastfeed with no problems at all, but others need extra support.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t panic if you have flat or inverted nipples, it\u2019s often perfectly possible to breastfeed,\u201d reassures Sioned Hilton, a lactation consultant, neonatal nurse and health visitor, who has worked with Medela in the UK for more than a decade. \u201cRemember your baby latches on to a mouthful of breast, not only the nipple itself, when feeding effectively.\u201d<\/p>\n
But in the earliest days, when your baby\u2019s mouth is still tiny and her sucking is less efficient, inverted or flat nipples may make it harder for her to start \u2013 particularly if she is premature or unwell.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf your nipple is flat or inverted, it may not reach the roof of your baby\u2019s mouth to stimulate her palate and trigger her sucking reflex,\u201d Sioned explains. \u201cThis could mean she has problems latching, or can\u2019t stayed latched on for effective milk transfer.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
How to tell if you have flat or inverted nipples<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Flat\u00a0nipples1<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0don\u2019t protrude very far from the areola (the darker area surrounding them), even when stimulated.<\/p>\n An inverted nipple dimples inwards at the centre. It may look like this all the time, or only when stimulated. Sometimes inverted nipples retract back so they are level with the areola, or they may even sink down into the breast tissue.<\/p>\n One or both nipples can be affected, and it\u2019s estimated up to 10% of first-time mums have at least one inverted\u00a0nipple.2<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0If you\u2019re not sure whether your nipple is inverted, try the \u2018pinch test\u2019: compress your breast gently, with your thumb and forefinger either side of the areola. Most nipples will poke out, but if yours retracts or pulls inwards, creating a hollow at the end, then it\u2019s inverted.<\/p>\n Preparing inverted or flat nipples during pregnancy<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n You may find that,\u00a0as your breasts change during pregnancy<\/a>, your nipples begin to protrude more by themselves. If not, and you\u2019re concerned that their shape could make breastfeeding difficult, you can wear\u00a0nipple formers<\/a>. These soft, flexible silicone discs fit discreetly inside your bra and place gentle pressure on your nipples, helping draw them out.<\/p>\n \u201cNipple formers can be worn from week 32 of a normal pregnancy,\u201d advises Sioned. \u201cStart with just an hour a day and build up to around eight hours. If you have an incompetent (weakened) cervix or are otherwise at risk of delivering pre-term, chat to a healthcare professional about the best time to start using them, as nipple stimulation can bring on contractions.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can continue to wear the nipple formers once your baby is born,\u201d she adds. \u201cTry popping them inside your bra 30 to 60 minutes before you\u2019re due to breastfeed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have inverted nipples and, after two or three weeks of trying to get my baby to latch, was on the verge of switching to formula,\u201d remembers Nina, mum of one, Germany. \u201cI sought help from La Leche League and a lovely lady visited and encouraged me to keep going. She suggested nipple formers, which really helped. Somehow my little boy started to understand what to do! Breastfeeding was then great and we kept going until he was 21 months old.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Helping your baby latch on to flat or inverted nipples<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n If your baby will suck happily on your finger but seems less interested in your breast, it\u2019s a sign your nipple may not be reaching her palate when she latches on. She may become frustrated and pull away and cry, or even fall asleep at your breast. If this is happening, ask a\u00a0lactation consultant or breastfeeding specialist<\/a>\u00a0to check her latch.<\/p>\n 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:<\/p>\n \u201cI have one flat nipple, but only found out when Austin had difficulty feeding on that side,\u201d says Jennifer, mum of two, UK. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing anatomically wrong \u2013 it just doesn\u2019t perk up as much, which makes the latch a bit trickier. 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Using a nipple shield to help baby latch on<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 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\u00a0nipple shield<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong>This is a thin, flexible piece of silicone, shaped like a nipple, with holes in the tip for your milk to pass through.<\/p>\n 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. You\u2019ll also need to monitor your baby\u2019s weight gain to ensure your milk supply is building to meet her\u00a0needs.3<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Over time, as your baby\u2019s suck gets stronger and your nipples become more accustomed to breastfeeding, you might be able to breastfeed without the nipple shields.<\/p>\n \u201cMy nipples are rather flat. A healthcare professional recommended nipple shields for my two babies, and I used them with great success,\u201d says Anne-Sophie, mum of two, Sweden. \u201cMy secret to make them stick to the skin is to wet the edge slightly before use.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Breastfeeding with pierced nipples<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Many women with pierced nipples find it has no impact on their ability to breastfeed \u2013 although you\u2019ll need to remove jewellery before feeds as it\u2019s a choking hazard and could graze your baby\u2019s tongue, gums or palate.<\/p>\n \u201cI had a nipple piercing, but removed it a year later when I got pregnant as my breasts felt sensitive,\u201d says Kellie, mum of three, UK. \u201cI breastfed my daughter exclusively, and then her two younger brothers, with no issues whatsoever. If anything, the pierced nipple was the favourite!\u201d<\/p>\n Other mums find breast milk leaks from their piercing holes, or suspect scarring from the piercing is reducing their milk\u00a0supply4<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0\u2013 although there has been limited research in this area.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s impossible to know how a piercing will affect breastfeeding until your milk comes in,\u201d says Sioned. \u201cGet advice from a lactation consultant or breastfeeding specialist if you\u2019re worried. And remember babies can get all the nutrition they need from just one breast if there\u2019s a problem with the other.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If you can\u2019t breastfeed with flat or inverted nipples<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve tried everything and breastfeeding\u2019s just not working, you still need to feed your baby.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most important thing is a well mum and baby,\u201d says Sioned. \u201cExclusive pumping, so your baby has expressed milk at every feed, might work for you. Or you could try a\u00a0supplemental nursing system<\/a>\u00a0so your baby can practise feeding from your breast while being topped up with expressed milk through a tube. This means she still gets the breastfeeding experience and stimulates your milk supply, which in turn may help you express more milk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have inverted nipples. After a disastrous breastfeeding experience with my first son, I was determined to succeed with my second,\u201d says Babettli, mum of two, Italy. \u201cI got advice from experts and tried nipple formers and nipple shields, but without success. In the end pumping exclusively using a hospital-grade\u00a0Medela Symphony double electric breast pump<\/a>\u00a0was the best option for us. I pumped every feed for four months.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Caring for different types of nipples<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n You may need to take extra care of your flat or inverted nipples as your baby might suck on them more strongly, which could make them sore at first. For tips on combatting sore nipples, read\u00a0nipple care for breastfeeding mums<\/a>.<\/p>\n If your nipples retract after feeding, any dampness could make them sore and increase the risk of infections, including thrush. Pat them dry after a feed before they have the chance to sink back.<\/p>\n Flat and inverted nipples can be harder to deal with if your breasts are engorged \u2013 when even nipples that are usually erect can temporarily flatten. Read our article on\u00a0breast engorgement<\/a>\u00a0for advice.<\/p>\n The great news is that repeated breastfeeding or pumping can alter your nipple form, so breastfeeding might get easier as your baby grows. And you may not have any problems at all if you have another baby \u2013 as Leanne, mum of two, UK, found:<\/p>\n \u201cSecond time round breastfeeding was a dream,\u201d she says. \u201cNearly four months of expressing for my first son had helped stretch out my flat nipples and my second son latched straight away without nipple shields. He\u2019s still feeding now at nine months.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Nipples come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Read our practical tips to help make breastfeeding a little easier \u2013 whatever type of nipples you have.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":4513,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[98],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Types](\"https:\/\/medela.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Knowledge_centre.jpg\")
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