Breastfeeding

Flat or indented nipple and breastfeeding

The flat or indented nipple is a shape of the breast that does not prevent proper breastfeeding.

Among the difficulties of breastfeeding we find a condition represented by the flat or indented nipple .

It is a natural conformation of the woman’s breast that does not preclude breastfeeding , indeed we can say that the shape of the nipple is not decisive for the success or otherwise of breastfeeding .

Different shapes and sizes of nipples

Mom’s nipples come in many shapes and sizes .

While most nipples protrude and are easy for the baby to grasp, there are some variations in size and shape that may make breastfeeding a little more difficult.

Normally for a baby to be nursed effectively, he must be able to grasp the nipple and stretch it forward and upward against the palate.

In women who are pregnant for the first time, it is common for the nipple not to protrude completely. About a third of mothers will experience some degree of inversion , but because the skin changes and becomes more elastic during pregnancy, only about ten percent will still have some inversion by the time the baby is born. The degree of reversal is also likely to decrease with subsequent pregnancies.

Since the baby forms a teat not only from the nipple but also from the surrounding breast tissue, most inverted or flat nipples won’t cause problems while breastfeeding .

How to tell if the nipple is flat or indented?

Before worrying about breastfeeding, you really need to understand if the nipple is flat or indented. The primary advice is to talk to your midwife or gynecologist or lactation consultant.

During pregnancy you can do a simple test yourself: hold the breast at the end of the areola between your thumb and forefinger. Gently but firmly press the area behind the nipple. If your nipple protrudes… great!. If it doesn’t protrude, it is considered flat. If it retracts or disappears, it is effectively inverted. If your nipples are protruding with this test, they are not really inverted and probably won’t cause any problems when you feed your baby.

A truly inverted nipple is caused by adhesions at the base of the nipple that bind the skin to the underlying tissue. Because breasts work independently of each other, it is not unusual for a mother to have a flat or inverted nipple, or for her to have one nipple that sticks out more than the other.

What to do if you have a flat or inverted nipple

The flat or indented nipple can be a difficulty but does not compromise the success of breastfeeding.

In these cases the baby must attach itself to the mammary areola and it is therefore of fundamental importance to check the way in which a baby attaches to the breast.

  • To help the baby grip the areola, support the breast with one hand open to C
  • Try to prevent breast engorgement so you don’t make latching on more difficult
  • if the grip is painful or difficult, you can help yourself with devices that are sold in pharmacies or specialized shops to help you get the nipple out more before feeding. In some cases you may need to use the nipple shield while feeding.
  • if the difficulty persists, on the advice of the pediatrician you could try to express the milk from the breast and then give it to the baby with the bottle.

Different breastfeeding positions

There are different positions for breastfeeding and finding the most suitable one becomes all the more important the more difficult you may feel. It is important not to stop at the advice of friends who have already breastfed, but to fearlessly experiment with the different positions and find the one that allows you to breastfeed more easily.

Dr Kathryn Barlow

Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.

Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.

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