Inverted or flat nipples??

justred · 03-24-2005, 07:56 PM

I have had one baby 7 years ago and they told me I have inverted nipples and that I'd have a h*ll of a time breastfeeding, which I did, plus my milk didn't come in fast at all, more like turtle slow and I didn't produce much. I was able to breastfeed but only off one breast and that one the nipple is more flat now, not so much inverted. I know there are nipple shield thingys out there for people with inverted nipples, but am not sure when to start using them, a week before the baby is due, when the baby is born? I've heard they can bring on labor. Do I use them while the baby is breastfeeding or only when they aren't? Also because my first son only nursed off of one breast when my milk dried up and my boobs went back to their normal size, that breast is now smaller than the other one, how do I keep that from happening this time? I wasn't sure where to post this, so it's also posted in the Mommy thread.

I have talked to my Endo about not being able to breastfeed for long and the flat nipples and he just seems to blow it off like it's just a PCOS thing, is it?

Thanks for any info!

kcal · 03-24-2005, 08:03 PM

The nipple shells you put on like a half hour to an hour before you are going to nurse. I am sure that it would not hurt to start wearing them now for a couple hours a day. They help push out your nipple. I have kind of flat nipples but the lacation people said that the reason why my son would not nurse is because he had a lazy suck. I just gave up trying to get him to nurse, and pumped exclusively for 11 months instead. As for the shells bringing on labor, I doubt it. It would take a lot of nipple stimulation to bring it on, and you would not get that from the shells. I am not sure about the boobs shrinking thing. I just quite pumping 2 1/2 weeks ago so I am still in the drying up stage.
Good luck to you and congratulations.

Kim