Inverted nipples are one of the biggest challenges for everyone.
It’s been known to help moms with flat or inverted nipples.
Skin-to-skin and positions like laid-back or side-lying promote the baby’s innate ability to search and find the nipple, and latch themselves by opening wide and extending the head to achieve a deeper and more comfortable latch. Ideas to help a baby latch to a flat or inverted nipple include: Shaping or flattening the breast. Anything that helps your baby suck deeply and comfortably, and ends in good milk transfer, is the “right" breastfeeding position or technique for you. Clamping down just on the nipple is not only inefficient for drawing out milk but can also cause nipple damage … Flat nipples are the least problematic. Pull back on your breast tissue to make it easier for him to latch on. A mother with inverted or flat nipples may need some form of assistance in order to draw out the nipple and enable the baby to latch on well when feeding. If you think you have flat or inverted nipples it can be helpful to talk to a La Leche League Leader before your baby is born to get some tips to smooth out the first few days. Each nipple has many small openings that lead to the milk ducts and allow breast milk to flow out of your breast to the baby. Baby’s latch is important for 2 reasons: A ‘deep latch’ can help to prevent sore nipples. Align baby’s nose with your nipple. It’s easiest for baby to learn to latch on in the first day or two after birth, before your milk comes in. If you are stuggling with sore nipples or getting baby to latch well get help right away. Variations of breast shaping, sometimes called an assisted latch, nipple tilt or breast sandwich can help your baby get a deeper latch. Make sure you get a deep latch. Visualize a hungry baby bird! At the widest point, quickly bring baby to breast and latch with as much in the mouth as possible. Here’s how it’s done : Use the football or cross-cradle hold to compress your breast. GETTING BABY STARTED AT THE BREAST. One technique that may help a baby latch onto flat or inverted nipples is to use a thumb and forefinger to pinch your areola on opposite sides of the nipple and draw this areolar tissue around the nipple to the side of the nipple. Ensure your fingers are far enough back from your nipple so your baby can get a big mouthful of breast. Just make sure your breast is soft enough so your baby could latch onto it. With one hand, support your baby’s neck and head. Baby will probably figure it out but with some asssisstance you can speed up the learning and healing process. Engorgement tends to make flat nipples flatter, which makes learning to latch-on more difficult. You can I t can take a bit of practice to get a comfortable latch when you are learning how to breastfeed. The size and shape of nipples vary from woman to woman. If your baby can open wide and close his mouth further back on the breast, he'll be able to latch deeply onto the nipple, areola, and the breast tissue underneath. Be sure to use RPS, before latching, in order to make areolas as soft as possible. Why latch matters. They get longer when you have a good latch and baby starts to suckle – this is how suction affects them. The main idea is to get your breast and nipple positioned deeply in your baby’s mouth, for a proper latch on. When latching your baby on, hold him in close against your body, with his ear, shoulder, and hip in a straight line. The good news: There is no single, right way to attach a baby to a breast. Just do the very initial letdown, or just until your nipple pops out. The nipple is the area on your breast that is usually slightly raised in the center of the areola. In other words: flat nipples are as good as normal nipples and you’re lucky if you have them.