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Breastfeeding is really quite a challenge, especially when mom has to face some mishaps like those with the nipples inverted. But there are many valuable tips to circumvent these obstacles and make breastfeeding with an inverted nipple also pleasurable for both mother and child.
The mother who has this type of nipple can also use some accessories available on the market. Talk to your doctor about the best solution and have patience and persistence that you will be able to hit the handle and enjoy this magical moment.
Types of Nipples
The nipples are the most important part of the areola of female breasts, their functionality is extremely important not only for breastfeeding but also for sexuality and self-esteem.
There are different types of breasts, areolas and also 3 types of nipples:
– Normal (or protruding) nozzle : It is the slightly designed nozzle, which stiffens when stimulated slightly or under low temperatures.
– Flat beak: It is the one that stays flat with the areola, neither inside nor outside, but when stimulated they project.
– Inverted Beak: This is when the nipple is projected into the areola. In some cases, they do not even project with any kind of stimulus.
What does inverted nozzle mean
The so-called inverted nipples are the breasts that have their nipples projected or contract inward when stimulated. They have a flat appearance, with the nozzles slightly or completely inverted in the center.
Usually its cause is congenital malformation that is due to a weakness in the ligaments that support the papilla. Just being congenital is not hereditary, that is, it is nothing more than a mother to a daughter. Rarer, but possible, inverted beaks can be caused by inflammatory processes, mainly by smokers and diabetics, and by breast cancer.
Although we hear a lot about this subject, only 3% of the world population suffers from an inverted beak, malformation usually presents in both breasts and the vast majority affects women.
One of the biggest concerns is about breastfeeding with the inverted nipple , but there are resources and techniques that will help you and most importantly, talk to your doctor about what he will guide you on how to proceed.
Degree of inverted beak
The inverted nozzle is presented in 3 degrees. The first is when the nipple, despite being retracted, protrudes with some stimulation , being exposed for some time. In this case, there are no major difficulties when breastfeeding, as the baby will stimulate a lot with sucking.
The second degree is when the beak only protrudes with greater stimuli and stays less time outside, projecting itself into the areola again in a short time. For pregnant women whose beak is inverted to this degree, it is still possible that with the baby’s stimulation, everything will normally occur during breastfeeding.
The third degree is when the beak does not protrude , even with light or stronger stimuli. They are more delicate cases, but much more rare. Of all diagnosed cases, 95% are identified as grade I or II.
So if you are pregnant and your nipple is inverted , do not despair that it is possible to breastfeed your baby with peace of mind. Be sure to expose your doubts and fears to your obstetrician. There are techniques and accessories that can help you and above all, remember that the most important thing is that you are safe and confident to face this magical challenge with your baby.
How to Breastfeed with the Inverted Nipple
In fact, it is at the time of breastfeeding that women who have an inverted beak fear that they will not be able to breastfeed their baby . First, it is important to emphasize that this condition will not always interfere with the grip.
For adequate breastfeeding, the baby should grab the entire areola and not just the nipple, so the fact that the nipple is retracted will not prevent suction. What’s more, the baby’s stimulation in sucking can cause the nipples to protrude outward, reversing the condition.
There are some resources and techniques that can help you during pregnancy to stimulate the inverted beak. Some doctors recommend Hoffman exercises, which consists of a massage done with the thumb and index finger on opposite sides, with movements at the base of the nipple, pushing in and pulling gently out.
Important: Attention, excessive stimuli in the breasts during pregnancy can lead to a contraction of the uterus, so talk to your doctor about this technique and follow his guidance.
Silicone shell for breastfeeding
Some pregnant women choose to use silicone shells for breastfeeding even during pregnancy. They help to correct the inverted and flat nozzles . They are used under the bra, are transparent, have a hole in the center to fit the areola and stimulate the projection of the nipple.
They can still be used to assist during breastfeeding . The recommendation is to place the shell 30 minutes before feeding to empty the excess milk, leaving the region softer to facilitate the holding. Always ask your doctor’s opinion about these resources to decide what is right for you.
Silicone nozzle
Silicone nipples have the sole purpose of assisting breastfeeding . It works like a bottle nipple, so that the baby can suck more easily, especially in cases where the mother has an inverted or flat beak, or some other reason such as cracks or dryness.
There are many divergent and questionable questions about the use of silicone nipples as to the damage they can cause to the breastfeeding process. Only you and your doctor will be able to assess the pros and cons and decide whether to use a resource.
Now to close this issue with another key, a comfort for moms that has the nipple inverted: Very large nipples tend to hinder the baby to grab the whole areola, making it difficult to catch.
So, try not to think about the nozzle, see it as a detail. What’s more, your baby will be smart enough to find a good way to feed and will not want to let go of you, even for a minute!
See also: Cracked Nipple – What to do?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
