Breastfeeding experience with flat nipples?

Hi, I am currently 29 weeks and I plan to exclusively breastfeed my baby when she is born.  However, I've noticed that one of my nipples is flat or inverted.  From what I've read that definition comes from the fact that my nipple when squeezed goes inward instead of protruding outward.  When stimulated it does go outward though so I don't know if that makes a difference?  Sorry if this is TMI.

I've read conflicting things in books/mags about this issue.  Some have said that there is no preparation needed for your nipples before nursing.  Others say that you may need to do some things to help draw the nipple out before the baby is born to help prevent latching problems.  Has anyone had a positive breastfeeding experience with this issue?  Did you do anything beforehand to help?  If so what did you do?

[myproblem]

My SIL breastfed both of her kids with flat nipples. With her first, the hospital gave her a nipple sheild to draw out her nipple while baby was nursing. Then her son didn't want to nurse without it. That drove her nuts, but after a while she got him to give it up. Baby #2, she just nursed regular from the beginning.

[lovefamily]

I had a friend with very large breast (speacial order bras, no store bought ones) that breastfed with flat nipples.  Like the last post the hospital gave her a nipple shield to help pull it out.  They baby nursed fine with it.  She used it almost the entire time.  She had to hold it in place, but that was okay because her breast were so big she had to concern herself with smothering her baby.  A big hurray to you for nursing.  I loved nursing and I would never have had it any other way.  I called them my ever-ready's.  No packing, mixing, cooling, heating like formula.  Nursing is great!

[aridza]

a friend of mine had inverted nipples, she pumped for 9mo with her first son because she didn't know about her nipples and it was a struggle to try to get him to latch on, for her second child, she researched more and found out that she should express some milk before each feeding to get the nipple to be "right", but after a few days her baby had jaundice because he was dehydrated, she started to pump again, after about a month, she went to a la leche ligue meeting and they showed her how to do it and her baby went back to the breast and she breastfed him for 2 years (which is amazing that he accepted the breast again as bottles are easier to drink from so the babies get nipple confusion)
go to www.kellymom.com you can find tons of help on breastfeeding.
Just don't give up if it's harder than you thought at first and that it hurts because, I think, it's the best feeling in the world to breastfeed and it's so practical!

[sheddybear]

Thanks everyone!  Lots of good advice.  I too believe breastfeeding will be one of the best experiences!

[amy524]

I have flat nipples too and had great success with a nipple shield.  It just became "part of the experience".  When my DD was about 2 months old I decided to just SEE if should could latch on without it and she did!!!!!  It made me wonder if she could have started latching on without the shield sooner...but either way we made it work.  :)

Amy