Inverted nipples and breastfeeding baby number 4!

[BeautifulMistake2010]

I posted this in the Breastfeeding  forum but apparently no one reads it.

hello everyone, I will be 10 weeks pregnant on Friday. This is baby number 4 for us, but it's been 5 year's since my last pregnancy so for me, this is like starting all over again.... With my other 3 I tried really hard to breast feed, but I have inverted nipples. With my last one, I tried using the Medela soft shell's for inverted nipples, and it didn't work. Not to mention I don't exactly have small breasts either. They are fairly huge and awkward to work with, but I really want to make an honest effort this time... Is there anything that I can do right now while I'm pregnant to help draw them out ? Or should I just wait until the baby comes ??? I was told today at WIC by the nutritionist that specializes in breast feeding that I just need to wait until the baby comes and wear them or at least the last trimester and I need to try pumping to draw them out... I am just wondering if anyone else has had these issues..... And if so were you able to breast feed successfully, and how "??? I just need a lot of help....

[JoyRenee]

Hi! I'm a large-chested breastfeeder with nipple issues as well. Wasn't able to breastfeed my first two (at least not for longer than 2 months and that was with nipple shields, a temporary device). So with my third baby this is what I did:

-got rid of bottles
-didn't have any formula in the house
-camped out on the couch with the Boppy

There was only one way she was getting food and that was through me. Period, end of story. I made up my mind that she was going to nurse whether I liked it or not. She has learned how to nurse without me using ANYTHING artificial (no shields, no cups, no nipple-puller-devices, no bottles, etc.). And I learned to nurse while holding my breast for her. That was just the only way it gets done. The bigger she has gotten the less I have to do that though I do still hold it for her because it is just more comfortable.

The size of your breasts does NOT matter in milk production. Just because you can only pump 5 ounces doesn't mean that is all you have. A pump cannot fully mimic a baby's ability to draw out milk. Your baby is the best thing to get the milk out.

My daughter will be 1-year-old in a month and is still breastfeeding. You CAN do it if you make the choice to do it. It will take perseverance. You will want to quit. And my best advice is to NOT give up on your worst day. Just take it one feeding at a time.

It hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows. It HURT the first few weeks. So I made short goals for myself. I was NOT going to resort to bottles/formula until I re-evaluated things at 4 weeks. By 4 weeks the pain was gone and we were going strong so I made the next goal to be 3 months. Then 6 months. And here we are at 11-months and still going strong.

[mum2beagain]

I  breastfed with 38 F breasts, I had to try different positions at first as with the traditional cradle hold I couldn't even see my babies head. I hired a private lactation consultant to visit me and my baby every day both in the hospital and at home for a week after my baby was born to help me, for various reasons' it hadn't worked out with my first and I wanted to give it my best shot with the second. It was hard work at first but after about 6 weeks it became second nature and I nursed my son for 10 months.

[BeautifulMistake2010]

I tried that before and got maybe 5oz at the most. That's why I'm wondering if it's possible to BF with large breasts ?

[julianovak]

MAybe you can try pumping? If the whole BF thing doesnt work out.

[BeautifulMistake2010]

Has anyone ever had the problem I do ? I have really big boobs... LOL... Like a 48DDD (considered a 48 F)... It's still possible to breastfeed isn't it ?

[BeautifulMistake2010]

Thanks. I was told right now that I shouldn't be doing anything at all right now.... But I just really want to have that special bonding......I will have to try that. Also i've seen those nipple looking things that go over the nipple, would that help at all ? thanks guys.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I have an inverted nipple and I find pumping helps a lot, also using an ice cube to draw the nipple out just prior to breast feeding or using your fingers to pop it out.  Walmart online also has this little hand help pump type thing by lansinoh called LatchAssist.  It looks like a little bicycle horn but it's made to draw out inverted nipples.  I have to pump becuase of supply issues but it works really great for "training" my inverted nipple to do what its supposed to.

[SunWorshiper_26]

I know a couple of women on here have successfully BF with inverted nipples hopefully they can give you some good info. I think you can pump to get your nipples out then BF just pump a little or play w your nipples or use ice to get them to pop up. But like I said there are others who have dealt with this successfully so hopefully they will stop by to give you some good info if not look through past posts bc I know it's been asked before with great replies :)

[Lynniepooh]

HI,

I too have inverted nipples, they do come out when I am cold sometimes! LOL  I am not preggers yet but I was wondering if it is possible to breast feed with inverted.

Also were you able to pump with your other children since you couldn't breast feed?

I know this isn't any help for your situation but I am interested to see what other people say, if anyone can give input.

Lynn