Who has successfully BF with inverted/flat nipples...

I'm going to give it a go again this time.  The first time around, I didn't stand a chance... I had painful "adhesions" that had to be broken before the nipples could even be drawn out.  Before my second child, I used the Avent Nipplette, broke the adhesions, and then could coax them out.  Still, baby couldn't latch on and pumping exclusively was not an option (I had a 16 month old toddler and a newborn, so my hands were full!)  I didn't have a lot of support either time.  My question is... how did you do it?  Did nipple shields help?  (I tried these with my first, but not my second...)  If so, which brand did you prefer?  What tips can you offer?  I want to give it my best shot, but want to be better informed this time.

I pumped exclusively for all 3 of my kids for 6-8 weeks each.  This last time I was able to get one good latch and it was heavenly.  But all the other times it never worked.  I had help from at least 3 experts but I wasn't meant to be.  For dd1 I saved enough bm to last 9 months, for dd2 I pumped enough for 6 months and for ds I pumped enough to last 10 months I think?  I saved a week worth at the end for ds if he was to get sick.  I have on last bag of stormed bm that I haven't defrosted yet.

My girlfriend used Nipple shields and said they where a life saver for her x

Yes, I have successfully BF with flat nipples.  They start out flat each time, and as the baby gets older it becomes easier for 2 reasons- my nipples get "stretchier" and the baby just has more practice.  I used the shields for 2 months each with my first 2 kids, then just 1 month with my 3rd kid.  They were TREMENDOUSLY helpful.

I recently talked about my experience with them in 2 posts on this board, titled "for those that used nipple shields" and "why can't I still do it?".  In those posts I gave a link to my favorite type of shield.  Good luck!!

 I have flat nipples and have successfully breastfed all 3 times.  With DS1, I used a nippleshield for a couple days.  I have no idea what kind it was, the hospital gave it to me.  After that, he was able to latch on without it.  With the other two, they latched on right away without a shield.  I am still breastfeeding my 14 month old and I'm not as flat as I was before I had kids.  Don't know if they'll go back in after I'm done nursing or not.

ME!!!  I've now successfully breastfed 3 babies passed the first birthday while having flat nipples.

The hardest was my first baby since I didn't know I had flat nipples.  Could not get a latch to save my life.  My LC at the hospital is the one who informed me of my issue and she gave me breast shells to wear.  It wasn't an immediate fix, but after a few weeks of wearing them they drew the nipples out very well to get a good latch.

So, with my 2nd and 3rd babies, I started wearing the shells during the last few weeks of pregnancy, and kept them on for the first few weeks after they were born.  Latching those babies was a breeze since the nipples had already been drawn out. 

So, these are HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommended by me!!

http://www.amazon.com/Medela-Soft-Shells-Inverted-Nipples/dp/B000058DPM

GOOD LUCK!!!!

I also wanted to add a technique I used with my first baby before the shells had started drawing the nipples out.  It's called a "breast sandwich".  And the main thing is that you are trying to give the baby something to latch onto.  So you squeeze down on your breast right behind the areola so that it sort of pushes that area out (not the nipple, just the brown part), and usually once you get a good latch the baby's sucking helps to draw the tip of the nipple out.

Here's a link that might give even more suggestions for you:

http://www.breastfeed-essentials.com/invertednipples.html

After looking at the Nipplette things you mentioned vs. the shells I used, I'm thinking the shells make more sense.  The base of the shell is actually pushing back the whole areola to help force the nipple out.  Those nipplettes seemed to only attach on the nipple.  It looked painful, was it?

with DD i swore i wouldnt use the shields. but the first 5-6 weeks were ROUGH!! my nipples were like bullet wounds the pain was unbearable so i ended up using the shields again. however i was lucky this time and DD preferred my nipple to the shield. so the shield gave my nips a rest but ultimately, DD was eager and willing to go back to my nipple. she weaned from the shield at 8weeks (ish) and we BF'd until 15mo

now after Bfing DD without the shields, i wouldnt consider my nipples flat anymore. they seem pretty "normal" to me now. i wouldnt expect that i would have any trouble BFing a 3rd DC should i decide to have one.

You ladies are awesome - what an inspiration!  I didn't know that my nipples were any different than the next lady's until the day I delivered my oldest son, so the breastfeeding trouble took me by surprise.  Thank you for all of the replies and wonderful information - I'm going to get busy buying some breast shields and shells!  It's all worth worth a try - I'd love to be successful this time around.

My3Blessings:

Those nipplettes seemed to only attach on the nipple.  It looked painful, was it?

I did it gradually, so it wasn't painful, painful... but it certainly wasn't pleasant.  The lactation consultant had considered shells, but didn't feel that they would be strong enough to break the adhesions - not even pumping could draw out the nipples because they were kind of "tacked down."  In fact, pumping was so painful that I was advised not to continue.  So, between pregnancies I used the Nipplette and it did manage to break the adhesions and I can now draw the nipple out.  Granted, they don't like to stay that way, but it's progress!  I'm definitely going to try the shells this time - I have the biggest hurdle cleared, and now I just have to figure out how best to manage a latch.  If nothing else, I think I could pump this time.  Thanks so much for the great info!!  

Tamara:

I pumped exclusively for all 3 of my kids for 6-8 weeks each.  This last time I was able to get one good latch and it was heavenly.  But all the other times it never worked.  I had help from at least 3 experts but I wasn't meant to be.  For dd1 I saved enough bm to last 9 months, for dd2 I pumped enough for 6 months and for ds I pumped enough to last 10 months I think?  I saved a week worth at the end for ds if he was to get sick.  I have on last bag of stormed bm that I haven't defrosted yet.

This is admirable, Tamara!!  I had the option to pump with my second, but cringed at the thought of balancing a baby, a toddler, and the demands of pumping.  You inspire me - if I can't get a latch, I hope I can muster your dedication to pumping! 

 one of my best friends has used nipple sheilds with all 3 of her kids.  she has made it as long as 8 months.  good luck to you. any milk you give helps!  

loveydovey:

Tamara:

I pumped exclusively for all 3 of my kids for 6-8 weeks each.  This last time I was able to get one good latch and it was heavenly.  But all the other times it never worked.  I had help from at least 3 experts but I wasn't meant to be.  For dd1 I saved enough bm to last 9 months, for dd2 I pumped enough for 6 months and for ds I pumped enough to last 10 months I think?  I saved a week worth at the end for ds if he was to get sick.  I have on last bag of stormed bm that I haven't defrosted yet.

This is admirable, Tamara!!  I had the option to pump with my second, but cringed at the thought of balancing a baby, a toddler, and the demands of pumping.  You inspire me - if I can't get a latch, I hope I can muster your dedication to pumping! 

it is SO WORTH it!.  Even one tsp a day is enough to give immunity!  Just one tsp!  The hardest part of pumping this last time was I had to travel across the state for my aunts funeral and ds was only 4 weeks old.  I had to pump in the car and back and at the funeral.  My dh helped me find a car adapter for my pump and I grabbed a big blanket to cover myself up so the truck drivers wouldn't see me . I also grabbed a cooler full of ice to store my milk because I pumped way more than ds could drink.   I pumped ever 2 hours on that trip, refusing to give up.  In the past I just became a hermit for 6 weeks but this wasn't an option that time.  So I made do with what I had.

 My experience was similar to my3blessings. I used those same Medela soft shells in the beginning with my first DD. I also used that sandwich technique to draw the nipple out so she could latch on. It was a non-issue with my 2nd baby and I assume it'll be a non-issue w/my 3rd because  after nursing for 16 months (my first) and 18 month (my second), my nipples have never gone back to flat status. I've been reformed

mydreamteam:

after nursing for 16 months (my first) and 18 month (my second), my nipples have never gone back to flat status. I've been reformed

I wonder if this has something to do with the gap between weaning and nursing the next baby.  I had been weaned about 1 1/2 years between #1 and #2, and then weaned for 2 1/2 year between #2 and #3.  The latching for #2 was easier than #3.  Mine definitely revert back, but it works out better knowing that the issue is there and having the right resources in the beginning.  Like was mentioned before, going in on #1, I didn't even know I had a problem.  I had heard of flat/inverted nipples, but had no idea that mine were flat.  LOL  I even remember skipping over those chapters in the breastfeeding books I read.  LOL  Ooops!

I'm really wishing LoveyDovey a lot of luck!!  It sounds like you've tried really hard, and I just hope that having worked out the adhesions already will be enough to help make the rest easier for you this time around!!