I pondered alot while I was doing this blog post. Am I allowing the whole universe to know that I used to have flat nipples (or some called them short nipples)? But I realised I am not alone. In fact, there might be like-minded mummies like me who habour the exact same thoughts as me when I'm pregnant.
I used to think.... Because I have flat nipples, I cannot breastfeed my baby.
That is so... NOT TRUE.
For the benefit of those who are confused over what I am actually talking about, there are basically 3 types of nipples. Below is an image of the 3 different types of nipples.
For a start, flat nipples was never a problem to me since young. I only started to become worried about it when I was 5 months into my pregnancy. I remember reading up about breastfeeding - importance of skin-to-skin contact at birth, breastfeeding tips and the wonderful goodness of breast milk. I also started to look at videos on how to help baby have a good latch.
That's when I start to have this big question in me.
I was concerned and even googled online only when I'm at home. Firstly, I'm worried that strangers who see me surfing the net for information on women's boobs (who cares if its about flat nipples) may think I'm looking at porn in the public. Secondly, I don't know who I can ask. It's not like I know of a friend who had flat nipples. And honestly, how many of us actually go around telling people around us what kind of nipples we have? That would either be pretty much embarrassing or people would think I am trying to be funny.
It's actually good to start this device during the first/second trimester of the pregnancy as the process. takes time.
When I saw Sister Kang, I was into my 7th month of pregnancy. Sometimes while using the syringe, I may also pull out some colostrum (early stages breastmilk) which caused the niplette to fall out easily. Wearing a niplette for extended hours without a break also cause some itching to the nipple. So although I started using the niplette at my 7th month of pregnancy, my nipples were still flat at the time of BabyOOPS arrival.
1. Nipple Puller (Basically a syringe with the tip cut off)
The nurses made me a nipple puller using a syringe. It's a tool to pull out the nipples temporarily before each feed. Basically before I start breastfeeding, I will use it to pull the nipple as long as I can. I continue with this routine for my first 3 weeks of breastfeeding as the elongated nipple makes latching so much more easier for the little one.
2. Nipple Shield
Some nurses recommended me to use a nipple shield, which kind of helps BabyOOPS to be able to suckle easily, because its like pasting a layer of plastic bottle tip on your nipple. However, it is not recommended to use a nipple shield at newborn stage. Colostrum (first milk produced by mummies) is a thick sticky liquid. So if u use a nipple shield, chances are that the thick sticky milk is not able to flow into the baby's mouth. Instead, its stuck within the nipple shield and our baby sucks in alot of air. I used it twice and BabyOOPS was suckling "so well"... or so I thought. Direct latch is still the best.
P.S. Nipple shield is just a short term solution and should be avoided unless recommended by a lactation consultant!
3. Hand Express your colostrum
When all else fails and my hungry wailing baby is screaming at the top of his lungs, the nurses recommended me to try and collect some colostrum using a syringe and feeding the baby directly with the syringe. So squeeze your boobs... from the "outside to the inside"... the direction is from the circumference of your boob towards the nipple area.
To end it off,
Here are some advice I would like to pass on from my personal experiences:
Keep calm and breastfeed on,
Mrs OOPS
I used to think.... Because I have flat nipples, I cannot breastfeed my baby.
That is so... NOT TRUE.
For the benefit of those who are confused over what I am actually talking about, there are basically 3 types of nipples. Below is an image of the 3 different types of nipples.
 |
| Photo from https://mybabyzmyworld.files.wordpress.com |
For a start, flat nipples was never a problem to me since young. I only started to become worried about it when I was 5 months into my pregnancy. I remember reading up about breastfeeding - importance of skin-to-skin contact at birth, breastfeeding tips and the wonderful goodness of breast milk. I also started to look at videos on how to help baby have a good latch.
That's when I start to have this big question in me.
Can I actually breastfeed with my flat nipples???
In the first place, my nipples are nothing like the ones in the image below (as of my pre-pregnancy and pregnancy period). So how can my baby, as how the literature text put it across, put the entire nipple into his mouth when I don have much of a nipple to start with?? |
| Image from www.parents.com |
I was concerned and even googled online only when I'm at home. Firstly, I'm worried that strangers who see me surfing the net for information on women's boobs (who cares if its about flat nipples) may think I'm looking at porn in the public. Secondly, I don't know who I can ask. It's not like I know of a friend who had flat nipples. And honestly, how many of us actually go around telling people around us what kind of nipples we have? That would either be pretty much embarrassing or people would think I am trying to be funny.
Eventually, during one of my prenatal visits to my gynae at Mount Alvernia, I decided to do a walk in to see the lactation consultant. I walked to the counter and say "I think I have inverted nipples but I'm not sure. Can I have the lactation consultant to see my boobs please?"
LOL.
And that's exactly what happened.
In the next few minutes, I was baring my boobs at Sister Kang, who confirmed that I have flat nipples and that my left boob's nipples is more inverted than my right one. She recommended this device called a nipplete. It's basically a small cup over the nipple and through the help of a syringe, the nipple is being "pulled" out over an extended number of hours. Overtime, the nipples will be protruded even if without the help of a niplette.
 |
| Photo from Philips |
 |
| Photo from Philips |
It's actually good to start this device during the first/second trimester of the pregnancy as the process. takes time.
When I saw Sister Kang, I was into my 7th month of pregnancy. Sometimes while using the syringe, I may also pull out some colostrum (early stages breastmilk) which caused the niplette to fall out easily. Wearing a niplette for extended hours without a break also cause some itching to the nipple. So although I started using the niplette at my 7th month of pregnancy, my nipples were still flat at the time of BabyOOPS arrival.
But all is not lost...
After the birth of BabyOOPS, I attempted breastfeeding with the help of the nurses at Mount Alvernia. Breastfeeding is indeed an issue for me because BabyOOPS had difficulties latching and was wailing hysterically because he was hungry! These are 3 methods I used during my first 2 days in hospital.1. Nipple Puller (Basically a syringe with the tip cut off)
The nurses made me a nipple puller using a syringe. It's a tool to pull out the nipples temporarily before each feed. Basically before I start breastfeeding, I will use it to pull the nipple as long as I can. I continue with this routine for my first 3 weeks of breastfeeding as the elongated nipple makes latching so much more easier for the little one.
2. Nipple Shield
Some nurses recommended me to use a nipple shield, which kind of helps BabyOOPS to be able to suckle easily, because its like pasting a layer of plastic bottle tip on your nipple. However, it is not recommended to use a nipple shield at newborn stage. Colostrum (first milk produced by mummies) is a thick sticky liquid. So if u use a nipple shield, chances are that the thick sticky milk is not able to flow into the baby's mouth. Instead, its stuck within the nipple shield and our baby sucks in alot of air. I used it twice and BabyOOPS was suckling "so well"... or so I thought. Direct latch is still the best.
 |
| Photo from Amazon |
P.S. Nipple shield is just a short term solution and should be avoided unless recommended by a lactation consultant!
3. Hand Express your colostrum
When all else fails and my hungry wailing baby is screaming at the top of his lungs, the nurses recommended me to try and collect some colostrum using a syringe and feeding the baby directly with the syringe. So squeeze your boobs... from the "outside to the inside"... the direction is from the circumference of your boob towards the nipple area.
To end it off,
Here are some advice I would like to pass on from my personal experiences:
- Consult a lactation consultant and ensure you get the hang of it before you discharge. Usually consultation is free when you are still admitted in the hospital so tap on that service.
- Never use a nipple shield, at least for newborns
- No matter which method / tool you use to help you kick start breastfeeding, always ensure that you give your boobs a good massage to help clear milk ducts and allow more milk flow.
- Your baby is your best breast pump, who will save you from horrible engorgement. Trust me, you will not want to experience having 2 hot bowling balls on your chest and they seemed like they are going to burst anytime.
- You know your baby is drinking well when he/she starts to pee. The nurses and pediatrician will give you directions on the progress of the baby's pee and poo while you are recuperating from the delivery. In fact, the poo doesn't come till much later.
Keep calm and breastfeed on,
Mrs OOPS
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