Just wanted to share a story.  A mother with a 5 day infant (#3) came over
for me to check out her positioning.  She had successfully breastfed 2 other
children.  During her last nursing with child #2, she developed a major
breast abscess, directly behind her left nipple that interfered with the
nursing.  The surgeon made a cut (sure wish I could draw this for you, but
use your imagination) at the top of the areola (12:00 position), 1/2 way
down directly through the nipple, then outward to the side (3:00 position),
and removed the abscess, drainage, etc.  I was not involved at all with the
family at that time, so don't have all the little details.  But, the breast
and nipple are working perfectly well now.  There appears to be some
adhesions under the areola within the area that was pealed back, because
with the normal swelling of the areola (not engorgement), there is an area
that is flat between the base of the nipple and the outer edges of the
areola. The concern mom was having was that the flat area hurt when using
the cradle hold or the football hold.  I suggested putting a pillow to her
side, then sliding baby from the cradle hold on the right breast across her,
resting the baby's body on the pillow and then the baby's nose is at the
inside of the breast rather than the outside (sure wish we had a name for
this position!).  This solved the problem, left breast no longer hurts while
nursing.  Mom also said that the flat area did not appear until her milk
came in.
I was amazed at the incision being right through the nipple and that it
didn't effect milk delivery.
    Jacie in wet Albuquerque, New Mexico, where I'm tired of this weird
weather and want my blue skies back.