Hi, I'm new to Lactnet, have been reading postings for about a month now.
I'm a childbirth educator working with low socioeconomic moms.  I am
desperately trying to increase our breastfeeding numbers.  I work through a
grant sponsored program in a hospital.  Our hospital is not traditionally
breastfdg friendly since only about 2-5% of our moms bf.  I am working with
the nursing staff to try and change that.  I am not a formally trained LC,
but have successfully bf 3 boys.  I am now being looked to as the "bf
expert" at our facility, which is fine if I can get more mom's bf'ing.
Currently I have a mom with flat bordering on inverted nipples.  She is
being discharged tomorrow (Sat) so I need info fast.  Have searched and
gotten a few ideas to try but am unfortunately dealing with a mom that is
not 100% committed to bf.  She told me that her family is already trying to
talk her out of bf.

My problem is that she has large, pendulous breasts with flat bordering on
inverted nipples that after 10" of electric pumping barely protrude.  I got
her some breast shells to try but of course she had no bra to put them in,
was supposed to get one tonight.  Baby also has some nipple confusion, was
given several bottles prior to calling me for help.  Have tried cup feeding
without much success-just pushes colostrum back out of her mouth, finger
feeds well but doesn't get a good tongue wrap around.  Only managed to get
babe latched on once and I wasn't real satisfied with her latch except I
was hoping to get mom's nipple more protuberant so allowed her to suck even
though she didn't have enough in her mouth.  Have mom offering breast after
pumping for about 2-3 minutes, cup feeding if babe becomes to
irritable/frustrated, and pumping both breasts for 10-15 minutes every 2-3
hours.  She is compliant now but I worry what will happen when she goes
home without access to an electric pump.  I probably shouldn't say this but
I am reluctant to do a home visit because of where she lives--a high crime
housing project.  The ped is aware of the problem and is scheduling an
early f/u visit Mon or Tues.

Does anybody out there have any "quick solutions" to flat/inverted nipples
that I can try before she is discharged?  Sorry this is so long, need to
work on how to express myself with fewer words.  Appreciate any guidance I
receive.

Barb

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