Edi and others,
I have worked with a mother who had bra size C  breasts so firm they
indeed felt prenatally like a severely engorged breast. No elasticity at
all.  However it was not edema.  The mother stated they had always been
hard like this and she was seeing me to learn if she could breastfeed.
Fortunately she had average sized nipples which did not retract.
Initially post partum there was difficulty with effective latch-on,
nipple pain and trauma, as well as effective feeding by the baby (tough
work to milk those breasts!).  These problems all gradually resolved over
the first several weeks, with the first week being 90% pumping and
feeding expressed milk to exclusively breastfeeding by week 4.   She went
on to nurse a year or more without further difficulty.   With flat
nipples in addition, I'd probably keep the nipple shield in mind as a
possible assist if other tx is inadequate.
Natalie Shenk, BS, IBCLC in Ohio

>>>I saw this expectant mother at 32 weeks, to evaluate her very flat =
nipples......Not only were her nipples very flat, but also they were
quite =
firm--actually the whole breast was firm. Her breasts almost felt like =
they were engorged.<<<

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