Hello to all,
I am hoping that some of you can offer some assistance with this situation. I
saw a mom today who has, what I believe to be a dimpled nipple. She had
surgery to drain a cyst in this breast15 years ago. The scar is visible and
runs from the 3 o'clock to 8 o'clock positions.The very centre of the nipple
has an indentation which does not protrude. The bottom half of the nipple
actually protrudes further than the top half. The baby is having no success at
latching on to this breast. The nipple will come out with the use of a Med---
mini electric but it retracts so fast that the baby is unable to grasp any
tissue.
This is the third baby and the second one to breastfeed. Mom breastfed her
last baby for 11 months on one breast only. She is fully aware that she can do
this but she stated that she would breastfeed this baby longer than 11 months
if she could "get both of them working with the baby latched on".
Baby: This little girl was born at 36 weeks gestation through induction of
labour and weighed 6 lbs. Mom had several ultrasounds because of a fibroid
tumor in her uterus. The baby was believed to be IUGR (intrauterine growth
retardation) and at 5 lbs. and 37 weeks gestation. Apparently no weight gain
was seen in one week via ultrasound so the induction was done. She has a small
mouth and normal tongue position and movements. She is feeding very well  on
one breast and her weight Friday was 5lbs 7 oz. She is, what I would call, a
passive nurser.
I gave mom a breast shell to use for a half hour before feedings and suggested
that she continue to use the pump to stimulate her milk supply in that breast
and also to draw out the nipple. Also to continue to offer this breast to the
baby as she has obvious preference for the one that she doesn't have to work
hard at latching on to.
I am wondering if it is a matter of time ie.maturity for the baby and
persistent stimulation for the nipple that will resolve this or what other
things could be suggested.
I know that inverted and flat nipples have been well discussed on Lactnet but
this mom's nipple is unusual and I could use some assistance in working with
her.
Thanks to all who reply,
Nola
Yellowknife (where the temperature dipped to a cool -32.C today so I guess
Spring is not just around the corner!)




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