Renee - Thank you for a very clear explanation as to why inverted nipples
are not a problem (unless the baby's mouth has been messed around with).
Many years ago I heard a speaker declare that sea mammals (such as seals,
whales, etc) all have inverted nipples and their babies have no problem
nursing (unless they were born in an unnatural condition, as in a hospital).
The sea mammals don't need nipple shields and do just fine with inverted
nipples.so can human babies.  I never have used a nipple shield in almost 40
years of work with babies who have difficulty latching (because they did
have artificial nipples in the hospital and at home).  Skin-to-skin helps a
lot; and so does clipping a tight frenulum.

Warm regards,

Lee Galasso, MS, LLLL, IBCLC, RLC

Westchester County in NYS, USA

"Children Are Born with the Need to Breastfeed"

            ~          ~          ~          ~

Date:    Sun, 6 May 2012 23:10:11 -0700

From:    Renee Hefti <[log in to unmask]>

Subject: inverted nipples prenatal ideas

In response to the question, "what to do prenatally if nipples are
inverted"? - I would say nothing.  Babies aren't born knowing some mothers
have different sizes/shapes of nipples.  Just don't give them a finger,
pacifier, nipple shield or bottle or they will expect to feel something hard
touching their palate.  Feed them with a little cup (if difficulty latching
at first), and lots and lots of skin to skin contact, bathing with their
baby etc. - they have a great need to suck and most will figure it out. 

To demonstrate to a prenatal mom who has (often) been told she won't be able
to breastfeed because of inverted nipples, I show her how big the baby's
mouth must be open, (no "v" at the corners of the mouth) and then open my
mouth big and suck on my arm.  There is no nipple on my arm but when I
remove my mouth there is a big round red mark where the tissue was drawn in.
I then show her this doesn't happen if my mouth is not wide open. Sometimes
the mom or dad tries this experiment themselves.

I demonstrate cup feeding to all my classes and give them a couple of
medicine cups (to take home), otherwise they come home from hospital with a
bottle if the baby isn't latching.  I rarely use a nipple shield and never
before 2 weeks but by that time most of the babies have figured out what to
do and the pump has likely made the nipple/areola more stretchy.

Renee (in Vancouver, Canada)

 

 

 

 


             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome