Inverted Nipples
Bonnie Manning
Cincinnati OH USA
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 20 No. 3, May-June 2003, p. 93.
At my appointment with my
midwife, I learned that I had inverted nipples. I had no prior knowledge
of the term and was afraid that I would be unable to breastfeed because
of my own physiology. After all, my sister had been unable to breastfeed
her babies, though she tried. My midwife reassured me and instructed
me to pull out my nipples by rolling them between my finger and thumb.
Because I have rather large breasts I had to support my breast with
one hand then pull out my nipple with the finger and thumb of my opposite
hand. I practiced this technique daily for a few months, but every time
I released my grip the stubborn nipple would retract back to its inverted
position like a frightened turtle. It seemed as if the weight of my
breast would pull the downward facing nipple inward. I attended a La
Leche League meeting in my sixth month of pregnancy and sought advice
from the experienced Leader. She suggested I try breast shells to correct
the problem. I wore the breast shells until the day of my daughter's
birth, but my defiant nipples didn't respond. Instead, the shells left
me with circular indentations in my areolas.
My breech positioned daughter
was born on a Monday night via cesarean section. Though my midwife was
present for the cesarean, she left soon after to assist another birth
across town. Because of the late hour, no lactation consultant was available.
Alone in my efforts, I tried to breastfeed. My husband and sister offered
their support. With my daughter in a football hold, I offered each breast
several times. She would attach herself to my breast but never really
sucked well. As an inexperienced first-time mother, my confidence waned.
The clock approached 3 am, and to my surprise, my midwife reappeared
to support my efforts. We worked together with my patient daughter to
obtain a proper latch-on. It was near dawn when the sound of her little
gulps and the release of the colostrum allowed me to relax and drift
off to sleep.
Over the next few days I
continued to offer her my right breast alternately with my left breast.
She never latched on successfully to my right side but nursed with ease
on my left. When my milk came in I was astonished to find that it only
came in on the left side. I assumed that even though I had nursed her
solely on the left, that my breasts worked as a team and both sides
would fill with milk. I squeezed my right breast and a little drop bubbled
on the tip. This proved that I did have milk in the right side, but
it was obvious that one breast was larger than the other was. My breasts
worked independently in response to my baby's suckling.
As I continued to breastfeed
her on one side I worried that her nutritional needs would not be met.
After a call to my La Leche League Leader, this worry subsided as she
reminded me of the many women who nurse twins. I am happy to say that
my daughter nursed successfully for two years on one breast. Though
my right nipple is still inverted, my left nipple now protrudes, thanks
to my daughter's little mouth. Four months have passed since my daughter's
last nursing, and my breasts are the same size once again. I believe
the support of my midwife and my La Leche League Leader made it possible
for me to have this wonderful time with my daughter.
Last updated Tuesday, October 24, 2006 by njb.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:30:13 UTC 2007.
