It is possible to breastfeed with the nipples inverted, that is, facing inwards, because for the baby to breastfeed correctly, he must grasp part of the breast and not just the nipple.
In addition, the nipple is usually more prominent in recent weeks of pregnancy or shortly after delivery, making breastfeeding easier, yet the mother may have her nipples inverted and must adopt strategies to be able to breastfeed more easily.
- If the woman has an inverted nipple.
- She can try rotating with her index finger and thumb to make the nipple more prominent.
If your hands are cold, the process may be easier, so you can use an ice cube and apply a little to your nipples, but you shouldn’t do too much before breastfeeding because the cold can cause contractions of the breast duct.
If your chest is too full, the nipple is less prominent, so you can remove some milk manually or with an extractor before placing the baby on your chest.
Learn how to use the milk extractor to extract breast milk
To make the nipple more prominent you can use a 20 ml pump or syringe, as shown in the image, this technique can be used several times a day for 30 seconds, or 1 minute and preferably always before lactation.
If the mother, even with these strategies, continues to have difficulty breastfeeding, she should consult the pediatrician so that breastfeeding can continue at least until the baby is 6 months old.
Here are some other tips to help a mother with inverted nipples breastfeed:
In addition, nipple molds are not recommended during pregnancy, as they may not help improve the shape of the nipple and even injure it.