Q: My nipples are too small and inverted. I was afraid my baby would be hungry when I started breastfeeding, so I used a nipple shield. Now my baby is just one month old, and my nipples have grown a little bit. But when the baby opens his mouth to hold the nipple, he doesn't suck. How can this be solved?
A: 1. During pregnancy, special attention should be paid to whether the nipples are normal because overly short nipples may affect breastfeeding after childbirth. If you find your nipples are too small, you can use your thumb and index finger to pinch and rotate the nipples. For nipples with poor extensibility, starting from the seventh month of pregnancy, you can use your fingers to pull the skin around the areola upward and downward every day, then pull it to the left and right directions. Do this twice a day for five minutes each time, which will make the nipples protrude. The correction method for inverted nipples is the same as above. Then, place a hollowed-out half walnut shell on the protruding nipple and fix it with adhesive tape. Do this once a day until the correction is complete. In terms of nipple care, remember not to wash them with soap, but with clear water and soft towels. Avoid rubbing too hard. During pregnancy, choose wide and comfortable cotton bras that provide support to promote good blood circulation in the breasts and ensure proper breast development, providing favorable conditions for newborns to better suckle.
2. This situation is mostly due to "nipple confusion". The baby hasn't sucked the nipple since birth, so in this case, first, mothers should massage and stretch the nipples more often. Also, ensure sufficient milk secretion, and let the baby suckle more frequently. You can choose to feed the baby when he/she is hungry. Mothers must be patient. Use a warm towel to apply heat, and the nipple will come out! My baby is now 11 months old, and I have been insisting on breastfeeding all along!
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3. Pull the nipples by hand or use a nipple corrector. It's important to take it seriously, otherwise, you will suffer when the baby is born and has difficulty feeding. I didn't take it seriously at the beginning, resulting in my baby biting my nipples until they broke, causing extreme pain. Afterward, I pulled my nipples out by hand, and the areola softened only after being sucked by the baby. Due to this, I also had mastitis four times. Take it seriously. It doesn't take much effort to pull the nipples by hand regularly. Moreover, nipple correctors aren't very expensive, or you can buy a breast pump (which is quite useful afterward). When idle, you can use the pump gently. Remember to keep the action light, and the frequency can be faster. Don't over-stimulate the nipples as it might cause uterine contractions.
Quanzhou Huamei Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Beauty kindly reminds you: Breast care should be done at a formal plastic surgery and medical beauty institution to ensure safety. If you have other questions, you can consult our professional doctors online or call our free hotline: 0595-28266666. We welcome you to visit Quanzhou Huamei Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Beauty Hospital for on-site consultation. Quanzhou Huamei Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Beauty will have professional staff to provide you with satisfactory services!