Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025

Baby is unable to breastfeed due to flat nipples, how should one feed milk in this situation?


After the birth of the baby, the first thing that both the child and the mother have to do is breastfeeding. Mother’s milk is the basis and only source of nutrition for the baby. However, in the beginning both mother and child do not know how to do and get breastfeeding done. On the other hand, if the mother’s nipples are inverted or flat, then the problem increases further.

If the nipple is flat, it is unable to fit into the baby’s mouth and the baby faces difficulty in drinking milk. If a woman has flat nipples, what should she do?
All photos courtesy: freepik

breastfeed in this position

If your nipples are flat, it may be easier to breastfeed by bending over. When you’re sitting, gravity is more likely to draw excess fluid behind the areola. If you lie on your side or back, the fluid drains away from this area. Your areola and nipple area will soften when you bend, making it easier for your baby to breastfeed.

do gentle stimulation

do gentle stimulation

clevelandclinicAccording to the , nipples are erectile tissue, which means they can become hard and fill with blood if you touch them. If your nipples are flat then this can be beneficial for you. Apply gentle stimulation starting from your areola and moving slowly outwards. Often, this slight stimulation is enough to get the nipple to stick out. You can also place a cool washcloth or a cool baby wipe on your nipple for a few seconds.

Nipple shield is also a solution

Nipple shield is also a solution

Nipple shields are also a good solution in case of flat nipples. It is like the nipple of a milk bottle, which is placed on the breast and the baby is breastfed. Milk from your breast will come into this shield and then by latching it, the baby will drink the milk. This product is no less than a boon for new mothers.

What to do if you have flat nipples?

What to do if you have flat nipples?

You pull the breast tissue so that the nipple can come out. Apart from this, feeding milk while lying on the side will also help. You can also benefit greatly from massage. There is a nipple puller for flat nipples. With this you can pull out your nipple.

What should be done?

What should be done?

If your nipples are flat and because of this you are facing difficulty in breastfeeding, then stay as close to your baby as possible and try to understand his/her hunger signals. According to llli.org, take out a few drops of milk before breastfeeding so that when the baby puts his/her mouth to the breast, there is no delay in milk release. Breast massage can also be done to extract milk.

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