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Breastfeeding is the WHO's recommended way to feed children for a minimum of the first 6 months of life. During pregnancy, the breasts undergo changes in preparation for lactation. Do concave nipples or small breasts prevent feeding?
Do concave nipples prevent breastfeeding?
The breasts consist of glandular tissue and fatty tissue. Often in the case of large breasts, fatty tissue predominates, and it is the glandular tissue that is responsible for lactation. Its amount in the breasts is comparable in every woman. For this reason, despite small breasts, it is possible to feed in an effective way for the baby. In the case of the nipple, the flatter it is, the more problems a newborn may have to catch and suck it properly. Premature babies, who do not yet have a well-developed sucking reflex, can have particular difficulties. Still, there are ways to breastfeed despite flat or concave nipples. It is also important to remember that during pregnancy and after childbirth, breasts increase in size due to the proliferation of glandular tissue. This makes it possible for even those women who had small breasts before pregnancy to successfully feed a toddler later in life.
Concave nipples vs nursing pads
One solution, that moms who have flat or concave nipples use, are special nursing pads. However, they are not recommended for all women and should only be used if needed. This is because they can lead to suckling disorders in the baby, as well as incomplete emptying of the breast, which can consequently affect lactation negatively. Nonetheless, they are recommended for women with flat and concave nipples, as they allow mothers to breastfeed, which would be much more difficult without them.
Feeding your baby and concave nipples
Breast milk is considered the best for a baby at least until 6 months of age. Therefore, it is not worth giving up feeding just because of concave nipples. In addition to the aforementioned breastfeeding pads, a breast pump can be useful. It often has greater sucking power than the baby, so that food, despite the flat nipple, manages to obtain. It’s also a good idea to go for a consultation with a lactation consultant, who will show you the comfortable and most beneficial positions for feeding, as well as assess your baby’s sucking reflex and how to attach to the breast.
Read also: How to prepare for breastfeeding?
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