Want to breast feed but nipples too small?

Question

I could not breastfeed my first son because of health reasons (the medication I had to take after he was born could hurt him). Now that I am pregnant with the second I didnt have any health issues and the doc thinks I will not get with this pregnancy.

I would love to breastfeed but my nipples are so small! Is there anything I can do or use to help me with breastfeeding?

Answer 1

Babies aren't sucking on just the nipple. if they do that, you will be very, very sore anyhow. They are suppose to latch onto the area around the outside of the nipple. When you have the baby, there should be a lactation specialist around in the hospital  to help you get started. Even women with inverted nipples can find a way to breast feed, so don't give up!

Answer 2

small doesn't mean u can feed the new baby. when ur in the hospital and at the baby's doc apt. they should have a lactation specialist that u can work with, but mine aren't huge and i breast feed fine. they gave me these little plastic covers (nipple sheilds) that helped them come out further and i only had to use them the first couple weeks and then everything worked like it should.

EDIT: they are plastic cup like thing that go over ur nipples and it helps them to stick out further

these ones go on while they are eating:

http://images.allegrocentral.com/2E/67/8...

and then these are the ones i used for a couple weeks that helped mine come out further:

http://www.babysupermarket.com/baby/asse...

Answer 3

Your nipples actually enlarge while your breastfeeding. I just dried up after 1 yr of nursing and my fiance actually commented that my nipple went back to their normal size. So just go with the flow you will be fine!

Good luck its a wonderfully bonding experience

Answer 4

I had small nipples (smaller than a pencil eraser) and I've nursed just fine.  They have gotten somewhat bigger.

Answer 5

Who said your nipples are too small? Believe me the baby will find a way to get the milk out.  

Answer 6

there is no such thing as nipples that are two small for breastfeeding. If you nipple is inverted that is a different story, but even that can be overcome.

Here is the thing with breastfeeding. You have to really want to do it. It can be a difficult thing for the first couple of weeks. I promise if you can make it through those you will have no problems.  

Answer 7

they will change after you have the baby so go ahead and plan to breast feed you will be glad you did.

Answer 8

Don't use the nipple shields unless you're having really bad problems.

They make breastfeeding a h**l of a lot harder to establish and a lot more of a pain.

Try it. Your nipples will get bigger, and you will be fine. But have patience. It's hard at first, but try everything you can before you use the shields.

Babies actually latch onto the aureola, the dark patch around your nipple, rather than the actual nipple.

Answer 9

Your nipples are not too small.  Every woman's b*****s/nipples are different in some way, but this hasn't stopped billions of women from breastfeeding.

As long as the milk is able to get out, it does not matter one bit what size nipples you have.  Don't bother with nipple shields or any of that nonsense.  Just offer the breast and only the breast and the baby will latch on just fine.  Good luck and congrats!

Answer 10

Of course your nipples are small so are mine, HOWEVER my areola is not, where it sounds like yours is. The nipple is actually where the milk ducts are and baby should take in more flesh that just your nipple or you'll be in serious pain, just because you don't have pigment that reaches out far on your breast doesn't mean you won't be successful with nursing!

Contact you local Le Leche League, they should be able to get you some really great info to prep yourself.

Please let me warn you, breastfeeding is not always easy, there is a learning curve and sometimes it takes a few days/weeks to get it right, but it is worth it in the end!!

Answer 11

Babies have small mouths. Nipple size shouldn't be a factor. If baby has a hard time you could try nipple shields.