Niplette? Flatish Nipples!

[Mama2two]

Just a bit nervous, as i really really want to breastfeed again. We only lasted 4 weeks with my last baby due to blisters, cracks and attachment issues which i now know was due to me having flatish nipples as described by the midwife after id given up last time. so now im trying anything to overcome this, i heard of a gadget called a niplette which is a suction thing that you put over your nipple to help pull/suck it out..
I was just wondering if anyone has used this?
and or if you know of anything else that would work?

Cheers

[Rumpleteaser]

I can't say I have heard of a niplette, but could you try expressing (using a pump) first to soften your nipples, this might make the nipple longer and softer, making it easier to attach.

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

The best preparation goes on between your ears......seriously. It can be really stressful thinking about breastfeeding again, expecially when it didn't work out the way you hoped it would the first time around.
To a baby, their mum's nipples are perfect. The first hour or so after birth is a special time. If a baby is born normally and unmedicated then he will "imprint" his own mothers nipples. That's why we try to leave mothers and babies undisturbed at this time.
It can be hard to define *flattish*. Sometimes I have heard mothers say that a HP has called their nipples "flat" - when to me they look completely normal. Sometimes, when the milk comes in, and the breasts are very tight and full, the nipple can flatten out, and many mothers find it helpful to express a little off, to soften their breasts.
For my money, the best preparation would be to attend an ABA Breastfeeding Education Class.
Regards
Barb

[Powelly]

Hi There,

Yes, I used a nipple shield for 2 months with my son. He had incredible trouble latching on in the early days and if it weren't for the shields he would have been on the bottle. He is now 4 months old and still succesfully breastfeeding without the nipple shields. You will hear that using the shields MAY have an affect on your supply. This was never the case for me and I have always had an abundent supply. They are not designed for long term use, but my thoughts are that if it helps you to breastfeed, then use them for as long as you need to. The brand I used are called MEDELA and they have a website Medela - #1 Choice of Hospitals and Mothers and you can buy them from most chemists. The medela brand are very thin silicon and to be honest, I couldn't tell the difference when he fed on them or off them so you still get great nipple stimulation (to tell your boobs to make more milk etc).

Good luck and as I said, I'm still going strong after 4 months of feeding and 2 of those were on shields.

[~breeze~]

I have heard of the nipplette, its made by avent. I bid on one on ebay but ended up being outbid I was told you can buy them from babies galore for about $60 so I went on the hunt for a brand new one. Unfortunately I couldn't find them anywhere & there aren't anymore listed on ebay atm either. My DS wont attatch to my BB's so as very dissapointing as it is I decided a couple of days ago I'll just let my milk dry up now

If you cant find the niplette, I saw something similar made by medela, maybe check the website. Otherwise as the poster above me suggested, maybe try nipple shields?

Wishing you lots of luck, I hope it all works out well & you can BF your new baby

[Mama2two]

Thanks for all the feedback and encouragment... I still have my breast pump so that is something i can try, i know there is an ABA meeting place right across from the hospital ill be going to, so i might go in first and have a chat with someone later on in my pregnancy, ill definatly keep in mind about the medela website too, ive heard alot about nipple shields, i did send dh down to the chemist to get one last time and it was massive so obviously didnt work but it was a big rubbery thing, hopefully if i do need to get one next time i can get the silicon type..my friend said she used one like that and it was brillant.
I guess i just need to relax and stop worrying until the time comes and then see if im having trouble or not...
Thanks again.