Small Nipples and Breastfeeding??

[Kaylynn5]

I am currently 15 weeks pregnant and am due April 25th.
I want to breastfeed when my baby is born but Im equipped with small nipples......
I dont know if the baby will be able to latch on or not, so I was wondering if there is anyone out there who has or know someone who has small nipples and was able to breastfeed without complications?!!?!?!?
They're not inverted, just small, please someone tell me its possible!!!!

[finetilthree]

I had the same problem before pregnancy.  But as the pregnancy progresses, you will notice that the size of your nipple increases.  You won't have any problems.  I nursed all three of my children for 18 months.  Good luck!

[Kaylynn5]

Thats very re-assuring, thanks everyone!
I REALLY wanna be able to nurse, I am not very wealthy, so not only will it be a life changing experience for both me and my son, but cheaper as well lol, I am a young mother who just bought a house and found out my sister just screwed me over for $2400, so formula just isnt an option right now! I need all the extra cash I can get right now, and I want my son to have everything in the world he wants!!
So hopefully you guys are right about not being able to have any problems, until then, thanks again!
Kay

[Michele, Katy, TX]

You should be fine to nurse.  God equipped us all for this so don't worry.  I have big nipples (areola included in that) but they are flat or inverted.  I have 5 children and have been able to nurse all without any problems.  I was even able to nurse my first and he was in the hospital for the first week of his life.  It wasn't easy because he preferred the bottle to me for a bit but I finally convinced him!!  Everytime I have had a baby, a lactaid nurse comes by to see if I need help.  They will ask you when you are in labor if you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding.  Nursing is great!!!

My nephew was taken a month early because my sister-in-law's blood pressure went through the roof.  He was only 4 lbs. and some change.  He was so little and my sister-in-law wasn't able to nurse him because his little mouth was too small.  They wanted her to suppliment with formula anyway to help him gain weight but she just ened up pumping for 6 months and feeding it to him with a bottle because he was so tiny.

[Kaylynn5]

What if you have flat small nipples????
I just did the pinch test and found out i have flat nipples as well as they are small!!!
So will that stop me from being able to breastfeed normally???

[Liza55]

Good for you for wanting to breastfeed- it is best! This should not be a problem at all- but as previously recommended- either go to a class before the birth and/or meet w/ a lactation consultant while in the hospital. Plus join a breastfeeding support group for afterwards ( usually the hospital has one)- they're a big help!

[stellkas]

Nipple size should not effect your ability to breastfeed your baby.  Babies are inherently drawn to breast milk and therefore you should have no issues.  Sometimes babies do have a difficult time getting the knack of it, aka my daughter.  If that is so, speak to and meet with a lactation specialist, which I think just about every hospital has and if they don't they should.  These people are godsends!  If things don't seem to be progressing as they should than just go in with your baby and meet with them.  It will be a terrific help and only aid you in breastfeeding success.  I only had one meeting and my daughter and I were right in sync afterwards.  It was a great experience.  I breastfed her for 13 months.