Your health care provider may have checked your breasts and nipples during pregnancy. By handling and looking at your own breasts, you follow the changes during pregnancy. This will also help increase your comfort level for breastfeeding. Nipple shape varies widely from mother to mother. You can check your nipples by doing the “pinch test”. First, look at your nipples and become familiar with their shape. Now check your nipples using the “pinch test”.
◆ Grasp about one inch of breast tissue and areola behind the nipple between your thumb and first finger.
◆ Pressing inward, gently squeeze your thumb and first finger together, slightly behind the nipple. Note what happens to your nipple
Common
Nipple stands out when pinched, making it easy for your baby to grasp or latch onto your breast.
Flat
Inverted
Flat
Nipple stands out only slightly or remains flat with the pinch test.
Inverted
Nipple appears inverted or turned inwards before the pinch test and remains turned in when pinched. The hormonal changes during your pregnancy often improve the nipple’s ability to come out.
Remember, a baby breast feeds, not nipple feeds. If your nipples are flat or inverted you can still breastfeed. Also, some nipples may look inverted but with stimulation come out nicely.
Flat or inverted nipples do not cause a problem with making milk, but they may make it harder for some babies to latch onto the breast. A baby with a normal suckle brings out the nipple during breastfeeding. Also, changes in your body’s hormones during pregnancy will help. Using a breast pump todraw out the flat or inverted nipple just before breastfeeding can be helpful. Your nurse will assist you in the first few days.
*adapted from The Breastfeeding Handbook 2010. Gov. of Newfoundland and Labrador
*adapted from The Breastfeeding Handbook 2010. Gov. of Newfoundland and Labrador
