breastfeeding with an inverted nipple

In my post about breastfeeding problems last month, I sounded like I was only whining about the difficulties of breastfeeding. This time, however, I want to talk about the bigger problems I had when I started to breastfeed.

Let me start with a very brief description of how I dealt with the most common ones that most, if not all, mothers face. The initial latch is always a challenge. We just dribbled formula on the breast until the baby was sucking continuously. It was only after five days when I actually saw milk of my own, which leads me to the issue of low milk supply. I breastfed as much as I could but there were times when we gave my daughter formula, for many different reasons. She was about two months old when I started breastfeeding her exclusively.

So having a condition known as the inverted nipple just aggravated the situation. I've always noticed it, I just didn't know that there was a name for it or that it would someday lead me to cursing the world in general. I thought it was nothing but an inconsequential feature, much like lopsided ears or something. It was only after I gave birth when I learned about what it is. The condition isn't rare though, about twenty percent of women. There are commercially available products by popular brands (None of which I tried.) to help fix this factory defect, as I once liked to call it. Even the degree of nipple inversion varies. Some are deeply inverted while some are simply flat or what some people call 'shy'. And every mother in my family and even among friends belong in the 'normal' eighty percent. There was no one with whom I could relate. Well, it actually wouldn't have made any difference but it would've been nice to have someone share it with me. Then I read about using a syringe. Basically, the method uses the syringe's suction to draw out the nipple. It did help I must say. Still, my daughter and I struggled for weeks. The silicone breast shields didn't work out well for me. They reduced the pain a teensy weensy bit, so not worth the trouble of holding it while nursing and because there's space between the shield and the breast, milk (and blood!) gets pooled in there. I also didn't rely on the pump because I was still having trouble with milk supply. It was hard to watch her strain and then cry after many unsuccessful attempts. 

What is the nipple for and why is it difficult to breastfeed with an inverted one? Okay I'm not an expert but with my experience I have observed that the baby holds the nipple between her tongue and the roof of her mouth to hold the breast in place so without that, the breast just flops out. I helped her by pushing her head toward me until she's had a good latch on her own. Also, I found it easier to feed her on the 'good' breast first then when she's not so hungry anymore, I would offer the inverted nipple side. That way, she's not very impatient. Eventually, the problem got fixed.

Easy Hand-sewn Nursing Tube

I now rarely get the chance to craft. When I'm not looking after the baby, it's either chores or sleeping. I decided to try making a nursing tube because I don't like the usual bra with clasps and the bandeau I purchased wasn't a good fit. I came up with this after combing the internet for designs and tutorials. It's like a hybrid of the overlay top and the nursing bandeau/tube. And since I only had nuggets of time to do this, I made the process super simple and sewed by hand. I didn't even use any measuring tool.

This works with stretch fabric. I used the one I bought for my wedding dress's lining, which the seamstress said was the wrong kind. Luckily it's stretchy. 

Here goes. I determined the size by stretching the fabric tight across the bust area. (Fig.1) I made it go all the way down to the belly button. That should make a rectangular or square piece. Then I cut three of that. (Fig. 2) This is a good time to deal with raw edges before moving on. One piece will become the back part while the other two will go in the front, which I ruffled by using running stitch on the sides. Form the ruffles by pulling the thread until the cloth is about two-thirds of its original length. (Fig. 3) I assembled the pieces, concentrating the ruffles in the middle part, where the opening should be. (Fig. 4 is an elevation and my best attempt to illustrate how the layers go. Hope that helps.) I back stitched them all together then turned the whole thing  inside out. (Fig. 4 and 5)

This is one of the few things I made that I actually was able to use. I'm planning to make another using  a better fabric and with more polish. 

a bad start to breastfeeding

Whenever I look back on the day I had to breastfeed my daughter for the very first time, I can't help but feel resentful towards those people in the hospital. It was two days after I was admitted, still in pain but definitely starting to get better. My husband was in the room with me when I was called. Before I went inside the nursing room, I donned the smock for moms like I was told to. The room had armchairs and footstools and posters about breastfeeding. I have always believed breastfeeding to come so naturally, but while I sat there holding my daughter the first time, I was clueless. She seemed more sleepy than hungry. I offered a breast but the best she could do in that lethargic state was gape her mouth and suck very very lightly. It got frustrating after a while and no one was really there to help. A few moments later, a hospital staff came in. Maybe I was pressing the baby too close against me or maybe it was her position, because my breast would cover her nostrils. So this lady pushed back the breast tissue with her finger to allow the baby to breathe and she told me to do the same. Much later, I learned that that's not what you're supposed to do if the baby is struggling to get air. Moments later, still not successful, the baby looking as though she would rather sleep, I just held her there until someone came in and took the baby. On my way back to the room, I passed by the nurses' station where another lady in white told me 'You have to try hard because we breastfeed exclusively here!', in a way that seemed to threaten me. They always have this authoritarian air about them, sometimes condescending, but that's not what upsets me the most right now. I just lament the fact that not one person I encountered there seemed to be knowledgeable enough about lactation. Maybe a lot of them knew theories; I know they're required to attend seminars, but it's more the attitude. Or maybe I was wrong to expect them to be of help. So my breastfeeding experience was off to a rough start. I had so many issues but that would be too long to talk about. Nevertheless, I'm now able to breastfeed exclusively although I must say it's still an everyday challenge.