What to do if a pregnant woman has inverted nipples?

There are many things that pregnant mothers need to pay attention to during pregnancy. The breasts are a very important part of our female friends. Sometimes we find that some pregnant women have inverted nipples, which makes breastfeeding very inconvenient for pregnant women with inverted nipples.

What to do if pregnant women have inverted nipples

1. Pregnant women with inverted nipples can use manual traction

Regularly pulling the nipples can make the breasts protrude, increase the supporting strength of the surrounding skin, and play a "shaping" role.

Specific method: Wash twice a day with warm water, then gently pull the inverted nipple outwards, squeeze the nipple out of the skin surface, do not pull too hard to avoid damaging the nipple. You can also gently pull it outwards when rubbing the nipple in the bath, pinch the nipple horizontally or vertically with the thumb and index finger, and pull the nipple outwards continuously or intermittently, so that the nipple can bulge outwards. Do this alternately on both nipples. 3 to 5 times a day.

Note: This method should be performed after 6 months of pregnancy and should be avoided in early pregnancy, because such strong stimulation of the nipples can induce uterine contractions and even cause premature birth, so you should also be gentle and moderate when pulling by yourself.

2. Pregnant women with inverted nipples should choose the right underwear

Pregnant women should choose bras of appropriate sizes and avoid and correct the bad practice of binding the chest. A bra that is too small and too tight will compress the chest and affect breathing. Women mainly breathe with the chest. A bra that is too tight is like a rope around the chest, restricting breathing movements, so as to avoid further aggravating the inverted nipple.

Underwear should be made of cotton and should be changed and washed frequently and exposed to sunlight. If the nipples show signs of redness or cracks, the underwear should be steamed and sterilized. The bra should not be too tight. For expectant mothers with larger breasts, they should pay more attention to the looseness of the breasts. Prevent the nipples from being squeezed to avoid aggravating the degree of nipple inversion.

3. Pregnant women with inverted nipples can use equipment to pull them out

01. Negative pressure method

If the inverted nipple is not corrected before delivery, you can use a syringe or a glass eye drop bottle, buckle the thick end on the nipple, put a rubber tube on the thin end and connect it to the syringe, draw out the air in the bottle to make it negative pressure, thereby deeply compressing the tissue around the nipple and sucking the nipple out. After a few minutes, remove it and pull it by hand to prevent it from retracting. This method can be repeated if necessary.

02. Extrusion method

Use a smaller bra or a 10cm wide strip of cloth to make a hole the size of the nipple, put on the bra or cloth to push the nipple outwards, and keep doing it for a while, and the inverted nipple will become prominent. You can also put a walnut shell or a small porcelain wine glass on the nipple, put on the bra, and press for a while, and the nipple will protrude.

Note: Most mothers now use nipple correctors or breast pumps, which use the principle of negative pressure to suck out the nipples. They can also continuously or intermittently suck and pull the nipples. Whether it is manual pulling or machine pulling, you can get better results after two months of persistence.

4. Pregnant women with severe inverted nipples can undergo surgery

For cases of nippleless and irreversible nipple inversion, that is, severe nipple inversion, patients should generally try to correct it after adulthood. If conservative treatment is still ineffective, surgical correction can be considered. The surgery must be performed in a regular specialist hospital, and after the stitches are removed a few days after the surgery, the nipple needs to be pulled manually for 1 to 2 months. If conditions permit, instrumental traction can also be performed to consolidate the effect and prevent the recurrence of nipple inversion.

Solutions for pregnant women with inverted nipples

After pregnancy, due to the increase of estrogen and progesterone in the body, the breast gland ducts and alveoli begin to develop, the breasts become larger and softer, the areola becomes colored, and the nipples are prone to erection. Therefore, pregnancy is a good time to correct and improve inverted nipples. If the problem of inverted nipples can be discovered in time after pregnancy and effective corrective measures are taken under the guidance of medical staff, the problem of inverted nipples can still be well improved.

【Pulling method】

When you find that your nipples are inverted, you should use your fingers to gently pull the inverted nipples outward every morning and evening. While pulling, use your thumb or index finger to gently massage the nipples for 5-10 minutes each time.

【Extrusion method】

Use a smaller bra or a 10cm wide strip of cloth to make a nipple-sized hole at the nipple position, put on the bra or cloth to push the nipple outward, and persist for a period of time, and the inverted nipple will protrude. You can also put a walnut shell or a small porcelain wine glass on the nipple, wear a bra, and press for a period of time, and the nipple will protrude.

[Negative pressure method]

You can put a syringe sleeve over the nipple, or hold the nipple with a small wine cup and press it with a cloth belt, or use a cupping jar to suck outwards, or flatten a plastic jar and put it around the nipple. If you let go, there will be suction, which also plays the role of cupping. After a woman becomes pregnant, she should use a breast pump to suck the nipple several times a day, using its negative pressure to make the nipple bulge.

[Inverted Nipple Corrector]

The inverted nipple corrector is a minimally invasive correction method. The surgery is performed under local anesthesia. The corrector is placed on the surface of the nipple to pull the inverted nipple and lengthen the shortened milk ducts, making the nipple protrude for a longer period of time.

Its characteristics are that it keeps the milk ducts intact and will not cause lactation problems; it does not destroy the local structure and appearance of the breast, the blood supply to the nipple is unobstructed, and the sensation is normal; the scar is not obvious; it is simple and easy to perform, with fewer complications; it is easy to wear and does not affect normal life, and the patient can bathe and move normally during the treatment.

The operation is performed under local anesthesia and the entire operation is completed in about 20 minutes. The effect of the anesthetic generally lasts for about 2 hours. Even after the effect of the anesthetic wears off, most patients can still tolerate mild discomfort after the operation and do not need to take painkillers. The dressing is changed the day after the operation, and the blood circulation and sensation of the nipple are observed. The tension is adjusted by lengthening or shortening the steel wire fixed on the bracket according to the patient's condition. The tension is adjusted every month thereafter. Generally, inverted nipples can be corrected within 1 to 3 months, and the wearer should continue to wear the brace for 3 to 6 months to consolidate the therapeutic effect.

Special note: Due to the special physical characteristics of expectant mothers, correction of inverted nipples must not be done for too long or with too much force, so as to avoid causing adverse stimulation to the body and inducing discomfort. Whether to undergo surgery should be discussed with the doctor.

Types of inverted nipples

There are three types of inverted nipples: Type I is a partially inverted nipple with a nipple neck that exists. The inverted nipple can be easily squeezed out by hand, and the size of the nipple after squeezing out is similar to that of a normal person. Type II is a completely inverted nipple in the areola, but it can also be squeezed out by hand. The nipple is slightly smaller than normal and most of the time there is no nipple neck. Type III is a completely buried nipple under the areola, and the inverted nipple cannot be pulled out.

Pregnant women with inverted nipples are very dangerous

First of all, inverted nipples are detrimental to bodybuilding and affect breastfeeding. Inverted or inverted nipples will make it difficult for babies to breastfeed, because the baby cannot hold the nipple and cannot suck out the milk, causing milk to accumulate inside, and it is also easy to get mastitis. Secondly, due to inverted nipples, the nipples are often forcibly pulled out during breastfeeding. At this time, the nipples are very delicate. Once too much force is applied, they are very likely to rupture and bleed, which can cause infection of the nipples and even the entire breast. In addition, the nipples are very important sexual sensitive points for women. Many women's sexual desire is achieved through nipple stimulation. Once the nipples are inverted, it is difficult to exert effective sexual stimulation, and it may even affect the man's sexual desire. Therefore, if the inverted nipples cannot be corrected in time, it will often leave hidden dangers to the health of the breastfeeding mother and baby and the future married life, which should not be underestimated.