8 Types of Nipples And Their Impact On Breastfeeding | EWmums.com
 

8 Types of Nipples And Their Impact On Breastfeeding

Yes, there are some types that can make breastfeeding that little bit trickier...

Posted on

13 September 2017

Posted by

Editor

8 Types of Nipples And Their Impact On Breastfeeding

Were you of those juvenile girls who thought their weirdly-shaped nipples – in comparison to their mothers’ – are merely trappings of youth, and they’ll bloom as you grow?

If so, you’re probably also part of the same girl-squad who found out that their weirdly-shaped nipples are actually either inverted or flat nipples, and they’re pretty permanent.

Women who haven’t googled “nipple types” – mainly because they had the common known type – will not relate to this esoteric feature; they’d be surprised to even know that nipples do come in a host of different types. But yeah, those little sensitive chest raisins come in many shapes and sizes, and are totally capable of manipulating the teenage and breastfeeding phases of life.

The Nipple Collection:

1. Protruding

Those are usually raised a couple of millimeters above the areola’s surface, and pointed outwards.

2. Flat

The entire nipple is basically an areola. It can however harden and become more pronounced.

3. Puffy

The whole area looks like a small mound on top of the breast.

4. Inverted

The nipple is basically inside out. It can sometimes be brought out using fingers, and in other cases the muscles are too tight to do that.

5. Unilateral Inverted

One nipple is raised, the other is inverted. It’s perfectly safe if that has been always the case. But it might be a sign of breast cancer if it was a development.

6. Bumpy

Almost all women have bumps on their areolas, these are called Montgomery glands. Some women squeeze dead skin cells out of them, however it is advised not to play with them.

7. Hairy

The name says it all.

8. Supernumerary

Some people are blessed or doomed enough to have more than just two nipples. They might look like flat moles, or have a raised bump.

Impacts On Breastfeeding

Most nipple types don’t really have notable impact on breastfeeding (it is after all breastfeeding, not nipplefeeding). However, women with flat or inverted nipples might find it harder to nurse their babies, due to breast changes that occur during pregnancy.

For any other woman, the nipple would actually protrude more than usual during pregnancy. But for inverted-nipple cases, it would be pulled in more, hence making it harder for the baby to actually latch on them.

In rare cases, inverted nipples might be too deeply pulled in, and block the flow of milk.

Flat nipples don’t possess any challenges, unless the baby isn’t managing to latch on, or if you’re breasts are too congested or full.

As every case varies, please consult a doctor for more information.