There are many reasons why a baby is not able to gain as much weight as he should. When I visit a mom who is presenting with this particular problem, I ask myself, is there really a milk supply issue, or is there a problem with the transfer of breast milk from the breast into baby’s tummy.

Low milk supply is often a result of poor milk transfer, so if your baby is having problems gaining weight and you have inverted nipples, read on and let’s see if I can help.

Naturally, I would start by saying that positioning and attachment is key, so that your baby is in the best possible position to maximise his/her milking of the breast. As you have inverted nipples, you may struggle to get baby to latch onto the breast well and then keep it in place with his/her tongue, as your nipple pulls back when the breast is compressed. Remember that yellow poos tell you he/she is getting to the hind milk – so as long as this is the case, don’t worry about feeding from both breasts, just get as much into your baby as possible. The more he/she eats, the quicker he/she will grow and the simpler your feeds will become!

If your baby is little and tires easily, you will need to express after feeds to ensure that your breast has been drained completely, so that your supply increases. You may consider hiring/purchasing a double pump. As your baby gets older and stronger, he/she will be able to latch onto the breast and feed more efficiently – so this is more than likely only going to be a temporary option.

Feeding from both breasts will stimulate your breasts more frequently and so lead to an increase in supply as well. You can offer this to your baby after feeding either from a cup, or I find the Dr Browns bottle breastfeeding mothers first choice.

I hope this helps. Remember, you are more than welcome to email me directly at g@letsbreastfeed.com if you would like me to answer your question in my blog.

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