Just as there are many shades of blond or brown hair, you will always have a variety in types of nipples, each carrying with it a new or different challenge. Having worked with thousands of breastfeeding mothers over the years, I have come across 4 main variations of inverted nipples. They include: true inverted nipples, pseudo inverted nipples, folded nipples and dimpled nipples.

True inverted nipples are diagnosed when you pinch the areola just behind the nipple and the nipple pulls back into the breast, rather than popping forward.

Pseudo inverted nipples, look inverted and drawn into the breast, but when you pinch the areola just behind the nipple, they actually pop forward.

Folded nipples and dimpled nipples vary only in their appearance. What has often happened in these nipples is that the center bit of the nipple is inverted and is pulled into the breast right down the middle, giving the nipple a straight crease in the middle of the nipple, or the appearance of a donut where only a small section is inverted.

Ultimately, the better you are able to latch baby onto the breast, the less pain you will experience. However, this is one area where I do feel breastfeeding can be expected to be a little painful from the start. The inversion is caused by little filaments in the nipple, remaining really tightly wound and are not very stretchy.

There are two likely outcomes with inverted nipples. Either the filaments pulling the nipple back into the breast will start to stretch and so allow the nipple to pull out during a feed or after a number of feeds, which is great.

Secondly, the filaments can remain tight and the skin on the tip of the nipple will begin to pull away – this is not pleasant and can lead to bleeding nipples but will heal over time.

I don’t like to shy away from the truth when it comes to pain and breastfeeding as there are many options you can choose from once you know what they are!

Don’t be put off breastfeeding, as many moms breastfeed perfectly well. Be prepared and get off to a sound footing from the start!

Let’s Breastfeed is dedicated to making your breastfeeding dreams become a reality. If I can’t see you in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let’s Breastfeed Program! www.letsbreastfeed.com/blog