avent nipplette vs medela's nipple formers

my breastfeeding experience with no. 1 was a disaster because i had flat nipples.


i want to try again with #2 but i think i will definitely need some help.


i have heard of the avent nipplette and just read about medela's nipples formers..both meant for use during pregnancy to prepare flat/inverted nipples for breastfeeding.


will appreciate anyone's sharing if they have tried the above. PLEASE DON'T DIVERT THE THREAD TO a debate about pros and cons about BF or bf without any artificial aids.


thanks!!

Sorry, can't give you advice about using either while breastfeeding. But I used the Avent Niplette before I became pregnant. I was told that it shouldn't be used during pregnancy.


Anyway, I found that it worked very well, but you must use some sort of nipple lubricant with it. It can be a little painful the first few times but you'll soon get used to it.


The nipplette doesn't help to permanently reshape your nipples. After a few months of constant usage, you'll find that it will be 'fixed'. But once you stop using it for a couple of weeks, it gets back to its original shape. So I guess I'll have to start using it again after giving birth.

Hi WM -


don't know if you saw the post CRJ and I were bringing up earlier - about the inverted nipples (one of my daughter has and the other one doesn't, and CRJ's new baby has -so she was trying to do it.) Since you are a person you actually has them - are they flat or do they still poke in?


My grandmother (this is on the original thread in moms and dads) says it's actually the HUSBAND'S job (I know sounds gross) to help get the nipples to pop out. It's his job to suck during pregnancy and help prepare them for breastfeeding - interesting foreplay or weird associations - i'm not sure. my #1 has them and my main concern will be her ability to bfeed - so I'd love to hear a success story from you!

hi ears,


i meant usage during pregnancy. according to the avent site, the nipplette is meant for use for the 1st 6 months of pregnancy or before...i guess the nipples might be too sensitive towards the end!


but you are saying it wasn't permanent? hmmm...then i wonder what's the point of it if the nipples will still be flat and provide an additional challenge to breastfeeding? did you use the nipplette to prepare for breastfeeding? sorry for all the questions, i am just curious before rushing out to buy one!


hkcc...yeah, i followed the thread on the M&D forum. mine are flat, not inverted. one of my mum's nipples is flat, so she bf on the "good one" for 6 weeks before going back to work. my aunt also has inverted one, but she managed to bf all her kids (1st 2 with nipple shields, 3rd one without).


so it's possible, just that after the trauma of trying to bf for the 1st time in the hospital and the nurse going, AH! YOU HAVE FLAT NIPPLES, YOU NEED A SHIELD! and then all the info i read before about artificial teats being bad, it was a real struggle and emotionally i couldn't cope, and a bout of mastitis put an end to it all.


and hubby helping....after reading your advice, i started screaming at him that it was his fault he didn't help with my nipples....so maybe we will try it!


what the lactation consultant at the hospital did do was to fashion a "nipplette" out of a syringe..she cut the tip off and told me to suction my nipple out....it was not pleasant.

There is that thing about stimulation of nipples causing labor - so maybe that is why the nipplette thing is only for the first 6 months? I've also heard that husbands shouldn't suck (for breastfeeding purpose or otherwise) during the last month - hmmm...possible connection.


Anyways you MUST keep me posted. I've got myself in a frenzy thinking I've screwed up my daughter's chances for breastfeeding just because I didn't squeeze her nipple out when she was an infant. sigh...

Hi Wheelymate,


In answer to your questions, my nipples are inverted and not flat, so what the Avent Nipplette did was to effectively 'suck out' the nipples and hold them in place. I'm not sure whether the nipplette is proven to work better for flat or inverted nipples.


Yeh, I did use the nipplette when I was TTC in preparation for breastfeeding in case I did conceive. I didn't use it at all during pregnancy. Although my nipples are still inverted now that I've stopped using it, I've found that they have 'stretched' a little. I'm not sure whether this is due to the Nipplette or being pregnant, but either way I find that I can easily pull out the nipples and hopefully this should allow me to breastfeed after giving birth.