Patient's question:
I just gave birth to my baby, but the baby's nipple is inverted. The elders at home say it needs to be forcefully squeezed out by hand, but I can't bear to do it. The baby is so small, if it's forcefully squeezed, it will hurt very much. But I don't know what to do. How to deal with an inverted nipple in a newborn?Doctor's answer:
First, start by gently squeezing around the areola, then move from the base of the breast towards the nipple. Pay attention to the milk ducts while squeezing—typically, each nipple has about six milk ducts. Make sure all the ducts are open, rather than just squeezing towards the tip of the nipple. You can squeeze in various directions around the nipple. Squeeze a little, then gently massage for a few seconds. Keep doing this as long as milk can be expressed, until everything is clear. Avoid using a breast pump as much as possible, because it only extracts a small amount of milk closest to the nipple. Instead, start by massaging from the armpit or the base of the breast to ensure true clearance. It may be painful, but you need to endure it.