Our readymade nipples are best for bilateral because survival and our custom made option are best for unilateral (then I copy the remining nipple) or for any special request (size, color, piercing…anything)."

Nipple reconstruction is commonly carried out by lifting and rotating a flap of skin at the central part of your breast before suturing it into shape. Alternatively, if your other nipple is quite large, a ‘nipple share’ operation can be done, taking part of your remaining nipple and attaching it to the other breast. Nipple reconstruction can be done under a local anaesthetic with you awake or a general anaesthetic with you asleep and takes about 30 minutes to perform. You shouldn’t feel much pain after surgery but the reconstructed nipple will need dressings on for about 2 weeks afterwards to protect it. The reconstructed nipple will look larger than the other side at first as we deliberately make it bigger; this is because it doesn’t contain any muscle as your natural nipple does and so over time will get smaller and flatten from pressure from your clothing.Changes in the frequency of swallowing during electrical stimulation of superior laryngeal nerve in rats. Brain Research Bulletin, 111, 53–61. 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2014.12.008 It’s important that your nipple shield is the right size and is applied correctly. Using a nipple shield incorrectly will lead to more problems with breastfeeding or prevent milk from flowing from your breast to your baby. Steps for putting on a nipple shield: A tongue thrust or tongue-tie— a condition in which a tight band of tissue connects part of your baby’s tongue to the floor of her mouth — can make it difficult for your little one to latch on to breastfeed. Nipple shields can help in the interim while your pediatrician recommends next steps. How to use a nipple shield properly It takes more effort to get milk through a nipple shield, so your baby may need some extra help. One way to do this is to gently compress different areas of your breast during nursing sessions.

At first, glance, finding the right nipple shield size can feel intimidating. Between the different sizes available on the market, it can be difficult to determine which size will fit best. Your nipple size and shape affects how your baby will latch. Finding the right size will not only ensure you are comfortable, but it also ensures the nipple shield is efficient in helping the baby feed. NIH Image to ImageJ: 25 years of image analysis. Nature Methods, 9( 7), 671–675. 10.1038/nmeth.2089 Risk factors and preventative measures of early and persistent dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery: A systematic review. European Spine Journal, 27( 6), 1209–1218. 10.1007/s00586-017-5311-4

What size nipple shield should I buy? 

Satteson, E. S., et al. (2017). Nipple-areolar complex reconstruction and patient satisfaction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. In some cases ladies would prefer not to have any further surgery, but just have a tattoo. In this case different colour shades would be used to give the illusion of a projecting nipple even though no nipple reconstruction has been done. I use a small sized nipple shield. The ones from lansinoh are a little shorter than the Medela nipple shields and work better for my baby. " Reduced coordination of hyolaryngeal elevation and bolus movement in a pig model of preterm infant swallowing. Dysphagia, 35( 2), 334–342. 10.1007/s00455-019-10033-w

Some issues, such as sore nipples from a poor latch, can be resolved without a shield. But there are several reasons why a breastfeeding mom may need to use a nipple shield: You have inverted nipples Suction nipple shields: These nipple shields are designed to provide gentle suction on the nipple, which some say can help flat nipples stand out. These nipple shields are different from the devices on the market which "evert" inverted or flat nipples, as these other everters aren't worn while breastfeeding. Haakaa is the most widely available suction nipple shield. Interactive processing of sensory input and motor output in the human hippocampus. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 11( 4), 424–436. [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] Many moms use nipple shields a short time to combat a certain problem. (And some women use them during their entire breastfeeding journey, which is a bit controversial.) Experts recommend using nipple shields with guidance from a lacation consultant, as they can impact milk supply if not used correctly. Does birth weight affect neonatal body weight, growth, and physiology in an animal model? PLoS One, 16( 2), e0246954. 10.1371/journal.pone.0246954Wash the nipple shield thoroughly in hot soapy water, or in the dishwasher on a hot cycle, after each use.