Can Elastic Nipples Impact Nursing at the Breast?
Elastic nipples are a common concern with pumping:
Elastic nipples are nipples that are considered to have higher than average elasticity to the tissue than what is considered the normal function for the nipple tissue. We know that the typical nipple extends 2-3 times in length when a baby is latched at the breast, which is the normal function for this tissue. For a more detailed explanation, click here.
Let’s take a look at understanding why elastic nipples are a concern with pumping. Depending on the length of the nipple, stretching up to 3 times in length may exceed the length of commonly available pump flanges. Many parents are also using pump flanges that are too large which causes excessive width wise swelling of the nipple and gives the illusion of the nipple swelling to excessively large sizes, but that same nipple in a properly fitted flange is unlikely to swell excessively. The biggest issue here is a lack of pump flanges that are long enough to accommodate the normal function of nipple tissue for parents with average to longer nipples.
There are certainly some parents with nipples so elastic that pumping options are extremely limited if not all together unavailable. Based on the clients I have supported, the actual number of parents with truly elastic nipples, to the point of this type of impact, is not super common. I would estimate 1-2 %, but that is likely a high estimate based on supporting clients for whom pumping is a challenge.
Does the elasticity of the nipple impact breastfeeding when nursing directly at the breast?
It can, but in more nuanced ways than with pumping.
If the nipple lacks the normal elasticity, the baby may struggle to grasp the tissue to create an effective latch.
If the tissue doesn’t properly extend when nursing, oxytocin release may be inhibited causing a slower, less effective, or absent milk ejection reflex.
If a baby has oral restrictions, elastic tissue can actually help allow a baby with less effective nursing skills to gain a semi-functional latch as the tissue can more easily stretch to create a seal.
If a baby has a very high palate, more elastic breast tissue may be more prone to stretching to the top of the oral cavity which can cause pain and nipple damage. Often this can be alleviated with positioning and latching techniques that help encourage nipple placement further back in the mouth.
For parents with more elastic breast tissue, we do sometimes see compression of the nipple even with a functional latch and in the absence of pain. This can be differentiated from creasing of the nipple that is problematic as elastic tissue compressing with latch is unlikely to create that strip of tissue that breaks down on the face of the nipple. This band of tissue is typically agitated by the tongue’s atypical movements, and in the case of the elastic tissue, this is not happening.
So do elastic nipples impact nursing at the breast?
They can, but it’s not a straightforward impact like we see with pumping. It’s a more nuanced issue where we have to fully assess infant oral anatomy, feeding skills, latch and positioning, and breast anatomy to determine how the elasticity of the tissue is impacting the feeding.
As always, if you are concerned about the elasticity of your nipples, you need professional lactation support. Breastfeeding challenges can be straight forward or quite complicated, and success with your infant feeding goals hinges upon getting the high quality support you deserve.
