Nipples too big for baby

My little girl is 3 weeks old tomorrow and weighs 6lb 10oz so very small!
Our breastfeeding journey got off to a rocky start when we had to start giving her bottles of formula top up as she wasn’t putting weight on.
Today the HV did a feeding assessment and said that basically my nipples are too big for her mouth so she can’t get a good latch.
Is this possible? If so do I just need to move her to formula and give up trying?

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I personally would find a breastfeeding consultant to get a proper assessment. There is a lady on Instagram called az.breastfedbabies check her out

Are you in the UK? I’d definitely reach out for some breastfeeding support from a trained professional. This is a good supportive group 📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/ATKAio2UBFiaTDpp/?mibextid=K35XfP and the admins will often suggest sending them an inbox to the admin page to do a latch check etc, or they may be able to point you in the direction of someone in your area who could do a physical check.
Did your HV mention if there was a breastfeeding support group in your area, as there often is? ☺️

I have twins who are 5lbs 12 oz and 6lbs exactly I have rather large nipples and they latch perfectly the letdown can cause issues but nipple hasn't .

Highly recommend seeing a lactation consultant who will be able to help you with finding a suitable postiion for a latch . Health visitors overall aren't the best on breastfeeding advice I have found 4 breastfeeding journey currently x

Big as in pointy or big as in flat?

Because there is no such thing in the first case and in the second case, you just need to use nipple shields for a wee while. Or see a breastfeeding consultant who can help you learn the flipple technique and how to mash your nipple into a burger for them to use it but in my experience those techniques hurt too much.

So basically, despite the name “nipple shield” they aren’t there to defend your nipple. They act as a fake nipple for baby to latch onto so that your nipples can “stretch”.

There’s a tendon under your nipple that needs to stretch to get a bullet of a nip and the big flat shape is what becomes a pointy nipple! Our bodies are made for this, your midwife seems to not have a clue

I have the opposite issue, my nipples are tiny 😅 I use shields, the kid was suppper impatient trying to draw the nipple out and wouldn't feed properly!
Breastfeeding support UK are great, your HV should give you contact details!

in our community

Wtf- husband edition

The past 2.5 months or so, I’ve been the primary night time (and daytime) caretaker of our 5 month old. I feed him formula before bed, then breast feed him on demand throughout the night. Before, we’d have shifts through the night in different beds so each of us could get sleep. My husband started sleeping in the same bed as us around that time and he’s moves aggressively in his sleep and snores. As you can imagine, I don’t get much sleep. The only time I get uninterrupted sleep is for 4-5 hours in the morning when the baby sitter gets here. Meanwhile my husband sleeps 6-7 hours each night, no problem.
Tonight, I told him I really needed alone time and sleep for my mental health. He agreed and offered to take the baby and try to put him to sleep.
Knowing our child, I told him some of the different things to try to get him calm or keep him calm. The quickest way being to get in a warm shower with him. He agreed.
So why did I have to listen to my baby crying for about 45 minutes??? I tried to let my husband figure things out but eventually I couldn’t take it anymore. I got out of bed and went and asked if he put the baby in the shower and he said “no, that takes too much effort”.
WHAT??
I do bath time almost every day!! He has done bath time ONCE in the five months.
I asked for just a couple of hours to myself to sleep and he can’t do whatever it takes so baby isn’t crying so I can sleep??
I’m livid.
I ended up taking our son. He just fell asleep on the boob and, of course, my husband came and fell asleep too. Somehow I’m the only one awake after I asked for much needed sleep.
I know arguing won’t help but I’m so upset. I just needed to vent and maybe cry.

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