Yasmin Dera
IBCLC, Maternal Health Coach, Doula, Educator
You finally are ready to pump for the first time. Then you notice your nipple is stretching like saltwater taffy, deep into the tunnel of the flange, almost to no end. Or if you’ve been breastfeeding and noticed your baby has a “perfect” start, with a deep, comfortable latch. But after a few minutes, you feel the latch slowly getting more pinchy and shallow, until you hear a soft clicking sound. If this is something you have experienced more than a few times, know that your body is not broken, nor are your nipples. Our human anatomy presents with many variations of normal, otherwise we’d all be carbon copies of the same prototype.
As an IBCLC with over a decade of experience supporting mothers on their respective breastfeeding journeys, I have seen just about every imaginable variation of breast and nipple presentation. My goal is to help you understand that “elastic” tissue is simply one of the many ways a body prepares for lactation. Remember in pregnancy there are lots of hormones that prepare your body to carry and birth your baby, as well as breastfeed during the postpartum period. The main players are progesterone, estrogen, and relaxin. This hormone trio is designed to change your tissue to make it more pliable and stretchy in preparation for breastfeeding. The nipple evolves to be a bit elastic for your baby to sustain deep latch with the nipples stretching to the soft upper palate of your baby’s mouth.
However, some mothers have a more pronounced elasticity. Once the nipple stretches it may not return to resting size right away and/or it may stretch more than 1-2 times the normal size. There are several indicators that influence the elasticity of the nipples, including age, a history of smoking, or even sun exposure, which are all linked to collagen production. Interestingly, the number of pregnancies also plays a role; with each subsequent baby, the tissue often becomes more elastic than the previous. In terms of practical everyday breastfeeding and pumping, elastic tissue in most cases, requires a nuanced approach to make sure you are comfortable and protect your milk supply.
When a baby latches effectively, the nipple and a substantial portion of the areola are drawn deep into the baby’s mouth. The nipple and areola land past the ridge of the gums and toward the upper soft palate. The baby’s tongue creates a wave-like motion; it’s a rhythmic compression that moves milk through the nipple pores for expression.
When a baby latches onto a mother’s breast with elastic tissue, we must also consider the movement of the elastic tissue. The nipple may slowly slide from deep in the mouth near the soft palate toward the gum line and hard palate causing friction and pain during a feed. This disrupts the vacuum seal. When the nipple moves towards the front of the baby’s mouth, air enters, and you may hear a clicking sound. It also causes the baby to compensate and work harder to sustain the latch to continue the feeding. This adds more stress on the tip of the nipple, rather than the areola, where it would feel like pressure versus pain. The nipple being compressed into the hard palate and gums is where the discomfort stems from. Your baby is not doing anything wrong, nor are you. It’s feedback from your body that more support is needed.
This is not the time to grin and bear it. Your comfort is the engine that drives your milk supply, in both breastfeeding and pumping. We cannot oversimplify the experience to just latch and position techniques, there are more nuances. For example, if a mom has elastic tissue and a baby that has an oral restriction like a tongue-tie, the pain may be magnified. It is never just about your anatomy, but also your baby’s anatomy and how the two complement one another to optimize the breastfeeding experience.
Tips for a Stable Latch
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Nipple to Nose: As you prepare to latch your baby to your breast, aim your nipple up toward your baby’s upper lip or nose. When they open wide, guide your baby up over your nipple and areola, as if your baby is taking a mouthful of a sandwich. In this case, a breast sandwich.
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Nipple Shields: For some couples, using a nipple shield, a thin silicone that covers the nipple can help give the baby a firm target to hold onto to stabilize feedings.
Using a breast pump brings its own set of challenges for the elastic tissue. Using the standard hard plastic flanges that come with most breast pumps are often the enemy of elastic tissue. Because the plastic does not “grip”, the nipple and areola are sucked deep into the tunnel. This leads to swelling, and a type of rug-burn friction. It can even cause bruising sometimes. When this happens, the swelling can actually pinch the milk ducts so tightly that it makes it harder for milk to pass through to the nipple pores for expression. Note: turning the suction higher or pumping longer does not help. It actually can cause more trauma in most cases.
Pumping Solutions: Comfort and Efficiency
A few tips on how to manage pumping comfort with elastic nipples:
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Momcozy Silicone Flange Inserts: Because the flange inserts are made of soft silicone, they “grip” the tissue gently rather than letting it slide wildly. They also cushion the impact of the pump’s pull.
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Low suction: It may seem counterintuitive to turn the suction down, however many moms report that it has made pumping more manageable and much more comfortable. The output of milk expressed is higher due to the reduced pressure narrowing the nipple.
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Flange Spray: This is a “must-have” for your pumping. A quick mist of Momcozy Flange Spray (or a bit of food-grade coconut oil) inside the tunnel reduces friction. It allows your nipple to move smoothly without the “rug burn” feeling.
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Proper Sizing: Don’t assume you are a size 24mm just because it’s in the box. Many moms with elastic nipples actually need a smaller insert to prevent too much areola from being pulled in. Use the measurement tool that came with your Momcozy breast pump. Remember you will need a more snug fit, 1mm larger than your nipple measurement. This helps to reduce the amount of areola being pulled into the flange.
When to Ask for Help
While elasticity is normal, there are a few “red flags” that mean it’s time to reach out for professional help from an IBCLC. You should never grin and bear it through pain that does not improve within a day. If you see visible damage like cracks, bleeding, or bruising, or if you notice your baby isn’t gaining weight or having enough wet diapers, these are indications that the elasticity is interfering with milk transfer and/or expression. Furthermore, if you are experiencing recurring clogged ducts, fever, or flu-like symptoms, you may be dealing with mastitis and need immediate care.
Elastic nipple tissue is responsive tissue. It adapts. As your baby grows, and you find the right flange fit, as the latch stabilizes — feeding can and often does become easier. It is all a possibility, as many mothers with elastic tissue end up full-term nursing, breastfeeding beyond 1-2 years. Many exclusive pumpers successfully provide breast milk for a full year.
You are not broken. Getting help is not giving up, it is empowered knowledge. Using a nipple shield is not failing. Pumping instead of latching is not a lesser choice, it’s you making sure your baby receives the best of you, for their survival and development. This lactation journey is done your way, for your comfort and for your success. There is no one size fits all. This is about discovering what works for you and your baby.
Peer-reviewed lactation science, including work published in the Journal of Human Lactation by Donna Geddes and colleagues at the University of Western Australia (Geddes DT et al., J Hum Lact, 2008; 24(3):250-261).
Verified Resources for Further Learning
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Geddes DT, Kent JC, Mitoulas LR, Hartmann PE. Tongue movement and intra-oral vacuum in breastfeeding infants. Early Human Development. 2008;84(7):471-477. Available through PubMed (PMID: 18226478).
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Kent JC, Mitoulas LR, Cregan MD, Geddes DT, Hartmann PE. Importance of vacuum for breastmilk expression. Breastfeeding Medicine. 2008;3(1):11-19. PubMed PMID: 18333767.
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American Academy of Pediatrics. Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Pediatrics. 2012;129(3):e827-e841. Updated guidance available at healthychildren.org.
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World Health Organization. Infant and Young Child Feeding: Model Chapter for Textbooks. Geneva: WHO Press, 2009. Available at who.int.
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International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA). Find a board-certified IBCLC at ilca.org/find-a-lactation-consultant.
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La Leche League International — llli.org — peer support and evidence-aligned breastfeeding information.
Disclaimer:
This article is intended for general educational purposes only and is not meant to provide medical or clinical advice or replace individualized care. Every parent and feeding journey is different. If you are experiencing ongoing pain, concerns about milk production, or persistent pumping challenges, please seek personalized support from an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant or other qualified healthcare professional who can provide guidance specific to your situation.