Normal Nipple Position in Term Infants Measured on Breastfeeding Ultrasound

Abstract

Nipple position is believed to influence breastfeeding success. To investigate this belief, submental ultrasound images were obtained during breastfeeding of normal term infants. This study measured nipple to hard-soft palate distance (NHSPD) in 18 mother-infant pairs during the first and fourth weeks of life. Median NHSPD was 5 mm (interquartile: 4, 6 mm). There were no significant differences in median NHSPD between first, second, and fifth minutes of feeding (P = .675) or between week 1 and week 4 (P = .320). The nipple was not stationary during feeding, with mean nipple movement of 4.0 -/+ 1.3 mm. Further research is required with more infants to confirm the boundaries of normality for ultrasound measurements of nipple position during successful breastfeeding.