What Is Maternal Concepts® and Who Is It For?

Updated

Maternal Concepts® is a specialty breastfeeding product company that has supported women with special breastfeeding needs since 1997. It is aimed at mothers facing latching difficulties caused by flat, retracting, or inverted nipples, as well as families who need alternative or supplemental feeding methods for infants. Its product line centers on three devices: the Evert-It™ Nipple Enhancer, the Suckle-Cup™ Infant Feeder, and the SuppleMate™ Infant Care I & II.

Who the products are designed for

The company's stated focus is narrow and practical: breastfeeding situations that standard advice does not always solve. Based on the product descriptions on the site, the typical user is:

  • A mother whose nipples are flat, retracted, or inverted, making it hard for her infant to latch on properly or at all.
  • A mother with engorged or overly full breasts, where softening the areola helps the baby latch.
  • A pregnant person past 37 weeks who wants to encourage nipple eversion before birth to make starting breastfeeding easier.
  • A caregiver who needs to feed an infant by cup or supplemental method, rather than directly at the breast.

If breastfeeding is progressing without latch problems, these devices are not positioned as general-purpose accessories.

The three products at a glance

Product What it is Primary use described on the site
Evert-It™ Nipple Enhancer A medical device with a dual tip (narrow sleeve end and cone end) Improving nipple protractility and helping flat, retracted, or inverted nipples evert; drawing out milk to soften an engorged areola
Suckle-Cup™ Infant Feeder A soft, flexible, funnel-shaped cup Feeding an infant by cup
SuppleMate™ Infant Care I & II A supplemental feeding system Supplemental feeding while a baby is at the breast

How the Evert-It™ works, and its limits

The Evert-It™ uses suction to encourage the nipple to protrude. The dual tip exists for two different jobs:

  • Narrow sleeve end: applies concentrated suction at the base of the nipple, where adhesions may prevent optimal protrusion.
  • Cone end: fits all nipple sizes and delivers similar suction pressure; the site specifically recommends the cone end for drawing milk out of the lactiferous sinuses when breasts are engorged.

The site states the device is not recommended before 37 weeks of pregnancy. That is a clear timing condition worth respecting rather than working around.

Care and sterilization: what the site says

Cleaning guidance is specific and includes a few trade-offs:

  • Routine cleaning: hot soapy water, rinse well, air dry. The site notes that breastmilk's antibacterial nature means sterilization should not be necessary.
  • Boiling: acceptable if sterilization is needed; a small amount of shrinkage may occur in the soft tip, but suction should be unaffected.
  • Dishwasher: only the tip is dishwasher safe. Repeated dishwasher cycles make the syringe very difficult to pull.
  • Do not autoclave or microwave — both affect the syringe.

Deciding whether this is relevant to you

Maternal Concepts® is worth looking into if your situation matches one of the described use cases: a latch problem tied to nipple shape or engorgement, a need to prepare nipples before birth after 37 weeks, or a need for cup or supplemental feeding. The site's FAQ answers practical questions about the Evert-It™ specifically, so it is the best starting point if that device is your reason for visiting.

Because these are described as medical devices used for feeding and latch support, the appropriate next step is to discuss the specific device with your lactation consultant or clinician, who can confirm whether it fits your situation and how to use it correctly.