I'm 12 weeks pregnant and I hard somewhere that it was good to "prepare" your nipples for breastfeeding, but how exactly do I do that??
2006-09-01 05:25:48 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
All answers were great! I can't choose one so I'll put it out for voting :-)
2006-09-02 12:17:10 · update #1
my doctor said it use to be thought necessary to tough them up BUT he sees no real reason to do that. Breastfeeding done right should not cause nipple problems consult a lactation consultant my doc says no reason to do anything and too much nipple stimulation can cause contractions.
2006-09-01 05:30:11 · answer #1 · answered by ally'smom 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You don't need to do anything to prepare your nipples for nursing. The recommendation to "rough up" your nipples is outdated. This is more likely to cause you problems than to help you.
Buy nursing bras in your last trimester. Get nursing pads to wear in your bra in case you leak. Get some lanolin cream (Lansinoh) for your nipples. Get a good breastfeeding book like, "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" by LLL. Make sure that the hospital staff know not to give your baby any artificial nipples. Find out the phone number of your local La Leche League Leader and go to some meetings if you can. You'll feel more comfortable calling her with questions if you've met her prior to the birth. Plus, you'll build a support system and lean a lot before the baby comes.
2006-09-01 05:48:26 · answer #2 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Congrats on your desire to learn more about breastfeeding your baby! Breastfeeding is often hard work at first, but if you press on past the first 6-8 weeks it is an amazing and wonderful experience.
Unless you have an uncommon condition called "inverted nipples" you do not have to do anything to prepare your breasts for breastfeeding.
Just think, do women in the rainforests have special towels they use on their breasts? No. They just put the baby to the breast and let nature take its course. It helps that all their mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts and cousins also breastfeed and know how to help. We in the "modern" world often have to get help from a lactation consultant.
The best thing you can do to prepare for breastfeeding is educate yourself on how it works, what are the most common "pitfalls" and how to deal with them, and find out what local support groups are in your area for breastfeeding mothers.
Beyond that, the rest is attitude and determination ;-) Best wishes to you for a healthy pregnancy, easy birth, and happy baby!
2006-09-01 05:44:35 · answer #3 · answered by Kathryn A 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, right now it's a bit early to start. There really is no need to toughen up your nipples. It used to be believed that you should but not anymore. I have a friend that has 6 kids & she has found that starting at about 7 months rub lanisoh ointment on your nipples everyday & that helps prepare you for breastfeeding. Good luck!
2006-09-01 05:41:51 · answer #4 · answered by mamabens 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its an old myth that niples need to be toughened up in preperation for breastfeeding. and some even do more damage than good - such as rubbing with a nail brush or course cloth. ouch. flat or inverted nipplescan be coaxed out with the use of a 'nipplette' or by using a breast pump.
your nipples will naturally prepare themselfs by secreting oils & pre-milk later in pregnancy...
the main thing you need to do is be sure to latch the baby on correctly when they start feeding - the baby will have most of your areola in its mouth, not just your nipple & be taking strong slow sucks - not quick pulls. and be sure to dry your nipples off when done, let them get some air - use your hairdrier if you want.
some people will get sore nipples - even cracked & bleeding in the first few weeks of breast feeding - i did - but it will get better there are creams available, but i found airing them much better as although creams eased the 'ouch' even the best ones didnt do much towards healing them. refresh your breast pads regularly too.
good luck & i hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well.
2006-09-01 05:51:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, I think they mean mentally. It's very very difficult to have a baby chomp on your nipples every two hours, especially since they're not exactly sure what they're doing either. I mean, I couldn't do it. Lots of women can't. (Just so you know formula isn't poison, breastmilk is best, but formula isn't bad.) Just a suggestion, about a week before you have your baby, go to the store and buy something called 'soothies' and put them in your fridge. They feel so good on your nipples, it also, if they're cold enough, helps numb them up before you breastfeed.
Even though i stopped producing, the only reason I got through the six weeks that i did was because of those soothies.
2006-09-01 05:32:55 · answer #6 · answered by sunshinegirlieo 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I did the wash cloth trick but it didn't help me at all. Breastfeeding hurt like a SOB lol, I also heard that if you get that laninsol cream (the purple tube) and start putting that on your nipples about a month before you have the baby that that will help. I was going to try that out with my next baby lol, I'm willing to do anything to not have to deal with 2 weeks of hell again. But once you get over that hump breastfeeding is great lol.
Be careful not to mess with them to much because you can cause yourself to get contractions.
2006-09-01 05:30:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't do anything!
Nipple preparation is one of those old fashioned things that do not help, but do cause the expectant mother a lot of aggravation and pain.
Dr. Sears' "The Breastfeeding Book" is excellent and supportive. It separates fact from fiction. Also "What to expect when you're Expecting and "what to expect the first year" discuss breastfeeding detail.
2006-09-01 05:31:04 · answer #8 · answered by anniekim 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i never did anything. my nipple were so sensitives it hurt even to accidentally touch them. i talked to my doctor and read a whole bunch of books, they all said it's ok not to prepare your nipples. when you start breastfeeding the most important thing is proper latching. and use a lanolin at the very beginning after each nursing to sooth them. worked great with me. never had an issue. i breastfed my baby for almost 2 years.
2006-09-01 05:37:04 · answer #9 · answered by D.J. 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My daughter just had her first and last baby, at age 38. It hurt, too, but a lactation volunteer taught her that it only hurts when the baby is only sucking on the nipple, he needs to get more of the breast than the nipple in his mouth. When she did that, the pain stopped.
2006-09-01 05:52:34 · answer #10 · answered by retiredslashescaped1 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋