Preparing Nipples for Breastfeeding

[CageBird]

Hello everyone!

I'm looking for some advice, please. I've had 2 previous unsuccessful attempts at breastfeeding. The first lasted 6 awful weeks and the second just 2 weeks. I'm expecting DC3 in 5 weeks and am lining up lots of support and am going to give it my best shot.

One of my main problems (I could hi-jack this whole post with my BF woes) was badly cracked and bleeding nipples.

ANYWAY: MIL came charging in today with a tube of Lansinoh which her friend's daughter put on her nipples for months before the birth of her baby to toughen them up. Never heard of this, do you think it would work? I'm sceptical.

However, Lansinoh can be used for other ailments, and one thing the leaflet says is: "for protection against blisters on your feet (apply it 2 hours before going on long walks) and on heavily stressed skin.

Opinions please?

Never heard of applying Lansinoh before beginning breastfeeding - excellent for aiding healing if you do get any cracks/blisters in the early days though.

There is no need to 'prepare' your nipples for breastfeeding - just make sure you get plenty of help and support in ensuring you have a good latch and position, which is the best defence against sore nipples.

Good luck, by the way. Hope you have an easier time of it this time around.

The Lansinoh will help when you are breastfeeding, to protect your nipples if they do get cracked. There isn't any prep you can do beforehand, and if you do get sore/cracked nipples, then you should see a breastfeeding counsellor or midwife as it is likely to be poor positioning and attachment.
Id there any breastfeeding support groups near you? They often welcome expectant mums and many of them will be happy to talk to you about their experiences and what worked for them.

There's no evidence to that any product can prepare your nipples, sadly.

At the risk of sounding a bit patronising, the most important thing for preventing pain and cracked nipples is to get the latch absolutely right so it might be worthwhile hunting down a really good breastfeeding counselor to work with you. La Leche League have a nice link here which might be helpful

Thanks ladies. I have the number of a Lactation Consultant unofficially recommended by MW. I'm going to call her today and meet with her before hand and have her ready to help once the baby arrives.

Last time MWs were telling me that my technique and latch looked good and they couldn't advise any more. I did have thrush in my nipples both times, which made them very painful.

Used Lansinoh during feeding in the past, I was just wondering if anyone out there had used it before? I'd never heard of it but MIL is insistent!

I have a friend who scrubs her nipples for a few months before the baby arrives, to toughen them up

I used Lansinoh pre-emptively (over the last month of pregnancy) this time as my nipples were quite sore when I was feeding DS1.

It did seem to help and certainly doesn't cause any harm. It might just be that DS2 was a different sort of feeder than DS1 or that my nipples were more prepared.

You want soft supple nipples for BFing not irritated "toughened" ones. Lansinoh nice on your hands as well which take a beating with a baby.

This Lactation Consultant....is she definitely a properly qualified Lactation Consultant, or someone of the Claire Byam Cook ilk? You really need a properly trained and qualified person. Have you got her full details?

The nipple scrubbing is a terrible idea...

Thrush is very likely to reoccur and can really screw up breastfeeding. I had it with all my babies and dealt with it with Daktarin cream + gel which cleared it up very quickly. The oral gel is not recommended for under 3 month olds now though because of a choking hazard.

But at the first sign of thrush, definitely get to the doctor for something to clear it up because it's agony... I struggled hard to establish feeding dc1 because of agonising and misdiagnosed thrush (milk curds indeed ) but spotted it early with the other two and no problems.

Scrubbing = nooooo!

Morloth - yay! Glad to find someone else who's heard of this. As you say, won't do any harm. Will be applying for the next 5 weeks.

Carbonated, found her on the Lactation Consultants of Great Britain website, and she works at the hospital I will have the baby at. Hopefully she'll be a good one.

Carmen, thanks for the comments about thrush. I suspect I will get it again, I feel it lurking often IFKWIM. Will be straight off to docs at the first sign. It is just so painful and sad when the baby gets it too. My last had it from his mouth through to his nappy rash.

Oh that sounds ideal Cagebird. It's not Birmingham is it? (Only because I know the most fantastic LC who also works in Birmingham hospitals)

I had the most crappy BF experience with DS1 and he only ever had about 5 feeds from me. But I am still feeding DS2 18 months later and it has been a piece of cake in comparison. Arm yourself with all the support and information you can, and there is no reason not to succeed this time. Good luck

Just thought, if you start to take acidophilus tablets as soon as you give birth, you might well ward off any thrush. You can get them from the health food shop. I swear by them. I had thrush both times due to IV antibiotics and the first time I struggled on for ages in pain before finally getting the acidophilus, whereas with DS2 I knew what it was straight away and it never got very bad and went much more quickly after I took the acidophilus. And wash those bras at 60 degrees, changing every day.

Ooh, good idea about the acidophilus, Carbonated. I will get some in. Seriously, I'm preparing for the worst!

I'm not in Birmingham, I'm in the East -so won't be meeting your lovely LC. Nice to hear you can have a positive experience after a bad one. I'm daunted at having had 2 bad experiences, but I'm still going to throw everything at it. DS had reflux, and used to latch on and off, over and over - agony. Fingers crossed there this bubba will not have that problem.

I had 2 unsuccessful attempts at bf'ing too (cracked, bleeding nipples, mastitus).

Third time round I was desperate to bf but felt like the odds were against me, so whilst pregnant bought myself a whizzy pump so I would be able to express and feed. Also on the advice of mn, I got hold of some silverettes www.breastfeedingheaven.co.uk/breastfeeding-products/silverette-healing-cups/prod_138.html which help healing.

I found bf'ing tricky to begin with and despite being told I had a perfect latch, still suffered from cracked nipples. I used the silverettes immediately and although they weren't a miracle cure I really think they helped heal the cracks so that I could continue bf'ing. I'm still bf'ing dd at 5 months and can't believe what a different experience its been third time round. BTW, I've used my pump but never 'needed' to!

Good luck, it can be done!!

Thanks MRWOLF, so great to hear - really encouraging.

I had heard vaguely about silverettes on MN some time ago but had forgotten about them. Interesting site, with the milk boosting products too. Will run them all past my LC.