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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Preparing for Breastfeeding before birth

18 replies

agrimum · 30/08/2006 10:29

I have been advised by a breastfeeding "ambassador" to start using a breast pump before my due date - to get my nipples used to the suckling action and to help prevent cracked/sore nipples. Has anyone else been advised to do this. I have not been able to find any information on the net. I am 33 weeks, and want to know when to start etc or if it is not such a good idea.

OP posts:

Bibliophile · 30/08/2006 10:31

WTF is a 'breastfeeding ambassador'? Think advice sounds rubbish tbh.

alison222 · 30/08/2006 10:47

I've never heard of this before.
I didn't and fed both my children fine - although it took a bit of getting used to to start with, that was more to getting the way the baby latches on right so the baby oesn't make the nipple sore rather than the sucking action IFSWIM. A breast pump grips differently to a real baby so I'm not sure if this would work.

MadamePlatypus · 30/08/2006 10:52

Not sure about this. I found that I had no problems BF, but that expressing was quite painful, so in my case I would be concerned that this would just lead me to have sore/cracked nipples before the birth. Also, I think it would be very difficult (even if by chance you did find a breast pump similar to your baby) to check that you were getting the correct latch.

tiktok · 30/08/2006 10:57

Crazy, non-evidence-based suggestion, agrimum...there is not one bit of research that would indicate this was a good idea, even in theory. I don't think it would be harmful, but it is certainly awkward and unnecessary.

How is this breastfeeding 'ambassador' being trained? Who is she accountable to?

Dannie · 30/08/2006 11:07

Nonsense, IMHO. Best way to prepare for breastfeeding before birth is to get some good DVDs together, or a strategically placed side table with magazines. Faffing around with pumps is guaranteed to put you off

clairemow · 30/08/2006 11:14

sounds a bit mad, and likely to hurt agrimum! I've also read that nipple stimulation is one of the ways to try and get your baby moving on out - so maybe this isn't such a wise idea at 33 weeks - I don't know if this is right, but it would worry me a bit.

I'm 39 weeks, and have been rubbing moisturiser in to keep my nipples supple - try Lanisoh, it's v. nice!

poppynic · 30/08/2006 12:25

As someone who loved bf and absolutely abhored pumping I've never heard such horrendous "advice". The latch is what counts and that has to be worked out between you and your babe. Thank goodness for MN to put you straight....
If you want to do some "practical" preparation I recommend some perinnial(sp?) massage to prepare for the birth ......My partner certainly enjoyed it and big babe (almost) popped out.

laundrylover · 30/08/2006 13:03

What bonkers advice! The vast majority of bfeeders have never even seen a breast pump!! I know that this is the advice for people adopting and wanting to bf - did this 'ambassador' realise that you are pregnant?Your baby will the best thing to take your colostrum and get your milk through and you will bond much more easily with a beautiful babe than a plastic pump.
Send them away with a Ferraro Rocha and a bee in their ear!

MatNanPlus · 30/08/2006 13:10

A new one on me Agrimum, nothing in any of my books makes this suggestion or hints at it but something i wondered about is his:

A mum i recently visited told me she was advised by her friend to 'play' with her nipples by rolling them, tugging them in the weeks preceding the birth to get them used to being used, she had no soreness at all bf her dd and i wondered as to whether this was a once off thing or whether it could be of benefit, query to those who have bf?

hunkermunker · 30/08/2006 13:13

This is barking advice.

And don't nipple-twiddle too much or you might bring on labour...!

liquidclocks · 30/08/2006 13:39

Hunker's right - nipple 'tweaking' is one the on;y proven ways of getting labour going

liquidclocks · 30/08/2006 13:40

though the women in the study did it for a minimum of 2 hours per day!

moondog · 30/08/2006 13:43

Eh??
Using (nay,even assembling!) a breastpump beforehaving a baby would havescared thecrap out of me!!!

tiktok · 30/08/2006 14:01

MatNanPlus - sounds lke pure co-incidence to me. I mean, rolling and tugging is not what the baby does anyway....

And who has the time and oppportunity to sit and do it anyway???

clairemow · 30/08/2006 14:15

nipple twiddling for 2 hours a day to bring on labour?! I'd better go get started...!!!

Judy1234 · 30/08/2006 15:04

No need to use any breastpump before birth - that would have been so offputting for me. The best preparation is to have no bottles or formula in the house, buy a few books on it and just relax. Make sure you do not have about you after the birth any well meaning relatives pressurising you into bottle feeding. Those are the best preparation methods so sounding out mothers in law and other people's views and then making sure those persons are kept away if their views won't help etc...

Buy some bras you can lift up and down easily and enjoy it.

suedonim · 30/08/2006 18:36

How odd. When I was expecting my first two babies, in the 1970's, I was advised to scrub my nipples with a toothbrush to 'harden them up'. What a waste of time as it made no difference to early bf soreness at all - maybe I should have used toothpaste as well!

Waswondering · 30/08/2006 18:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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