Very fair skin and breast feeding...

[Bellyrub1980]

I'm a red head and I have very fair skin. Infact I didn't even know I had areola until I became pregnant simply because they had no pigmentation. (Surprised by how massive my areola are actually, but that's a different subject!!)

I've heard that women like myself can be much more prone to sore cracked nipples, which seems to be a big factor in packing it in.

I feel a bit silly asking this but is there anything I can do now (39+3 preg) to prepare my nipples and toughen them up??!

Wasn't aware of any link to skin colour... Thought all skin was just skin.

FWIW I alsonhave incredibly pale skin and found breastfeeding a breeze apart from some soreness at the beginning which was not insufferable, it can make you wince when they first latch on but it should settle down after a few sucks. Lansinoh definitely helps but only needed it for first few weeks.

Other tips to avoid soreness - go braless if they get really sore, feels like the air helps them heal. Also use breast pads which don't feel scratchy on your nipples. I ended up getting washable bamboo ones but whatever works for you.

Redhead and fair skinned too and I EBF for 7 months. Had a few occasions where it was sore but nothing out of the ordinary. Good luck!

I have fair, sensitive skin but had no problems breastfeeding.

I put Lansinoh on my nipples daily for a couple of weeks before DD was due, which I think helped to make sure my skin was well moisturised and prevented cracking.

However the most important thing is to make sure the baby is well latched on (and doesn't have tongue-tie!) which your midwife should be able to help you with.

I'm also very fair and had never heard this.

If your nipples do crack I can recommend Jelonet, which is a very greasy gauze which really helps with moist wound healing. A midwife will be able to get some for you.

You don't need to toughen up your nipples.

As long as your baby has the right attachment you should be fine. Breast milk is also good to rub a little on your nipples after feeding, then let your nipples air. But don't forget and then answer the door uncovered!

There are lots of breasts feeding experts around who should be able to help irl if you have any issues.

When I had ds1 the midwife who mentored the trainee midwives and a student delivered him. She popped him straight on the breast. I was surprised how much the initial 'grab' hurts, but was reassured this is normal. I had a few occasions where the positioning wasn't correct, and my nipple rubbed on the roof of his mouth (which then scanned over - nice), but airing and Lanosin (or whatever it's called) sorted it out.

Hope it works out for you.

mamushka I think there is a link between very fair skin being thinner, more fragile and more easily bruised. But it's probably combined with hormones, collagen type and an array of other factors. Add to that a suckling baby and all the variables with latch etc and someone, somewhere must have made a link between fair skin and more easily cracked nipples. But clearly this thread disproves this theory several times over which had given me a lot more confidence and peace of mind!!

Thanks ladies

I'm brunette but VERY fair/ginger skin! I have NO pigment in my areola at all so unless they are wrinkly you can't see where they are! I did have a tough time BF but that was to do with tongue tie/bad latch and thrush. However I overcame it all and kept going. If you are sore when you start BF make sure you seek help from a lactation consultant or bf counsellor/peer support etc. Please don't worry in advance. Like many of the ladies it could be fine!!

I am fair and I did get cracked and sore - multi-mam gel pads worked really well for me, and jack newman's nipple cream was great for dc1. In general, don't wait too long to get baby's latch checked!