BFing: How to prevent sore nipples early?

[GoldenTrumpets]

I've a few weeks until first baby is due. Nipples feel very dry lately and I can picture them cracking when baby starts feeding.

Is it worth trying to soften them now, a few weeks beforehand? I was thinking of applying Lansinoh or coconut oil, perhaps.

I'll persevere with breastfeeding even if they get cracked, but I would like to give myself the best chance of success. Any more experienced mums have any advice? Thanks!

I used lasinoh on mine but not until after I had my baby but no reason why you couldn’t use it now - I also use the lanolin lip balm now so it’s v versatile. Not sure if you can prevent cracking and pain except for a very good latch early on but that’s unusual and nipples need time to get used to feeding baby so pain initially with lanolin or whatever you choose to use in between feeds.

I did use nipple shields as the pain was pretty bad, just to give them a break for a few feeds and it didn’t affect feeding but it’s personal choice really

Introduce a dummy so that when the baby is only comfort nursing (tongue is fluttering rather than milk being drawn) you can replace nipple with dummy and give them a break would be my advice (that i followed to my benefit!)

I would use lansinoh now and lots when baby is here. If you have a good latch then comfort nursing shouldn’t be an issue and can be important for supply as well as bonding. Obviously if you have cracked nipples and pain then you need to find a way to take a break but don’t assume it always happens! Hope all goes well.

Your nipples are going to be sore whatever you do, they’re not used to be in a mouth for hours at a time. The best thing to prepare is to understand it will hurt in the early days, but it gets better very quickly and once you’re through the tough bit, breastfeeding is the easiest way to feed.

Lansinoh is great for in between feeds, and nipple shields if it gets really awful.

Make sure you have an IBCLC breastfeeding consultants details if you need to get in touch with someone.

Thanks all! I will try applying some cream now, as it can't hurt to improve the health of the skin.

Thanks @MustardScreams - having realistic expectations will help me a lot. Our usernames are somewhat analogous

I'm not breastfeeding just yet (Baby is due mid Oct!) but I have had real issues with dry and chapped nipple (specifically only the left for some reason).
Leaving me very worried for the time when baby is here because I really really want to breastfeed successfully!

Tried Lanisoh, great at first then just stopped working! Tried cocoa butter and although the dryness stops, the chapping continues )-:

The ONLY thing that is working for me right now is pure olive oil on some kitchen roll/breast pad and putting it onto my nipple throughout the day/night to let it soak in. Heals the chapping and clears up the dryness.

I hope you find something that works for you OP!

My experience was that there's nothing you can do, it will HURT the first couple of days. Only advice I can give is stay strong and know it'll get better. Don't give in to the temptations of bottles and dummies (unless this is what you really want - don't do it because you feel you have to, is what I mean). It will get better. I cried my eyes out every time I breastfed for the first couple of days and ended up breastfeeding for 3.5 years!

I agree with @Sofin. The chances are it will really hurt (an intense stinging pain) for a few days. With my second it lasted almost 6 weeks! . Lots of lanisoh and keeping them out in the air (no material touching them) gives a little relief. I cried through feeds with my eldest though he was a wriggly feeder and never really took to bf. It's well worth it though - before long they can latch on without help and you can feed them whenever, wherever and why ever you want. It's a magic cure/soother for everything from hunger to illness to tiredness to upset and beyond. Enjoy

Slap on the lanolin now, and also use breast milk once baby is here and you're feeding - express a few drops and let it air dry on the nipple, magic stuff.

(I was very lucky and had no pain and no cracks/bleeding, it's good to be realistic but don't worry that you're doomed to it!)

Lansinoh made my nipples worse (I think I may be allergic to it as it does wonders for other people).

But I did get some hydrogel breast discs from amazon. Not cheap so maybe use as a last resort but they did literally help me to continue BF

A friend lent me these: Silverette Nursing Cups - Soothing Sore Breasts or Cracked Nipples with Silver www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00D4MWKNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.MkdDbQVX3DGT?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

to use during the first couple of weeks. Silver is supposed to have healing properties. I wore them in between feeds and would squirt a bit of breastmilk into them when I put them on. They were amazing! Can definitely recommend although I recognise that they are quite pricey.

Lansinoh, Lansinoh, lansinoh. I didn’t know about it when I had my first DC but was well prepared with my other DC to prevent sore nipples. It’s fantastic.