Should I be 'preparing my breasts' for breastfeeding?

[LuckyC]

A couple of people have recommended that I start to 'toughen up my nipples' in preparation for breastfeeding.

Nipple bootcamp? Really? Anyone else heard or done this? And how did you do it? And was it effective?

Running a cheesegrater over them at four hourly intervals might do it .

I've never found anything that prepares me for this particular hell. It doesn't last that long though. They will be hard as diamonds after a couple of weeks.

And I'll be watching this thread with interest!

I put lansinoh on my nipples every day from 36 weeks - didn't get cracked nipples either time and very little pain first time round.

Not necessary. There are plenty of ways you can prepare for breastfeeding but you don't need to do anything to your nipples!

Useful things to do are:
Reading about breastfeeding This book is really good.

Having the support line numbers to hand in case you do experience difficulties. Listed here

And have some Lansinoh cream to sooth your nipples in the early days- I didn't need it for long but it was really useful for the first week.

just give them a good pep talk

One of my friends said her mother told her to prepare them by exposing them to UV light. We both thought she was bonkers, first because where he could find some bottled UV light in the middle of the winter, and second, and most importantly, because pregnancy, birth and whatever happens after it are already hard enough without having to stress also about nipple training.

You don't need to do anything to toughen up your nipples. Good attachment from the start is the best thing you can do for them!

The pep talks sounds a good thing, though. If it doesn't thoughened them up at least you will laugh about it for years to come.

lol, pep talk. I actually did that a little

(had many problems BFing DD, so I was worried when I had DS)

I put a cheap nipple cream on a couple of times a day in the last few weeks, and after DS was born Lansinoh worked wonders (expensive but worth it, a little goes a long way!).

The main advice I have is if you have any trouble BFing in hospital, be assertive and ask for all the help you need

3M

Further to the cheesegrater comment, I should add that I have very flat nipples.

My sister has nipples like Ford wheel nuts and never had a seconds bother, but no amount of good attachment and BF advice has seen me through the first couple of weeks without discomfort as there has not been a baby born with a mouth big enough.

snigger - pep talk. Get DH to do it. 'Right, you two, listen up...'

flybynight ow.

Thanks for nipple cream advice and FaintlyMacabre thanks for links.

When I was pregnant the first time a lady I worked with recommended putting cream on them everyday to help keep them supple so they stretch more easily but I thought it was a silly idea.

I had inverted nipples and was did have a lot of problems for first 8 weeks but continued to breastfeed until my son was 15months old.

My nipples are no longer inverted so I am more hopeful this time but I will be putting cream on them as anything that might improve on my previous experience has got to be worth it!!

snigger at the pep talk comment. If that doesn't work you'll have to pull them aside and tell them to pull their socks up!

i had a bad time with my DD, and sadly gave up after only 2 weeks. I am hoping this time round to persevere for longer. I also have flat nipples, and have just bought the latch assist by lansinoh. Waiting for it to arrive so i can give it a go! hoping it might help. Also armed with the lansinoh cream. Trying to be positive about it but am scared its going to be just as painful as last time.