Nursing - New Moms

Teresa · 07-22-2006, 02:40 PM

Did you do anything special to prepare yourself (actually, your breasts) for nursing? One of my friends scrubbed her nipples with a toothbrush for about a month before having her baby to "toughen" them. Another of my friends suggested putting lanolin on them to make them more pliable. Anybody have any other suggestions? I really want to be a nursing success this time

07-22-2006, 03:05 PM

I didn't do anything. I think all that stuff about preparing your nipples is a crock of

. Just read up on LLL online. That's what I did. Also remember, the first 6wks are the hardest.

mara_jade81 · 07-22-2006, 03:55 PM

No I didn't do anything.

AG2Wife · 07-22-2006, 06:51 PM

Pinch them really really really hard, that will come some what close to the feeling you'll get for the first few weeks!

But really, theres no way to prepare. Just have the mind set that you wont give up!

Brandi · 07-22-2006, 06:51 PM

Scrubbing your nips is NOT a good idea. I know some people swear that you need to, but if you talk to any professional lactation consultant or anyone who knows anything about breastfeeding, they will tell you that is NOT a good idea. It does not help toughen them up or make them any more prepared for nursing. You should just take care of them like normal, avoid any soaps that might dry them out (try not to put soaps directly on your nipples), use lanolin if they feel sore, wear a bra if your t-shirt rubbing bothers them, etc. Do not think you need to scrub your poor nips to prepare them

Breastfeeding can cause a little bit of soreness at first because you're not used to it, but it really should never HURT if you're getting a good latch and the baby is eating properly. If you are having latch problems, using lanolin and nipple shields will help a lot. Definitely don't torture your nippies. Take extra care of them!

navycorpsmanwife · 07-22-2006, 07:35 PM

I would talk with a lactation consultant. Dont be discouraged. It takes a lot of patience. Good luck!

Ste9 · 07-22-2006, 07:50 PM

I didn't do anything before I nursed. The first few weeks is the hardest but after that it's easy

Heather · 07-22-2006, 07:59 PM

I didn't do anything. In the begining it hurt like hell to nurse but thats how my baby was going eat so if I gave up he would have starved. The pain was worse with my first one then with the second. Sometimes I had to stop and look to make sure my nipple wasn't sucked clean off. I know they say there should be no pain if its done right but I think that just depends on the person. if you really really wnat it to work it will be just fine. Cory nursed for about 9-10 months and Lily nursed for about a year. I really wanted Lily to nurse longer because I heard woman who nursed for 2 years or longer had a lower risk of breast cancer.

07-22-2006, 08:09 PM

It is not true that it will not hurt. My latch was perfect and Gwen hurt me. I used to call her Pirahana (sp?)- she hurt me because she just had a very strong jaw, but I still BF her until she was 13months. Once she would get started (about 5mins into nursing), it didn't hurt because she would relax.
Aiden , it only hurt w/in that 1st six weeks because I was not used to it. After that it no longer hurt.

Veronica · 07-22-2006, 08:32 PM

I was always in pain too and Val was latched on right...I didnt do anything special to prepare. Just told myself i wasnt going to give up no matter what!! I got mastitis TWICE but still didnt quit. Val is 14 months now and i'm still nursing. Good Luck and STICK TO IT!!!!

07-22-2006, 02:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Teresa MilitarySOS Jewel Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NC Posts: 10,475 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 13% Longevity: 63%	Nursing Did you do anything special to prepare yourself (actually, your breasts) for nursing? One of my friends scrubbed her nipples with a toothbrush for about a month before having her baby to "toughen" them. Another of my friends suggested putting lanolin on them to make them more pliable. Anybody have any other suggestions? I really want to be a nursing success this time __________________ Feeling Scentsual? Check out http://www.scentsy.com/tjheath for some of the hottest new scents and warmers!

07-22-2006, 03:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
mara_jade81 Cheeseburger in Paradise Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Monterey, California Posts: 16,104 Blog Entries: 3 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 12% Longevity: 98%	No I didn't do anything. __________________

07-22-2006, 06:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
AG2Wife Wife of a weather guy, mom to a toddler tornado! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 4,706 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 1% Longevity: 62%	Pinch them really really really hard, that will come some what close to the feeling you'll get for the first few weeks! But really, theres no way to prepare. Just have the mind set that you wont give up! __________________

07-22-2006, 06:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
Brandi “If you want the last word, apologize.” Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 39,594 Blog Entries: 1 Classifieds: (3) Activity: 21% Longevity: 99%	Scrubbing your nips is NOT a good idea. I know some people swear that you need to, but if you talk to any professional lactation consultant or anyone who knows anything about breastfeeding, they will tell you that is NOT a good idea. It does not help toughen them up or make them any more prepared for nursing. You should just take care of them like normal, avoid any soaps that might dry them out (try not to put soaps directly on your nipples), use lanolin if they feel sore, wear a bra if your t-shirt rubbing bothers them, etc. Do not think you need to scrub your poor nips to prepare them Breastfeeding can cause a little bit of soreness at first because you're not used to it, but it really should never HURT if you're getting a good latch and the baby is eating properly. If you are having latch problems, using lanolin and nipple shields will help a lot. Definitely don't torture your nippies. Take extra care of them! __________________

07-22-2006, 07:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ste9 MilitarySOS Jewel Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 5,636 Classifieds: (7) Activity: 12% Longevity: 59%	I didn't do anything before I nursed. The first few weeks is the hardest but after that it's easy __________________ Visit my Etsy shop - All Ribboned Out Guy meets girl

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07-22-2006, 03:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
RockstarMom Guest Posts: n/a Activity: 0% Longevity: 0%	I didn't do anything. I think all that stuff about preparing your nipples is a crock of . Just read up on LLL online. That's what I did. Also remember, the first 6wks are the hardest.

07-22-2006, 07:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
navycorpsmanwife Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 900 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 0% Longevity: 57%	I would talk with a lactation consultant. Dont be discouraged. It takes a lot of patience. Good luck!

07-22-2006, 07:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
Heather Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: My little house on the prairie Posts: 18,581 Classifieds: (1) Activity: 38% Longevity: 66%	I didn't do anything. In the begining it hurt like hell to nurse but thats how my baby was going eat so if I gave up he would have starved. The pain was worse with my first one then with the second. Sometimes I had to stop and look to make sure my nipple wasn't sucked clean off. I know they say there should be no pain if its done right but I think that just depends on the person. if you really really wnat it to work it will be just fine. Cory nursed for about 9-10 months and Lily nursed for about a year. I really wanted Lily to nurse longer because I heard woman who nursed for 2 years or longer had a lower risk of breast cancer.

07-22-2006, 08:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
RockstarMom Guest Posts: n/a Activity: 0% Longevity: 0%	It is not true that it will not hurt. My latch was perfect and Gwen hurt me. I used to call her Pirahana (sp?)- she hurt me because she just had a very strong jaw, but I still BF her until she was 13months. Once she would get started (about 5mins into nursing), it didn't hurt because she would relax. Aiden , it only hurt w/in that 1st six weeks because I was not used to it. After that it no longer hurt.

07-22-2006, 08:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
Veronica Single and Lovin' it! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,003 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 0% Longevity: 58%	I was always in pain too and Val was latched on right...I didnt do anything special to prepare. Just told myself i wasnt going to give up no matter what!! I got mastitis TWICE but still didnt quit. Val is 14 months now and i'm still nursing. Good Luck and STICK TO IT!!!! __________________ We wont buy, while cats and dogs die. Save a life...get a shelter animal. YUM...