Breastfeeding question.?

Question

Im preg and plan on breastfeeding. some people tell me to rough up my nipples now like in the shower with a washcloth or something and that will keep me from chapping and bleeding when I breastfeed. Has anyone heard of this and is it true?

Answer 1

myth.

at most all you need to do is wash your nipples with warm water and avoid soap.

Answer 2

i dont think that would make a difference. i wanted to breast feed my son, unfortunatly i dint know how to do it but when i latched him on (which was the wrong way) my nipples did not hurt at all. and i dint get ready for that while being pregnant.

Answer 3

i didnt do anything and i am fine...i would gbet some lansinoh lanolin cream b4 u have the baby to help with dryness or soreness...also squeezing a little milk or colostrum on your nipples hellps too!! good luck! idk if u want advice but i would read as much as possible about breastfeeding before doing it so it is easier in the long run!

Answer 4

it is a myth. our bodies are designed to naturally handle breastfeeding and our nipples adapt to this (i am currently breastfeeding and can fully twist my nipple around with no pain). the only time you will have a problem is if your baby isn't latching on properly, and there are nipple shields to help with that, roughing your nipples up now will only make breastfeeding harder for both you and your child.

Answer 5

what the doctors told me was when milk comes out rub it on my nipple.. that worked.. i guess? i never chapped or anything.. guess cause i always did that?

Answer 6

that is an old myth. No it won't help. Get some lactolin and put that on. It is a natural product made from lanolin. If the baby is attached properly you will not have problems. The rule is...if it is hurting take them off (break suction by finger in corner of babies mouth) and reattach. It should not hurt if they are on properly. It may take several times before they attach properly. It is a learning thing for them and you. Don't worry if they cry about it as it will just make their mouth more open to take inas much of the aereola as possible

Answer 7

I've heard of women doing this.

I didn't do it either time (I breastfed my daughter and am currently breastfeeding our son). Granted, I had some chafing, but my nipples "toughened up" after five days or so.

Answer 8

well I'm breast feeding and i never did that ouch!!! But i do know for sure from the hospital that if your get chapping or blisters to express a little milk and let it air dry on you and they say it's the best thing and from experience let me tell you that it works wonders than using any nipple cream!!!

Answer 9

I didn't do anything and I never had any problems with chapping and bleeding.

Answer 10

I am currently breastfeeding my first baby and I had sore nipples after a couple days of nursing. It was a little sore.. but not really painful. The nurse gave me a free sample of PureLan 100 to relieve sore and cracked nipples. She gives  a free sample to all breastfeeding moms.:0) She told me they sold it OTC at the pharmacy.  I decided to use it a couple times and it was fantastic.

When I was pregnant I told my family members and friends that I was going to breastfeed and they gave me their horror stories. Try it out and find out for yourself...! Every person is different.