Roughing up my nipples for breastfeeding?

Question

Hey all mama's....soo...my little lady is due for c section this friday Sept 5th! ahhh! so excited. Anywho...i plan to breastfeed. People keep mentioning to me i need to "rough up" my nipples. Say n the shower with a rag...or some pinching techniques? But i'm worried that this will irritate them and make them more sensitive a few days before i will be attempting to feed her ....any thoughts?

Answer 1

Actually I did do this, and then went into labor the next day (2 weeks early)...lol I didn't get to do it that long, but you are going to experience tenderness either way, "roughing them up" is just a way to have less tenderness when you guys begin breastfeeding.

Answer 2

I have never heard of such a thing and I advise against it for the reasons you listed.

Excessive nipple stimulation can cause your body to release a hormone that can make you go into labor. Very risky.

Answer 3

Yeah sounds painful... i just started breastfeeding my daughter who was born on the 17th of Aug and its going great and i never roughed up my nipples. The key is to make sure that you have your baby latched on properly and there shouldn't be any pain. Besides your baby needs to latch there whole mouth to your areola not the nipple.

Answer 4

No its an old wives tale.  You do not need to rough your nipples up and in fact it can irritate them.  It can also make them less sensitive to the stimulation that your baby gives you, which can reduce your milk supply

Answer 5

I wouldnt do it. I have read in a few places (dont remeber where or i would link them) that doing that is kinda a old wifes tale remedy and it is not going to help, but more make you sore like you said. Just wait She is going to make you plenty sore all by herself, hehe. It does hurt at first but the hurting (at least for me) only lasted a week. Grats on you little girl and I wish you a happy and safe delievery!!!!!  

Answer 6

I've never heard of that to get them ready for breastfeeding. I've heard of that as a way to try and induce labor cuz it tricks your body into thinking the baby is trying to breastfeed so its supposed to help induce labor but either way i wouldn't do it. Im pretty sure losts of people who breastfeed don't rough up their nipples first i plan on breastfeeding and will definately not be doing that when the time comes. Wish you the best of luck though!

Answer 7

I've never heard of that before.  I'd say leave them alone.  Have a lactation coach help you.  They will show you how to get the baby to latch on properly.  Once the baby learns how to latch on, and you get the hang of it, you should have minimal problems while breast feeding. Good luck to you, and congratulations.