Should you, shouldn't you - breastfeeding question

Pregnancy-No1 · May 17th, 2009, 11:09 AM

Im planning to breastfeed my little boy and I have red in some books that you should try and toughen your nipples before the baby arrives so that you don't struggle with sore nipples when trying to breastfeed your baby.... but then on some other websites I red that you shouldn't do it? Im confused now... Can anyone give me advise please?

Pyrrhic · May 17th, 2009, 11:10 AM

Stimulating your nipples can cause contractions of the womb, and cause you to leak colostrum, which could inhibit your ability to continue producing colostrum when the baby is born.

Personally, I would leave well alone. It only takes a week or so once baby is here to get used to it.

leeanne · May 17th, 2009, 11:12 AM

I never read any of that during my pregnancies, and, therefore never did anything of the sort. Breastfeeding went well with my first two without doing a thing to my nipples.

GersPrincess · May 17th, 2009, 11:13 AM

Ooh, I've never read that anywhere, and have successfully breastfed 2 babies so far, and hopefully No3 will go the same way.
In my opinion, as long as you get the positioning right, you shouldnt get sore or cracked nipples. I've never had them.
Had a bit of pain with engorgement, right enough, but cabbage sorted that out fine!!
You could maybe speak to your midwife/breastfeeding champion about it, and see what they say, I'd be interested in the professional's view.

Peanut78 · May 17th, 2009, 12:01 PM

Thanks for asking this question, I read something similar and was wondering. From the replies I have now read on here - I think I will just let nature take it's course once LO is here and leave them alone for now!

xx

Always&4ever · May 17th, 2009, 12:02 PM

Yes you are meant to leave your nipples alone hon

avabear73 · May 17th, 2009, 12:23 PM

Toughening up nipples .. doesn't sound much like fun I must say

Pregnancy-No1 · May 17th, 2009, 12:28 PM

Im gonna leave my nipples alone, thanks for all the replies

DizzyMoo · May 17th, 2009, 12:29 PM

Oh i never heard of this either , i planned on bottle feeding throughout my preg but also said i would try bf & see what happened , at least if it didn't work i had tried. I ended up bf for 11mths

May 17th, 2009, 11:09 AM	#1
Pregnancy-No1 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: South-Africa Posts: 530	Should you, shouldn't you - breastfeeding question Im planning to breastfeed my little boy and I have red in some books that you should try and toughen your nipples before the baby arrives so that you don't struggle with sore nipples when trying to breastfeed your baby.... but then on some other websites I red that you shouldn't do it? Im confused now... Can anyone give me advise please?

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May 17th, 2009, 11:10 AM	#2
Pyrrhic Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 14,567	Stimulating your nipples can cause contractions of the womb, and cause you to leak colostrum, which could inhibit your ability to continue producing colostrum when the baby is born. Personally, I would leave well alone. It only takes a week or so once baby is here to get used to it.

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May 17th, 2009, 11:12 AM	#3
leeanne Mum (Mom) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 26,691	I never read any of that during my pregnancies, and, therefore never did anything of the sort. Breastfeeding went well with my first two without doing a thing to my nipples.

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May 17th, 2009, 11:13 AM	#4
GersPrincess Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 2,581	Ooh, I've never read that anywhere, and have successfully breastfed 2 babies so far, and hopefully No3 will go the same way. In my opinion, as long as you get the positioning right, you shouldnt get sore or cracked nipples. I've never had them. Had a bit of pain with engorgement, right enough, but cabbage sorted that out fine!! You could maybe speak to your midwife/breastfeeding champion about it, and see what they say, I'd be interested in the professional's view.

Status: Offline

May 17th, 2009, 12:01 PM	#5
Peanut78 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,018	Thanks for asking this question, I read something similar and was wondering. From the replies I have now read on here - I think I will just let nature take it's course once LO is here and leave them alone for now! xx

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May 17th, 2009, 12:02 PM	#6
Always&4ever Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Stoke-on-Trent Posts: 9,507	Yes you are meant to leave your nipples alone hon

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May 17th, 2009, 12:23 PM	#7
avabear73 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 814	Toughening up nipples .. doesn't sound much like fun I must say

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May 17th, 2009, 12:28 PM	#8
Pregnancy-No1 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: South-Africa Posts: 530	Im gonna leave my nipples alone, thanks for all the replies

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May 17th, 2009, 12:29 PM	#9
DizzyMoo Mum (Mom) Inactive Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5,902	Oh i never heard of this either , i planned on bottle feeding throughout my preg but also said i would try bf & see what happened , at least if it didn't work i had tried. I ended up bf for 11mths

Status: Offline

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