This might be TMI - but I needed to ask anyways. I had a few older ladies and friends that have already nursed babies give me advice to start toughening up my nipples now... like take a washcloth in the shower and rub hard continuously for a few minutes...
All of them suggested this and said it helps you prepare for the pain that the baby will give while sucking... has anyone else heard of this? I'm not sure if I should consider this advice or not.
Re: Questions about planning to nurse...
No this is total wives tale stuff----you should NOT do any of it! I asked my doc and she said it was total BS. There is nothing you can do to prepare for breastfeeding in terms of "toughening" anything up. The only time they tell you to "stimulate" your nipples is when you are trying to get yourself into labor when you are like 40 weeks pregnant.
NO NO NO NO NO!!! It's an old wives tale that was prevalent when our mothers were having babies but I talked to my dr. about it the first time and she said it's completely untrue and you would just be putting yourself through unncessary pain.
If you are planning on breastfeeding I would suggest hooking up with a breastfeeding group in your area. I took a BF workshop the first time and it really helped to know what you're supposed to do, how the baby should latch etc. It is a learned art by you as well as baby. Yes, it is a natural thing but there is also a learning curve to it.
No, thats BS. make sure you take good breastfeeding classes and know who to call (I had a doula after birth who helped a lot as well as the nurses in the hospital and the LLL.
The one thing I advise to do on breastfeeding is to educate yourself. Read books, research online and take a class.
I had some tough nights while exclusively nursing but I felt that I was well informed and was able to get through it.
That's exactly what I was thinking.
I don't know -- the first couple of weeks BFing were NOT fun!
that's exactly what i thought lol...there is nothing in this world to prepare you for that feeling!
No.
Honestly, nothing can prepare you for the initial pain and becoming accustomed to nursing, save nursing itself. But rest assured it is temporary and lanolin, ice packs, and whatever they give you at the hospital for pain postpartum (Motrin, Tyelnol, whatever) def helps!