Let's talk nipples

lisap0924 · January 2015

FTM here planning to BF LO

in attempts to get my nipples ready for BF, does any STM have any advice?
I plan on trying the nipple cream. My H cousin also told me to try rubbing a towel on my nipples after I get out of the shower. She sais it helps toughen the nipples and that she did it with both of her kids. She is a little nuts so idk if I trust her

Unknown · January 2015

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happybabe123 · January 2015

My husband offered to help get mine ready. . .

happybabe123 · January 2015

Ok, I couldn't help it, but in all seriousness I'm not sure there really is much other than know what to expect (engorgement, time for the milk to come in, regulation) and know what is not normal (fever, redness, hot to the touch).

There are lots of great resources / check for a local La Leche League too.

lisap0924 · January 2015

Thanks everyone! A few people have mentioned "prepping" my nips lately so I was concerned.
And as @pearsforpoops‌ said, i was under the assumption nipple stimulation was a no go for later in pregnancy so was confused about the "towel theory" lol

lisap0924 · January 2015

I'm taking a breastfeeding class at the end of the month and I have some reading material. I'm glad I got some opinions on the towel theory tho

happybabe123 · January 2015

Classes are a good idea and just support in general. I'm very vocal in knowing the signs of mastitis. I didn't and it was a horror story with my last. It ended up with having to be surgically drained. I don't wish that on anyone!

Be patient with it and know that even if you do need to supplement it's not the end of world (again speaking from experience and too many spilled tears on that one).

Et: autocorrect

PHNJenna · January 2015

I'm a FTM, so no experience personally, but professionally, I have taken plenty of breastfeeding trainings and work in maternal child health right now- it is not recommended to "roughen" or "tweak" nipples during the third trimester because of the stimulation to cause contractions. A PP mentioned rubbing the expressed milk and allowing it to dry on your nipples as a barrier. I have also heard that lansinoh is great too. I bought some nipple balm from the honest company to have on hand.

cafecreme · January 2015

Buy the Lansinoh brand nipple cream. It was the only thing that helped soothe and numb my nipples. It was magic.

071115 · January 2015

I never did anything to prepare to breastfeed. And we had no problem

honkytonk_kid · January 2015

Noooo please leave your poor nips alone! There is really nothing you can do now to prepare for the abuse that comes with the first week of BF, so you might as be nice to them now. Get some lanolin and nice breast pads for when baby comes and don't worry about it until then.

Clobert · January 2015

Every reputable source says to NOT toughen or prep your nipples. It is often sited as something crazy that people used to do that we don't do anymore.

lisap0924 · January 2015

aylacbw said:
I don't understand this ridiculous towel idea. Is your newborns mouth filled with a rough terry cloth fabric moving back and forth across your nipples? No. So don't do it. You could irritate them to the point of infection and that's not going to help your breastfeedibg mission one bit.</blockquote

Yeah it seems kinda nuts. She told me it helps to cause a callus on the nip, therefor making it tougher for breastfeeding.
It didn't seem right to me, but I'm a FTM I thought it was one of those things lol

lisap0924 · January 2015

Clobert said:
Every reputable source says to NOT toughen or prep your nipples. It is often sited as something crazy that people used to do that we don't do anymore.

I agree. Everywhere I looked said not to. Like I said, many people have mentioned nipple toughening to me, so I didn't know if it was a new thing. Silly

Skrittens · January 2015

@lisap0924‌ - I glad you asked the question. I, too, was wondering if there was anything I needed to do to prep my nipples. I guess just leave them alone. Which actually makes a lot of sense.

mangomimosa · January 2015

Yup - leave 'em alone! All the LC's I know would get so frustrated by the idea that nips have to be prepared. Prep by taking a class or reading a book. (Not a stupid q though - my H is a doc & keeps badgering me about doing this. He just wants to be the one to do it... Finally dropped the idea when I mentioned he could help with perineal massage, which IS recommended!)

genmccarley · January 2015

Someone told me the towel thing was recommended by LLL when she was nursing her children (probably 30-50 years ago). I was a FTM & decided it was worth a shot and ow... No... My nipples were bleeding!!! A quick google search and I realized how stupid I was to just jump on that advice... Ugh.

Anyway you actually want your nipples to be as supple and soft as possible not tough... The cream is really the best thing for soreness which will inevitably happen nursing a newborn. It should subside though. A lot of moms really like the gel packs they sell too & I plan to try those this go around.

lisap0924 · January 2015

Thanks ladies! I'll trust your nip recommendations over my crazy cousin in law for sure!!

MeganPobega · January 2015

Mine seem to be toughening up on their own. This whole week, I've noticed that they feel firmer and the skin is rougher. This will be the second I breastfed, so I think my body just knows what to do lol. As for towels on sore nipples? I couldn't even let the water in the shower touch my nipples without crying. You can get cold gel pads and lotion. Warm compresses.

scrappypom · January 2015

What to expect says to leave them alone!!

lisap0924 · January 2015

Thanks again ladies! I know this post sounds pretty silly, lol, but more than crazy cousin mentioned it so I figured it was something to ask.

Unknown · January 2015

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JCWhitey · January 2015

Sanding nipples is giving me such horrible visualizations way too early in the morning...

I didn't/won't do anything to "prep" my nipples. They hurt for a bit and it kind of sucked but for most that passes in just a couple of weeks. Definitely keep some things around to help you feel better, though. Lansinoh actually made it harder for my son to feed (stupid flat nipples) so I use expressed milk mostly. Then when he got better at nursing I started using coconut oil and prefer that to the Lansinoh. Then I got these warming/cooling things that Lansinoh makes and those things are great! I preferred mine warm so I'd always have a set in the microwave ready to go and slapped them on there after a feeding.

Kdeanda · January 2015

I beg you not to try the towel on the nipples thing! I did it once and mine stung like crazy afterwards for like 2 days. Then they were slightly raw and clung to my sports bras. And then I'd change and it would stick and.. i cry inside just thinking about it. Ughhh. That was the only time I tried to toughen my nipples. I don't think it's necessary to do this at all. Or maybe I'm just not as sensitive. But with my daughter I breastfed and pumped and didn't have a problem with my nipples being raw. I had other issues like clugged ducts and breastfeeding problems, but nothing about them being raw... just learn from me and don't do it. I beg you!!

finallyourturn2 · January 2015

I was told to start the lanolin before birth.

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