Roughing up your nipples to prepare for breastfeeding?? - Page 2

[LemonPie]

http://www.llli.org/FAQ/breastprep.html

It's outdated advice and can actually cause your nipples to be susceptible to cracking/chafing when the baby comes.

[luckysgirl]

I can honestly say that the thought of "toughening up" my nipples never occurred to me. Was I supposed to take them out drinking and get into bar fights with them, or something?

[WorldsBestMom]

actually i wouldn't do it and i don't encourage any woman to do it
sure it will be painful oooooooooooooh.really it's an outdated idea

[ewe+lamb]

When I was working in Italy a LOOOOng time ago i heard a mother say that she had toughened up her nipples by brushing them with a toothbrush I was then and thought it the most ridiculous thing I had every heard and then last week I was at an LLL meeting and heard the same thing from a NZer - we gave her some Lansinol - lol that and some nice soft washable breastpads will be plenty - I'd put it in the breastfeeding myth category!!

[lkmiscnet]

No, no, no!!!

A friend suggested that to me as well. I asked my OB and she said absolutely NOT to do that!! It can stimulate the hormones in your body that can induce premature labor.

[buttercups.nest]

Rather than Lansinoh I've been using Earth Mama Nipple Butter. Quite expensive, but you don't go through it quickly and it actually heals rather than just creating a barrier.

I did do a little bit of nipple stimulation before but thats because I was worried about inverted nipples. Just used my fingers though....I don't plan on doing it next time either. Wasn't pleasant!

[babymommy2]

That is really old advise, and it doesn't even make any sense. Your nipples are supposed to be sentivie, it is how they work. Your body needs to be able to feel to send the information along your nerves to make milk. Nipple stimulation=hormone production=milk. When moms have spinal cord damage, depending on the level of the damage there can be issues with being unable to make milk, because they can't feel anything. There is absolutly nothing you need to do to prep your nipples, not even lansinoh.

[stealthmode]

My MIL has been telling me this since day one. I finally had to tell her that it's no longer recommended. But of course, "it worked for her" and all, so she keeps bringing it up. What business is it of yours what I do with my nipples anyway, lady?! LOL

[Materfamilias]

I heard this too and am SO glad I didn't do it.

[Mommel]

I realize this is an old thread, but I found it when I did a search, after my mother informed me that "someone should have told you that you should be roughing up your nipples with a washcloth in the shower"... and she was so earnest and concerned that no one hadn't told me this! Mt first thought was, "Oh my Gawd!! How horrible! I don't really have to do that, do I?" so I decided to look it up here... thank heavens I found this and avoided the pain. (Of course, by now I knew better than to listen to my mother... LOL). I'm off to find a LLL meeting now, just to arm myself with more info against her old-timey advice. :)

[purplerose]

My mother has gotten upset when she tells me that and I tell her that's not something they recommend anymore. She said it worked for her! Well I nursed for a total of 6.5 years(so far) without having to do that to myself. OUCH!!