Toughening Up the Nipples in Preparation for Breastfeeding?
August 2, 2007 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under breastfeeding, breastfeeding basics, pregnancy
An expectant mother wrote to me with this question:
When I was talking to my mom last night, she asked me if anyone (namely my midwife) had suggested that I ‘toughen my nipples’ in preparation for breastfeeding. This is my first baby, so I’ve been reading all sorts of books and articles–mostly about pregnancy and labor, but some beyond–and I’ve never seen this mentioned anywhere. Is this still common practice, or at least a good idea? Or is it just an old school of thought? Thanks!
Good question! I am totally cringing at the thought of “toughening up my nipples” and I want to assure all prospective mothers that it’s completely unnecessary! The idea that a woman would need to toughen her nipples is outdated. The key to comfortable breastfeeding is a good latch. Breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt, and if it does it can generally be chalked up to latch (or thrush, especially if the mother or baby has had antibiotics). Of course there’s a learning period in the beginning as both mother and baby learn how to breastfeed — something that people think is supposed to come naturally actually requires a bit of knowledge and practice. There may be some tenderness in the beginning, and that can be helped both with pure lanolin (such as Lansinoh
Consider taking a breastfeeding class, either before or right after the birth. Two good books to help you prepare for breastfeeding are The Breastfeeding Book: Everything You Need to Know About Nursing Your Child from Birth Through Weaning
“Some tenderness…” Right…. I can’t tell you how much Lanolin I used each time (I’m nursing my second now) and it STILL hurt like hell in the begining. I am quite sensitive to pain. What would have been helpful with my first was knowing that a) we were doing it the right way and b) the pain would eventually go away. As it was, I concluded that if she was getting milk and thriving, we must be doing it right.
While I wouldn’t suggest toughening your nipples (why start the pain early?), I can certainly see where the practice came from. I’ve seen this advice in many different bf’ing resources, I really feel that this is not helpful to women just starting out with bf’ing. Sure, you have to get the latch right. But if it is right, and it still hurts, knowing that eventually the pain will go away would be more helpful. Otherwise, they may give up, thinking that “it just doesn’t work for them.”
Just my 2 cents…
Dawn