TRUST MOTHER NATURE
REMEMBER THAT A BABY BREASTFEEDS, NOT NIPPLE FEEDS.
I am 24 weeks pregnant. I’m planning on breastfeeding, and I want to do something to prepare my nipples for nursing. Is there anything I can do?
PROF DU PLESSIS ANSWERS: When you decide to breastfeed, you are sometimes advised to prepare your breasts.
This can include that you should massage your nipples, use body lotion on them, scrub them to make them stronger, or use the Hoffman technique to pull inverted nipples out.
This technique involves placing the index fingers of each hand in a horizontal position against the nipple (so above and below) and then pulling outwards, in an attempt to make the nipple pop out. There is no evidence that any of these techniques hold any advantages for breastfeeding.
Fortunately, Mother Nature knows exactly how to prepare! During your pregnancy, your nipples will become more supple, thanks to the functioning of hormones. Even an inverted nipple can change shape during this time. It is important to remember that a baby breastfeeds, not nipple feeds.
Your breast is your baby’s first encounter with a breast, and he doesn’t have any expectation of what an average breast or average nipple looks like. As long as he can get enough of the breast in his mouth, and not just nipple, and as long as you hold, position and latch him with great patience, breastfeeding should get off to a good start. During this time, you can practise the usual hygiene by simply washing your breasts with water when you bath or shower. You do not have to wash the breasts or nipples after every feed. It also isn’t necessary to use soap; just stick to water. Soap can dry the nipple area out, and you don’t want that, especially if you are prone to eczema. For relief if your nipples are sore, use pure lanolin or a prescribed ointment but not any other lotion or ointment.
So in short, preparation of the breasts during pregnancy isn’t necessary.
If you are worried about your nipples, you can have them examined by a qualified healthcare worker who has done supplementary training in breastfeeding. You can also consult a breastfeeding consultant about this or any other breastfeeding and baby feeding questions. ●