https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:49:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2335616 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 12:06:58 +0000 snowjewelz 2335616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did nothing and didn't shower everyday either! I've had plugged ducts but not mastitis. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2334883 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 23:52:58 +0000 TiredmommaMD 2334883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did nothing. Nor did I find the time to even shower daily with a newborn. I just showered every other day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2334856 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 23:15:39 +0000 sarac 2334856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: My goodness, no. And I ride my bike around with kids most days, so I am walking around with sweaty boobs much of the day too. I'm sure your personal hygiene had nothing to do with it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2334508 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 19:06:37 +0000 MrsADS 2334508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't know this was a thing! I'm EBF my 2 month old, I have an oversupply. Haven't has mastitis or any clogs or anything. The first week or 2 I used lanolin for soreness as needed but since then.... I just take normal showers like I did pre BF! No special boobie hygiene! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2334497 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 18:58:45 +0000 JenGirl 2334497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope! I don't even shower everyday with a newborn. And I only use lanolin when pumping. In the beginning, my nipples were sore so I didn't wear a bra so everything could air dry and not have any pressure. That resulted in changing shirts sometimes from leaking, but I was doing laundry every day, so it wasn't a problem. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2334278 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 15:37:03 +0000 daniellemybelle 2334278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just showered... and not every day! My LC told me special hygiene was not necessary. I doubt it was anything you did! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2334148 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 13:55:50 +0000 MrsBrewer 2334148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just my once a day shower! Even then I just let soap and water run over my nipples! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2334090 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 13:29:07 +0000 MoonMoon 2334090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't use any special products or do anything special other than let my nipples air out and dry as often as possible, and avoid constricting or underwire bras. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2334078 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 13:24:26 +0000 Applesandbananas 2334078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't do anything either, except an occasional baby wipe/burp cloth to wipe off excess milk in the early days when LO's latch wasn't so good and we'd both be covered in milk! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2334073 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 13:22:46 +0000 Golden 2334073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just shower once a day and put in clean pads in the morning and before bed. I couldn't be bothered to wash after every feed. Half the time I feed just to put him to sleep and enjoy the cuddles :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333939 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 12:12:58 +0000 yellowbird 2333939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just showered daily and applied lanolin after ever feed </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333905 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:51:52 +0000 PawPrints 2333905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not necessary to wash after every feeding. In fact I avoid even wiping my nipples off after feeds, since the nipples absorb baby's saliva in order to produce antibodies when baby is sick. There are a million reasons why breastfeeding might not work for you (or anyone) but I don't think lack of washing is the likely culprit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333903 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:51:28 +0000 blackbird 2333903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nothing! I did shower every day, though, but only used warm water and olive oil based cream when i was sore. I hated being sticky and gross. Yuck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333899 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:50:14 +0000 mrskc 2333899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: congrats on your pregnancy! No, I never washed after breastfeeding. Just normal showers and Earth mama cream on my nips. I feel for you on the mastitis tho! It's awful. I've had it 3 times with my DD now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333893 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:44:53 +0000 Cherrybee 2333893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone. This is really very healing. I didn't realise how raw this all still was until I became pregnant again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333876 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:34:55 +0000 travelgirl1 2333876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>God no, my nipples were too sore to put soap on them! I just had daily showers and used APNO for the pain. What happened to you defo was not hygiene related! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333869 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:26:42 +0000 simplyfelicity 2333869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: not your fault at all! My sis had a terrible time BFing her first LO and FF. She was able to bf the next three...there's a great chance things can work from the get go since you have experience </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333851 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:16:28 +0000 Foodnerd81 2333851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely did not wash after every feed! I did put some kind of nipple ointment on usually in the beginning (lanolin or earth angel mama), for my own comfort. I did not always wear a clean nursing bra or tank, but did try to remember to change the breast pads once a day. </p> <p>Knowing your story, I really think you just had terrible luck and nothing you could have done would have changed your breastfeeding experience. My guess (as an Internet expert) would be that the complications after birth led to low milk supply, which contributed to E not having a good latch or being able to get much milk, leading to your "mangled nipples". And yeah, I do think mangled nipples are more prone to infection too. But not your fault! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333844 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:14:01 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2333844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They recommend against it! That is definitely not why it didn't work, so one thing to take off your blame yourself list! 💗 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333838 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:05:38 +0000 autumnlove 2333838@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just showers! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333822 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:00:42 +0000 Cherrybee 2333822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is really interesting, thanks everyone. Perhaps I can stop torturing myself that breastfeeding didn't work because I wasn't clean enough. :bummed: I washed every day.... but I was so tired and overwhelmed in the beginning I didn't even think about washing after each failed breastfeeding attempt. I'm quite relieved to hear its not the norm! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333816 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 10:57:07 +0000 catomd00 2333816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LC said not to wash nipples directly, just to let soap and water naturally run down them... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333814 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 10:54:34 +0000 kiddosc 2333814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nothing, and I never had a clogged duct or infection in 14 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333807 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 10:50:50 +0000 Alivoo01 2333807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nada and I had tons of clogged ducts the 1st 6 months. But it was all internal, nothing external. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333799 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 10:47:06 +0000 josina 2333799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, never. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333795 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 10:45:36 +0000 simplyfelicity 2333795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope... I mean, I shower and use APNO if I have crack or anything but (in my opinion) I think it's one of those things that helps a child to build immunity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333771 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 10:34:56 +0000 Greentea 2333771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I showered every day with super hot water and soap, and I think the best thing you can do is always have clean hands, pull your shirt down vs. up, and feed feed feed or pump pump pump constantly. I used really quality lanolin (Australian gold) and always wore a clean nursing bra. These things might seem extreme, but if you're asking, that's what I did that worked. I had TONS of painful clogged ducts but just kept nursing that side first (the baby is more powerful than the pump). BFing was one of the hardest things I've ever done! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-hygiene-what-do-you-douse#post-2333764 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 10:31:27 +0000 Cherrybee 2333764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had awful mastitis when E was about a week old but it wasn't from plugged ducts because I never produced any milk! Looking back, I think an infection got in through my mangled nipples. </p> <p>Do you get up and wash your nipples with soap and water after every feed? What if your baby falls asleep on you? </p>