https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 14:06:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-766656 Tue, 07 May 2013 21:13:13 +0000 JerricaBenton 766656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I heard that this was not a good idea, basically an old wives tale. I didn't and my nipples certainly hurt the first few weeks, but I really don't think anything I could have done beforehand would have changed that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-766654 Tue, 07 May 2013 21:11:52 +0000 pl0508 766654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nooooo! Breastfeeding isn't painful for me and never has been ! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-766647 Tue, 07 May 2013 21:09:35 +0000 sarac 766647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nooooooo, this is a horrible idea! Ladies, don't do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-766358 Tue, 07 May 2013 17:57:57 +0000 jh524 766358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom suggested this to. I took to a few twists here and there and it made them start to hurt so I googled it and I found that nipple stimulation can actually promote early labor!! Who knows but either way I stopped the nip twist and will hope for the best. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-766242 Tue, 07 May 2013 16:41:29 +0000 Turd Ferguson 766242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Baahahah, MIL suggested the same thing (take a washcloth to 'em) to me. I remember seeing a thread (this one, maybe?) on it that said "nooooo!!!" so every time she brings it up (quite often...), I just nod and smile and internally cringe soooo hard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-766215 Tue, 07 May 2013 16:26:35 +0000 .twist. 766215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm glad I found this thread because I was considering sandpaper. lol jk. But for real, I wanted to know if there was anything you could do to prep them. I see, unfortunately, there is not. </p> <p>I will definitely be trying the lanolin cream pre-baby, though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-178706 Mon, 04 Jun 2012 19:21:58 +0000 mrsdoily 178706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've also heard that you should not do this! I will definitely not be helping! Though, I have heard that coconut oil lotion does wonder to help soothe your nipples after feedings. I may try that when the time comes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-178674 Mon, 04 Jun 2012 18:59:00 +0000 MsMini 178674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't be going for that! Mine did end up becoming less sensitive throughout pregnancy on their own, which I was thankful for when Sawyer was born and started nursing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-178672 Mon, 04 Jun 2012 18:55:52 +0000 Mommy Finger 178672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom has suggested several times that when I get out of the shower, i should rough up my nipples with my towel and then let them air dry. I haven't done this. No thanks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-177533 Sun, 03 Jun 2012 17:48:16 +0000 Mrs. Tricycle 177533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My MIL randomly suggested I do this, but she said she'd save instructions until I was further along . . . should be an interesting conversation. </p> <p>I did do a little online research about this, and the general consensus is that "roughing" them up does way more harm than good. The only thing they recommended doing was going bra-less a for a few hours every day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-177195 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 21:28:26 +0000 Sweet T 177195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started putting Lanolin on my nipples during my month or two of pregnancy. I think it helped a lot. I never had any sore nipple issues during the time I did BF. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-177180 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 21:08:57 +0000 Kemma 177180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My Mum recommends getting your boobs out in the sun during the last few weeks of pregnancy. Seeing as it's winter in New Zealand at the moment, not sure how that's going to work out for me... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-177129 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 20:05:44 +0000 Minnie_Girl 177129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really don't see how causing yourself pain is going to help the matter. </p> <p>If breastfeeding hurt THAT badly, I'd be looking for solutions to the problem, not wishing I'd rubbed sandpaper on my nips! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-177072 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 18:01:08 +0000 ChelseaRose 177072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My nipples are sensitive enough already that I could not imagine trying to do this. Also, who knows if this actually works and makes it any less painful in the beginning. I have accepted that it will hurt at the beginning, so there won't be any kind of surprise. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-177029 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 14:50:53 +0000 mediagirl 177029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lemondrop: at this point? Bring on the labor!!!... I'm 39 weeks. :-) </p> <p>@chopsuey119 right? I guess if he were to do it for me, maybe that would get this going, too. Haha. </p> <p>She suggested the dry washcloth thing. All I can think is owwww and noooo! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-177005 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 14:13:48 +0000 lovehoneybee 177005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't, but last time I saw my MIL she told me I should start vigorously rubbing them with a towel or washcloth to get them ready. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-176958 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 11:22:55 +0000 lemondrop 176958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yikes, no! I'd be afraid to bring on early labor too. </p> <p>Once we both figured out the proper latch and got used to each other, and with liberal use of lanolin- I had little to no pain. Soreness, yes, but we have muddled along just fine with only the baby roughing up my nipples. All I had to do was hold him :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-176949 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 10:54:57 +0000 His Barista 176949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. Haha. I didn't have a problem with pain once she.learned a proper latch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-176934 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 10:14:39 +0000 Mrs. Pen 176934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pointybird: owwwww... ugh I cringe thinking about it. </p> <p>lol definitely not! Honestly, breastfeeding didn't even hurt that much for me, but I'm know I'm more the exception than the rule. My sister had so much pain she was in tears for every feeding. But I definitely don't think "roughing them up" would help you in any way. That just sounds totally ridiculous. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-176931 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 10:10:17 +0000 chopsuey 176931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What in the world... how does she expect you to rough them up? Have your DH go crazy on them? HJAHAHAHAH </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-176910 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 09:53:27 +0000 Sammyfab 176910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yikes! That sounds awful!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-176902 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 09:46:26 +0000 heffalump 176902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't. Breastfeeding ended up not working for me.... but in no way do I blame the fact that I didn't rough them up first. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-176854 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 08:01:58 +0000 autumnlove 176854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No way! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-176852 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 07:54:33 +0000 bpcmarj 176852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At the breastfeeding class that we took at our hospital they told us specifically NOT to do this. The instructor said that there are glands on the nipple and around there that could be damaged. From what I was told, the glands make your nipples smell like amniotic fluid so that the baby is attracted to them. I thought that was really cool and didn't want to mess with that. It all comes down to taking care of your nipples after you start breastfeeding. I've been using earth mama angel baby nipple butter that my midwife gave me. I like it a lot (and it can also be used on LOs chapped lips and face). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-176844 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 06:51:01 +0000 volksgirl64 176844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom suggested that I take a dry washcloth to my nipples before having DD. I never did but I wondered. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-176843 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 06:50:32 +0000 sulli301 176843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope! No way!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-176841 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 06:48:00 +0000 plaidpants 176841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mother told me that when my Nana was pregnant back in the 40s and 50s, the doctors told her that if she wanted to breastfeed, she should clean her nipples regularly with a wire brush! No wonder breastfeeding was unpopular then! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-176837 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 06:41:22 +0000 Andrea 176837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No but I have heard other people suggest that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-176836 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 06:38:14 +0000 mediagirl 176836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah. I thought she was a bit crazy to suggest it. I'd prefer to have a reason for pain, not cause it myself for no reason!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-rough-up-your-nipples-before-baby-was-born#post-176835 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 06:36:48 +0000 pelikila 176835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ultimately, everyone responds to breastfeeding differently and there is no way to "prepare" your nipples for it. Every baby is different and every breast is different. I had one nipple that was more sensitive than the other but it eventually got better. I never prepared my nipples other than using nipple cream every day a few weeks before birth. It helped in that I found out lanolin makes me itch and non-lanolin based nipple creams don't. Other than something like that I wouldn't suggest doing anything to prepare. </p>