So, a friend of mine has suggested I start roughing up my nipples in preparation for breast feeding. Hers hurt so badly when she started bfing, she said she saw stars. A friend told her, afterwards, that she should have worked on them to make them tougher. The other day she asked me if I had taken sandpaper to them yet. She was kidding on the sandpaper but meant it on working on them.
Er, I won't be doing this. Did anyone else rough the girls up before your lo got here?
kiwi / 691 posts
Oh my gosh, no! I can't imagine why you would do this, or what you could even do to prepare for nursing. Maybe using a pump, I guess?
pomegranate / 3008 posts
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.
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
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!!
kiwi / 691 posts
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!
apricot / 384 posts
My mom suggested that I take a dry washcloth to my nipples before having DD. I never did but I wondered.
pomegranate / 3729 posts
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).
GOLD / wonderful grape / 20289 posts
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.
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
What in the world... how does she expect you to rough them up? Have your DH go crazy on them? HJAHAHAHAH
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@pointybird: owwwww... ugh I cringe thinking about it.
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.
kiwi / 545 posts
No. Haha. I didn't have a problem with pain once she.learned a proper latch.
bananas / 9118 posts
Yikes, no! I'd be afraid to bring on early labor too.
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 
GOLD / wonderful pea / 17697 posts
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.
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
@lemondrop: at this point? Bring on the labor!!!... I'm 39 weeks.
@chopsuey119 right? I guess if he were to do it for me, maybe that would get this going, too. Haha.
She suggested the dry washcloth thing. All I can think is owwww and noooo!
persimmon / 1161 posts
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.
persimmon / 1453 posts
I really don't see how causing yourself pain is going to help the matter.
If breastfeeding hurt THAT badly, I'd be looking for solutions to the problem, not wishing I'd rubbed sandpaper on my nips!
grapefruit / 4291 posts
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...
pomelo / 5321 posts
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.
blogger / pear / 1964 posts
My MIL randomly suggested I do this, but she said she'd save instructions until I was further along . . . should be an interesting conversation.
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.
pomegranate / 3272 posts
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.
grapefruit / 4056 posts
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.
apricot / 367 posts
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!
pineapple / 12802 posts
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.
I will definitely be trying the lanolin cream pre-baby, though!
pomegranate / 3160 posts
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.
pear / 1632 posts
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.
GOLD / grapefruit / 4007 posts
Nooooo! Breastfeeding isn't painful for me and never has been !
pomegranate / 3872 posts
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.
| Today | Monthly Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Topics | 0 | 0 |
| Posts | 1 | 0 |
Ask for Help
Make a Suggestion
Frequently Asked Questions
Bee Levels
Acronyms
Most Viewed Posts
Hellobee Gold
Hellobee Recipes
Hellobee Features
Hellobee Contests
Baby-led Weaning
Bento Boxes
Breastfeeding
Newborn Essentials
Parties
Postpartum Care Essentials
Sensory Play Activities
Sleep Training
Starting Solids Gear
Transitioning to Toddler Bed
All Series
Who We Are
About the Bloggers
About the Hostesses
Contributing Bloggers
Apply to Blog
Apply to Hostess
Submit a Guest Blog
Hellobee Buttons
How We Make Money
Community Policies
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
31 comments