Preparing breasts and nipples for breastfeeding: Here’s how
By preparing your breasts for breastfeeding, you can prevent breast engorgement or sore nipples later on. You can find out how best to do this here.
This is how you can prepare your breasts and nipples for breastfeeding
To prepare your breasts for the forthcoming breastfeeding period, you should massage them with an essential oil (e.g. St. John’s wort oil). You can also prevent stretch marks. However, you must be careful not to massage your breasts too hard and for too long, as this can cause the uterus to contract. When the nipples are stimulated, the hormone oxytocin is released, which can trigger contractions or intensify existing contractions. You should also start desensitizing your breasts. Even if your child has no teeth yet, the strong pressure can be very painful.
More tips on preparing for breastfeeding
- Wash your breasts in a circular motion from the base to the nipple with cold water and a roughened washcloth. You can put a slice of lemon on your nipples to make the skin resilient.
- Gently stroke from the base of the breast to the nipples with a soft brush. Also gently include the sensitive warts.
- Grasp the raised warts between your thumb and forefinger and vigorously roll them back and forth between your fingers. Your chest can get used to the later jaw pressure of your child.
- There are times when you don’t wear a bra during your pregnancy, as this can harden your breasts a bit.
This is how learning to breastfeed works
Unfortunately, breastfeeding is not intuitive, you have to learn it first. At the beginning you will still have to try out how best to put your child on your breast . However, you can, for example, attend a breastfeeding group before your child is born. Here you have the opportunity to see how other mothers are breastfeeding their children and you can get useful tips. You can also get to know other mothers and exchange ideas with them.
In addition, many hospitals and midwives offer breastfeeding preparation courses. You can also make sure that you choose a breastfeeding-friendly clinic for your delivery. This is characterized by the fact that breastfeeding is actively promoted there and the mothers are supported in breastfeeding.
The ideal place for breastfeeding
Find a comfortable place in your apartment where you would like to breastfeed in the future. You can also buy a comfortable nursing pillow , for example. If you make these preparations for breastfeeding, breastfeeding will become easier for you. However, you should remember that you should make preparations before each new pregnancy.