Is there a way to prepare my nipple for breastfeeding???

Question

I would like to exclusively breastfeed so long as my body and the baby can figure it out. My friends and family who have had children say that breastfeeding is so difficult and painful. I want to know if there is something I can do for my nipples during pregnancy to help better prepare for breastfeeding?

Answer

No, it's an old outdated advise to "prepare" your nipples by toughen them. 
Best way to prepare us to gather as much information and knowledge as possible.

Answer

A women from breastfeeding group said she heard from a woman working in research to try putting vaseline on your nipples leading up to birth.
She said she did it and she didn't have any pain or cracking. It can't hurt, so I am definitely trying it this time.

Answer

Not that I know of. Putting your newborn baby to breast often in those first few days and weeks will prepare your nipple. Basically it has to soften and become more elasticated. It will probably hurt, I'm not gonna lie. But this can be minimized by having a good latch (get your nurses to help and check!) and lanolin cream. The pain went away for me after about 10-14 days. And it was mostly pain at the beginning (the latch) not throughout the whole feed.

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My mom had 5 kids and she told me to rub a dry towel across them hard daily. To prepare.

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I never prepared my nipple for anything and my son never hurt at all nor did I struggle with cracking or bleeding. I think most, if not all, pain and struggles with breastfeeding may have to do with how baby latches. If you can practice and perfect the latch with your baby, then it shouldn't be painful or cause sores/cracking/bleeding.

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I wish there were 😭

Answer

It’s pretty painful the first little bit , mine bled and cracked but I used a nipple cream before and after I fed my daughter and eventually I was fine! You just have to really commit to it and tough it out for a little bit. It’ll be worth it !