How to feed the future baby, how to prepare the breast for feeding is a matter of interest to many mothers, especially those for whom this is the first birth. To make the feeding process as comfortable as possible for you and your baby, there are several recommendations for preparing the breast for feeding. You need to start preparation during pregnancy. Particular attention should be paid to preparatory procedures for women with flat, inverted nipples and overly sensitive breasts.
Any manipulations with the breast require prior consultation with a doctor. He will talk about the methods of preparation for feeding that are right for you, and also help to avoid the most common mistakes among young mothers.
What is your nipple shape?
Some mummies with flat nipples or inverted nipples begin to panic that this will somehow interfere with feeding, and that the baby will be uncomfortable. In fact, it doesn’t hurt. You just need to prepare your nipples in advance.
The first thing to do is check the form. Perhaps your suspicions are unfounded, and everything is in order with the form. Take the halo of the nipple with two fingers (index and thumb) and slightly press down - if the nipple is pulled in, the shape is not quite right, if the nipple protrudes forward - it is convenient for feeding the baby. Also, a normal nipple, under the influence of cold, is pulled forward and takes on a convex shape, retracted - is pulled into the areola, flat - does not change shape at all.
Flat or Inverted Nipples
- Massage. But in your power to change it slightly, so that it is more convenient to feed the baby. A fairly effective method is massage. The first and simplest is stretching and tightening the nipples. With two fingers, carefully extend the nipple, twisting it slightly. Probably, there is no need to remind you that your hands should be cleaned and your nails trimmed and filed? But do not overdo it - the skin on them is very delicate, you can damage it. Also, too much twisting of the nipples can cause an increased tone of the uterus.
There is also a Hoffman technique that can be used to pull the nipple. Two thumbs should be positioned at the base of the nipple and begin soft rubbing movements with one finger up, the other down, then to the sides. Thus, the adhesions at the base of the flat (or retracted) nipple weaken, and it is brought out. It is recommended to do this exercise for several minutes 2-5 times a day. This method is a bit controversial, some experts consider it effective, others are extremely opposed.
- Special bra with special inserts and nipple corrector. The bra gradually changes the shape of the nipples, making them more convex. Also in the pharmacy you can find special correctors that act on the principle of a pump. But you can’t wear them often - start putting on proofreaders a month before the baby’s birth by about 5 minutes a day, gradually increasing the time to 30 minutes, and before you engage in such procedures, consult a specialist. After giving birth, continue to wear correctors before feeding for 15 minutes. Correctors and pads press on the areola area and help the nipple stretch out.
- The third method is a breast pump. Use it after you start feeding, but consult in advance if you have any contraindications to pumping. It also helps to extend the nipples.
In no case do not listen to the “advisers” recommending switching to artificial feeding when the nipples are too flat (do not use a dummy and a bottle with a pacifier for feeding. Remember that in case of inverted nipples, after a bottle with a pacifier, you will definitely fight with “ confusion of nipples ”in your baby;). Even if you did not have time to prepare the breast for feeding before the baby is born - do not worry, the baby will do everything himself. In the process of feeding with the movements of the lips, he will gradually change the shape of the nipples. In this case, try to use bottles, nipples and dummies to a minimum.
What to do with increased nipple sensitivity
Sensitive nipples make every feeding a torture. You are distracted by discomfort, and this interferes with the comfortable feeding of the baby. Preliminary preparation of the nipples will help get rid of the problem. There are several ways to do this.
- Coarse bra. The fabric should not be too rigid so as not to injure the skin, but at the same time coarse enough to help the halo to get rid of excess sensitivity.
- More often go without a bra - every day for 10-15 minutes, arrange air baths on your chest (walk around the apartment with your bare chest). You can go to the nearest store without a bra - just 10-15 minutes is enough. In warm weather, you can bare your chest on the street in your summer cottage.
- Another way is a massage with imitation of feeding a baby. Grasp the nipple with two fingers, gently squeeze and start pulling. But do not put too much pressure on the mammary glands - the body may think that the feeding time has already begun.
- Do not rub your nipples or use lotions containing alcohol! These manipulations violate the protective layer of the areola and injure the nipples.
General recommendations
Even if you do not have any problems with the nipples, there are several recommendations for preparing them for feeding, which are worth observing:
- Try to avoid getting soap on your nipples so as not to dry your skin - wiping a halo with a damp towel is enough;
- During pregnancy, the breasts increase in size. To prevent the chest from sagging, you need to wear a properly selected bra. He should not squeeze the chest, interfering with proper blood circulation. It is recommended to choose linen with wide straps made of breathable hypoallergenic natural materials;
- Breast Care Preparing the breast for feeding includes proper skin care. In late pregnancy, it is recommended to avoid the use of aggressive cosmetics, leading to overdrying of the epidermis;
- Compresses You can make natural decoctions of oak bark or strong black tea, moisten a cotton wool in the solution and apply it to the halo for several minutes. This strengthens them and prevents the appearance of cracks. Repeat the procedure several times a day;
- Hardening. It is very important for a future mother to harden her breasts, since she is in constant tension during feeding. The easiest way is air baths. You can also douse your chest with cold water. Lower the temperature gradually - you can’t start pouring ice water nipples from the first procedures.Pouring chest alternately cool and warm water has a tonic effect. Another way is to wipe the chest with ice cubes. You can make a frozen decoction of chamomile, oak or a string, which is useful for the skin of a halo of the nipple. Ice can not be kept for a long time to prevent hypothermia;
- Special bra. Its form is specifically designed to prepare the female breast for feeding the baby. When wearing such a bra, avoid tight and overly tight clothing;
- Massage. Periodically massage your chest, making circular movements around the breast. This increases blood flow and prevents pain during feeding (breast massage);
- Communication with the doctor and with other mothers. The baby's waiting period is very exciting. Many questions arise in my head, including how the feeding will go. You can talk about this with your doctor. Ask him about everything that interests you. Also try to talk on this topic with other mothers, ask about the problems they encountered, and learn from their experience. You can go to special classes for young mothers, where they will show you how to properly put the baby to the breast, how to prepare it for feeding and how to take care of it after that.
If during pregnancy you responsibly approached the preparation of the breast for future feeding, after the birth of the baby, the process will be comfortable and painless for you. As soon as the baby is born, put crumbs on your chest - he will feel maternal warmth, and your body will start the processes responsible for the production of milk.
How to maintain a breast shape
- It is recommended to wear a special bra, as during pregnancy. It is impossible that he squeezed his chest. Excessive squeezing of the mammary glands can lead to the fact that the milk completely disappears. Do not buy it “for growth” - it is better to buy a new one each time the breast increases or decreases. It is advisable to buy a bra with wide straps;
- Do special exercises. Do push-ups from the floor or wall, squeeze some object with your palms, placing them with their inner side to each other, as in prayer, cross your arms in front of you. But exclude jumping and running for a while;
- Do not sleep on your stomach when your chest is full of milk;
- Do not try to dramatically lose weight the first time after the birth of the baby;
- Feed your baby in the correct position (feeding poses);
- Do regular breast massage with natural oils.
What can not be done
- Rub the breast with a coarse cloth, a terry towel, put the coarse cloth in a bra (so that the nipples become less sensitive), as doctors advised several decades ago, not allowed. From this, the skin around the nipples is erased and covered with cracks. Nature initially made the female breasts ready to feed the baby, you only need to slightly adjust, if necessary, some points for personal comfort and convenience of feeding your baby;
- It is impossible to pull, massage the nipples with force, and also subject them to too strong manipulations in the later stages, otherwise you can cause an increased tone of the uterus and provoke premature birth;
- It is also impossible to smear nipples with cream. Natural breast lubrication is produced independently - this is enough. Do not trust beautiful jars in shops and pharmacies with the words “nipple softening cream” - this is a skillful marketing move. An exception - a cream may be needed if cracks have appeared on the nipples, but subject to prior consultation with a doctor. Also do not use alcohol lotions.
We also read: the most important tips for nursing mothers
Video consultation
Is it necessary to prepare the breast for feeding the baby? What myths surround breast preparation for breastfeeding? Do you need to rub the nipples during pregnancy to make them coarser? What are the nipple cracks from? What you need to know and what to be prepared for before you start breastfeeding? Do I need to smear my breast in order to prepare it for feeding? Why is breastfeeding painful?
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I had flat nipples, I was also afraid that feeding would not work. Fortunately, there is a lot of information. I could not do breast massage because the uterus was in good shape throughout the pregnancy. But in advance I bought nozzles for nipples for more convenient feeding. As soon as the son learned the correct capture, she removed the nozzle. Then he himself pulled them out.
Comfortable clothes are still needed to always be near. My milk arrived badly, I was milked only by frequent attachments. With a sling and a dress from Proudmoam, with secrets for feeding, she fed her son on the plane, in the clinic, in the park, and in the country. The ideal combination is clothing that allows you to pull out only the part of the sisi that is needed for feeding and the sling, which covers both the sisu and the baby from others.
Bepanten cream, really very good and useful, I always have it at home. Not just for nipples. As for the clothes, I agree that it is necessary to be comfortable - in Proudmoam I bought blouses with the secrets, and before that, several dresses for pregnancy, they helped to walk after childbirth in the summer. In winter, hoodies are good, they also have the opportunity to feed. You need to feed often, so unfasten uncomfortable clothes is not an option at all.