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| Pregnancy - from 27 weeks to 42 weeks pregnant |
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| How Should I Prepare For Breastfeeding? |
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Learn as much as you can about breastfeeding even before your baby's born. Talk to other nursing moms, read books to familiarize yourself, call your local La Leche League International chapter, and take a breastfeeding class (offered by most hospitals) some time in your last trimester. The more you know about how to get started and the benefits of nursing, the more likely you are to succeed at it. Whether you think about it or not, your pregnant body has been naturally preparing itself for breastfeeding with the help of your pregnancy hormones. Your breasts will automatically undergo the final development that will prepare them for lactation. Outwardly, you may notice this change as a general increase in breast size and darkening of the areole. That's one reason your breasts get so much bigger during pregnancy - your milk ducts and milk-producing cells are developing, and more blood goes to your breasts than before. But breast size has nothing to do with your ability to nurse successfully - even if you're small-breasted, you'll probably be able to feed your baby. |
| Do I Need To "Toughen" My Nipples First? |
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The answer is no. It is not advisable or necessary to condition your nipples in any way prior to beginning breastfeeding. The hormonal changes pregnancy brings to your breasts are sufficient preparation for most women. It was once thought that by "toughening" your nipples with a rough cloth or your fingers, you could avoid later discomfort. It is now known that this could actually cause more damage than it does good. Don't rub or scrub your nipples - this will only hurt you and make breastfeeding difficult. Teaching your baby the right way to latch on to your breast from the beginning will prevent your nipples from getting sore. |
| What You Need To Buy |
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You really don't need much to nurse your baby, but you may want to buy a few nursing bras. These bras provide the extra support your larger-than-usual breasts need. They also come with flaps that you can easily undo at feeding time. Look for a salesperson that's knowledgeable about fitting you when you're in the last couple of weeks of pregnancy. (You can wait until after you give birth to make this purchase - but in the early days after giving birth, you might find it difficult or impossible to get out of the house long enough to shop for a bra.) In addition, some mothers find that having a nursing top or two is convenient for outings with the baby. These tops have convenient flaps that allow you to breastfeed easily and discreetly. You might also need a healthy supply of breast pads in case your breasts leak in the early weeks of breastfeeding. Another baby's cry or the sight of an infant can stimulate milk flow when you least expect it. You can buy disposable pads ahead of time. Then, if you find that you need them, you can switch to washable pads, which may be more comfortable and cheaper in the long run. Some women find it necessary to purchase a nipple cream to apply to sore breasts during early breastfeeding. The most common product is made with the ingredient Lanolin. Nipple cream can be found in the baby section near the breast pumps, bottles, and nursing pads of your local department store. |
| Activity |
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Breastfeeding is an activity that will occupy a good deal of your time in the beginning, so you might as well make it as comfortable as possible. Make a "nursing nest" in your home. A nursing nest is a comfortable place for you and your new baby to spend time together while breastfeeding. Many women enjoy having nursing nests at their houses. It can consist of anything that you choose. Some ideas of items to place at or near the nursing nest are: comfortable chair, foot stool, blanket, nursing pillow, burp cloth, radio, nutritious snacks and beverages, reading materials, etc... You can breastfeed anywhere, but this little nursing nest can be a comfortable area for you and your new baby to bond together during feedings. |
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