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Preparing to Breastfeed Before Your Baby Arrives

by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P.
reviewed and revised by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D.
Women with any size or shape of breasts can successfully breastfeed. During your pregnancy, your breasts will undergo certain changes whether or not you intend to breastfeed. Some women experience a period of breast tenderness, and many notice breast enlargement. Towards the end of your pregnancy, you may experience some leakage of colostrum (the first type of milk your body makes). There are several things you can do to prepare yourself and your body for these changes and for breastfeeding when your baby is born.

Getting Ready to Breastfeed:

  • Create a supportive environment. While choosing an obstetrician, pediatrician, nurse practitioner, or family practitioner is important for many reasons, be sure that the one you choose is supportive of and enthusiastic about your choice to breastfeed and will be able to answer your questions.
  • Educate yourself. While breastfeeding is supposed to be one of the most natural things a mother can do, that doesn't mean that it always comes naturally. Any woman planning to breast-feed for the first time can benefit from reading about breastfeeding, taking birthing classes that teach breastfeeding techniques (especially when first starting), and making sure that they receive care and will deliver in an environment supportive of breastfeeding. All of these measures can have a great impact on how successful you will be right from the start.
  • Prepare yourself physically.
      Should you toughen your nipples? While several regimens used to be recommended to toughen the nipples in preparation for nursing, many experts now agree that this is not necessary and may cause uterine contractions that can stress the baby. You should avoid use of soaps and other irritating or drying agents on your nipples during pregnancy and while you are nursing.

      Flat or inverted nipples. Some women have nipples that do not stick out, or even pull in at the center despite stimulation. Women with flat or inverted nipples can breastfeed successfully even if nothing is done about them during pregnancy. However, there are some very simple interventions that include the use of breast shields or a simple massage technique (called the Hoffman Technique) that can help prevent unnecessary frustration with breastfeeding when the baby is born. If you suspect that you have inverted nipples, check with your health care provider or contact a lactation resource such as LaLeche League for advice.

      Buying bras. If your breasts enlarge during pregnancy, do not hesitate to buy bras with larger cup sizes. Remember that comfort is as important as support, and be aware that your breast size may continue to increase once your baby is born and you begin nursing. For this reason, limit the number of nursing bras you buy towards the end of your pregnancy to just 2 or 3 until you have begun nursing and determine which bra is most comfortable.



     RELATED INFORMATION
    *  Breastfeeding: How The Body Supplies Milk
    *  Methods of Prepared Childbirth
    *  The Benefits of Breastfeeding
    *  Breastfeeding: Getting Started
    *  Childbirth Preparation


    Created May 25, 2000
    Reviewed and revised September 18, 2004
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