Breast Care - before and after birth

[August3]

Any tips for a first timer hoping to BF regarding breast care, please?

At the moment I'm using bio oil to help limit stretch marks - should I avoid the nipple/areola? Should I stop using bio oil once bf starts?

I have got some lanisoh (sp?) cream for post partum. Anything else you'd recommend?

 

[Disneygrl]

Olive oil. I had no stretch marks until my milk came in! I didn't want to put bio oil or coco butter or anything on it that lo could accidentally lick or swallow. I read about olive oil and it helped keep my stretch marks from getting worse, I didn't use it on the nipple though. For my nipples, which WILL be sore, I used lanolin at first,but it was bglobby and didn't do much. Then, I read you can put a little breastmilk on your nipples after you feed and let it air dry. It works wonders!! You can bf. it will be hard and I wanted to give up those first few days/weeks but now I'm so glad I didn't

 

[Calibeachbum]

I use vit e oil and do not have 1 stretch mark. Could be luck because I didn't get any while preggo. I loved the medela tender care pads to ease the cracks/soreness. Really helped me get past the first week. I would also use coconut oil as a moisturizer. Worked great! Good luck you are so close to meeting your LO

 

[CupcakeBaby]

I didn't use bio oil when pregnant as read it had chemicals in it that could get into your system. So I'd definitely stop using on your boobs before birth as it'd easily get into your milk.

It's got a strong scent too and you don't want to smell of anything other than you for the first few weeks as that's baby's strongest sense for BFing. All I used was the lightest scented deodorant I could find.

My belly got covered in stretch marks but none on my boobs, they don't get that much bigger to be a problem really.

Lansinoh is amazing. Apply it before and after every feed!! And don't wait until you need it to use it!

 

[August3]

Thanks for all the replies. Will switch to either olive oil or coconut oil instead. Have stretch marks on my bump that made an appearance just in the last few weeks but c'est la vie.

Good tip re. using breast milk on the nipple. Thanks.