Preparing for Breastfeeding

[kiwimama]

Hi Everyone,
I am wondering if anyone has any tips for preparing for breastfeeding while still pregnant. My mum has given me one tip which is to massage vitamin e cream into my nipples to start to toughen them up. I am really keen to bf but am terrified something will prevent me from doing so or will be so sore, I won't have the will to continue for more than a few weeks.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Margerle]

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

www.kellymom.com

www.breastfeeding.com

Read read read

 

[Ragirl]

To be honest, the biggest thing you can do to prepare- in addition to what Margerle said READ- is just to have confidence. I recently saw a quote that went something like this "Breastfeeding is alot like marriage. If you don't go in 100% commited, you will be able to find many reasons to quit along the way." Breastfeeding is not always easy, but it is the very rare woman who truly can not bf for one reason or another. So in these coming weeks, just prepare yourself psychologically to have the confidence and security in yourself, your baby, and your body to do what it needs to do. You will run into difficulties along the way and you can use those difficulties to quit if you want. But there is a remedy to almost all of those difficulties that will allow you to continue bfing if you desire to do so- it just sometimes takes a little patience and work. You need to have people who are supportive around you so that in moments of weakness, they don't jump to say "Oh, just give the baby a bottle." You can start working now with your partner and family to let them know how you feel about bfing and how you expect them to support you in this. There is not a lot you can do ahead of time to prepare your breasts, but make sure you buy some Lanolin to put on your nipples once baby arrives and use it after every feeding...beginning with the first! If you are worried because you have heard some of the reasons why women have given up, look at the Myth threads (4 of them I believe)- they provide some give information as well. Good luck to you!!