Marie, I was wondering if I have to prepare my breasts for breastfeeding during my pregnancy. I am 24 weeks pregnant, and I don’t know if everything is fine. But I intend to breastfeed my baby and want to make sure I am ready. Thanks for your help, Anne-Lise

Excellent question, Anne-Lise. First, I want to reassure you. You can’t really prepare your nipples for breastfeeding. If you really want to breastfeed your baby, chances are everything will be fine.

However, the baby needs to learn how to latch on to your nipple and stimulate it to get the milk it needs. So if your breasts haven’t really changed in volume during your pregnancy, speak to your doctor.

If you have doubts about your anatomy, nipples or other observations you are concerned about, ask your health professional to examine you during your regular visit. For example, if you have invaginated nipples (inverted), don’t worry, because when the baby suckles and latches properly, it will pull it out and stimulate lactation.

Finally, if you have other questions that stress you, ask to be referred to a breastfeeding consultant or breastfeeding specialist. They can give you a full exam and provide you with personalised advice about how you can successfully breastfeed your baby.

All the best,

Marie

The Baby Expert