Can you prepare your breasts for breastfeeding?

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How does your body do that?

“Where your breasts develop for the first time during puberty, and you therefore get breasts, they are ready for the next step during your pregnancy, under the influence of pregnancy hormones. Most pregnant women notice these changes in their breasts during pregnancy. If this is not the case, it is certainly not a reason to panic. After all, every body is different.

• You may notice that your breasts have become a little bigger, for some even a lot bigger. The bigger or heavier breasts mean that the milk glands are starting to fill up, ready to feed your baby later.
• You can also see some changes in your nipples. They usually become a little bigger and darker. Your body does not do this to tease you, but to make it easier for the baby to find the nipple. This way he can see the nipple better. A small side effect of this system is that you produce extra pigment in some places on your body. The typical pregnancy mask on the face is an example of this, so always wear enough and good sunscreen. The pregnancy line over your belly is also a result of this.
• But your nipples have even more power. Do you know Montgomery's glands? These are the small dots that you can see on your areola. You don't notice it yourself, but they have a certain sebum secretion. This secretion has 3 functions. On the one hand, it keeps the skin supple, if your baby drinks from the nipple and therefore puts some force on it, the nipple will stretch more easily. The sebum secretion also has an antibacterial function. We have an exit for the milk, but also an entrance. Protection against the outside world is therefore ideal. And perhaps the most wonderful power: because of this secretion your nipple has the smell of amniotic fluid. Your baby therefore immediately knows where to go.”

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And what can the baby do then?

“Well, a baby is also born with some reflexes. A baby can search for the breast, take a big bite and start sucking. Some babies need some practice. Compare this to a child who instinctively starts walking around the age of one. One will get the hang of it right away, the other will waddle for a while or do it by trial and error. But as always, practice makes perfect. It is therefore especially important to offer your baby sufficient learning opportunities. Immediately after birth, this will be done by placing your baby skin-to-skin with you. If this is not possible for medical reasons, then preferably as soon as it is possible, be sure to ask about this! But also in the hours, days and weeks afterwards, it is best to place your baby close to you, so that your baby is stimulated by your scent to ask for food. Of course, it does not always happen automatically, but offering your baby every opportunity to practice will be the solution for many. Premature babies may have some difficulty with these innate reflexes at first, here too it is all about practice and offer. And if you still have some difficulty? Then be sure to get guidance from your midwife or lactation consultant.”

Also read: Breasts: For the baby or for the partner?