Preparing nipples for breastfeeding - advice?

Thank you for the links, I will definitely do this before baby comes!

Hi there Rosie

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

I know laser therapy helps a lot of women after birth when they struggled with latching properly & need to heal the nipples.

As for preparing them : You don't prepare them at all & here is why :
www.llli.org/faq/breastprep.html
What you CAN do to prepare for breastfeeding is maybe join the La Leche League South Africa on facebook. Also maybe look into attending a local LLL meeting once a month (whilst pregnant) as you'll need tons of support and information (you have no idea how ill informed SOME clinic sisters, Peadiatricians and Gynea's are). Getting the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding from your group's lending library (and reading now) will be invaluable! Here are the numbers for your local Leaders IF interested: www.llli.org/southafrica.html

Nipple pain is most commonly from a poor latch and positioning, but occasionally from thrush or tongue tie. Any toughening up of nipples only makes it more painful. In the first few seconds of feeds in the first few days a bit of discomfort on latching is normal - but if it hurts or you cry thinking about feeds or you have to grit your teeth there is a problem that can (and needs to be) resolved. If nipples crack there is a severe problem. Pain is not a normal part of breastfeeding, it is a symptom of a problem. In communities where most people breastfeed latching problems aren't that common - breastfeeding is a learned skill and you have plenty of people to learn from. Here are three helpful articles, one on latching and positioning, one on preventing nipple pain and one on healing nipple pain. www.lalecheleague.org/faq/positioning.html and www.lalecheleague.org/faq/sore.html and www.lalecheleague.org/faq/heal.html.

Shout if you need more help! I'm no expert. Just very pro-breastfeeding & I'm also on the LLL fb page & have learned so much there & have read up on a lot of articles to debunk the myths!
I never bf my eldest child but was determined when I fell pregnant with my son & have been bf for almost 14months now & loving the bond & journey we are on.

I've been reading up on preparing your nipples in advance for breastfeeding with either laser therapy or just sun exposure - have any of you done this? does it work?

Also, how long do the effects last?
My baby isn't due until the end of July, is there any point in exposing myself to the sun this summer in the hope of toughening them up? or will they just go back to normal by the time the baby comes?

All advice welcome, I would like to breastfeed but am a bit anxious about the level of pain / discomfort so would like to prepare as much as possible in advance.

Thanks for your input.