Article: Preparing to breastfeed before birth: the complete guide to a smooth start

Share

July 1, 2025

Preparing to breastfeed before birth: the complete guide to a smooth start

You want to breastfeed your baby, but you're asking yourself a thousand questions: "Should I prepare my breasts? Will it hurt? Will I have enough milk?". Rest assured: as with childbirth, you can (and should) prepare for breastfeeding. Here are 10 practical, natural and stress-free tips to help you feel ready, right from the first feeds.

1. Information is preparation

Reading, listening, asking questions... The first step is to understand how breastfeeding works:

How does milk form?
What are the needs of a newborn baby?
What is a good position?
What are the first few days like?

📚 Recommended: online training, caring Instagram accounts, workshops with a lactation consultant or midwife.

2. Preparing your breasts: useful or not?

Contrary to popular belief, there' s no need to "harden the breasts" or rub them with cold water.

But you can:

Gently massage the chest with a vegetable oil (sweet almond, calendula),
Moisturize your nipples regularly,
Observe the appearance of your nipples: flat, umbilicated, sensitive?

💡 If you have very flat or umbilicated nipples, talk to your midwife. There are simple solutions (e.g. contact breast tips, gentle stimulation...).

3. Create your "breastfeeding project

Like a birth plan, define what you want:

Exclusive breastfeeding? Mixed? No pressure?
Breastfeeding for a few weeks or several months?
Do you want to express your milk? Bottle-feed sometimes?

📝 Write down your intentions, for yourself and for the caregivers. This will help you communicate calmly in the maternity ward.

4. Prepare your entourage (and surround yourself with the right people)

Breastfeeding, especially in the first few weeks, requires support. Tell your partner about your plans, get him/her involved, talk to your nearest and dearest.
And above all, avoid people who might make you doubt yourself: "Are you sure you've got enough milk?", "Do you still want to breastfeed?"... Thanks, but no thanks.

5. Creating a cosy corner for breastfeeding

Prepare a place where you' ll feel good:

Nursing cushion
Soft nightlight
Water bottle at hand
Lumbar cushion, plaid, arm support...

✨ Comfort is the key to serene breastfeeding.

6. Anticipating the first days of motherhood

The early stages can be intense: baby suckles often (and that's normal). Find out more about :

Skin-to-skin contact after birth,
Signs that baby wants to suck (before crying),
La montée de lait,
The welcome feed.

📌 Tip: pack a nursing shirt in your maternity suitcase, with easy opening (that's where 23 Mai Paris comes in 😉 ).

7. Have the right accessories (but not too many)

There's no need to buy everything in advance, but some basics can make life easier:

Nursing bra
Washable pads
Balm or lanolin for sensitive nipples
Galactogenic herbal tea (fennel, fenugreek...)

But the best "accessory" will always be your self-confidence.

8. The 4-4-4 breastfeeding rule

It's a mnemonic used in some circles to help you find your way around:

4 feeds minimum for the first 24 hours
4h max between feeds
4 days for milk to start flowing

👉 Not a fixed rule, but a useful benchmark.

9. Preparing for breastfeeding... without pressure

You can breastfeed for 1 day, 1 month, 1 year. You can express milk, give a bottle, change your mind.
Breastfeeding doesn't have to be perfect, nor does it have to be linear.
Preparation also means allowing yourself to adapt, to try again, or to stop without feeling guilty.

10. Remind yourself that you can

Your body knows how. So does your baby. It's an apprenticeship for both of you.
And like all apprenticeships, there will be adjustments, doubts and moments of grace.
But with a little preparation, you'll start out with all the cards in your hand.