It's helpful to have women get use to touching their own breasts and
becoming familiar with their breasts, which many are not.

Rolling the nipples also gets the oxytocin and prolactin working.

I think an erect nipple does help when the latching technique is poor, but
not when it is good.

I must say the procedure unnerves me as I wait to help the mother latch the
baby on, but it's not all bad.

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC

J