Preparing for breastfeeding is less about doing everything perfectly and more about creating calm, security, and a little practical overview before your baby arrives. You can't practice breastfeeding itself beforehand, but you can get ready - mentally, physically, and with a few things that will make the first few days easier. And dear, remember: you don't have to know everything. You'll learn it together with your child.

Can you even prepare for breastfeeding?

Yes, but perhaps in a different way than you think. Breastfeeding is something you and your baby ease into together, often step by step during the first few days and weeks. You don't need to train or force anything before birth.

What you can do is give yourself the best possible framework: knowledge that calms rather than scares, realistic expectations, and a few practical items that are good to have within reach when your milk comes in and daily life changes.

The most important thing you can take with you is a confident expectation that it often takes a little time - and that help is available if you need it.

How do you prepare emotionally?

Breastfeeding is not just food. It's also presence, skin-to-skin contact, and a very special kind of calm between you. When you breastfeed, the hormone oxytocin is released, which helps strengthen the bond between you and your baby. This skin-to-skin contact provides warmth and familiar sounds, and the warmth from your breast helps regulate your baby's temperature.

It's good to know this in advance because it can help take the pressure off the technique itself. You don't have to "get breastfeeding right" from the first moment. In the first few minutes and days, it's mostly about being close to each other.

It's also perfectly okay to have mixed feelings. Some are excited, others are nervous, and many are both at once. There's no right or wrong way to feel about breastfeeding before you start.

What can you do for your body and your breasts?

Your breasts actually prepare themselves throughout pregnancy. They often become larger, heavier, and more tender, and this is your body's way of getting ready. You don't need to do anything special to your nipples - no harsh preparation, no scrubbing. Gentle care is enough.

What really makes a difference for comfort is what you support your breasts with. Here's one important thing to know:

• Avoid underwire bras during pregnancy and breastfeeding. An underwire can block milk ducts and put pressure on breast tissue - it's not a matter of preference, but something you should ideally avoid entirely.
• Instead, choose a bra that provides support without pressing into the milk ducts.

Carriwell has developed an alternative to the underwire with its patented Gel-Support® technology. It combines the flexibility of soft silicone with a specially developed shape, and the gel wire is shaped so it doesn't harm the sides of the breast towards the armpit, where the milk ducts grow. The combination of shape and gel provides support that follows the body's changing forms throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding - without blocking the milk ducts. You can see it in the Gel-Support® Maternity and Nursing Bra.

For the early months and for nighttime, when you want softness without firm wires, a sleeping bra for pregnancy and nursing is nice to have. It provides gentle support while you sleep or rest and is easy to breastfeed in.

When should you buy a nursing bra?

Many people buy their first nursing bra during the third trimester, when the breasts have found a more stable size but can still change when the milk comes in. Therefore, it's a good idea to choose bras that have room to accommodate these changes.

The smart thing about Carriwell is that most of their bras are designed to follow the entire journey - from the first trimester to nursing. So, you rarely need to buy completely new bras once the baby has arrived. Two exceptions are the Comfort Bra and the seamless maternity bra, which are not full nursing bras but purely comfort and maternity models.

Seamlessness is at the core of what Carriwell does. They specialized in seamless design almost three decades ago and were among the first in the world. Seamless is not a trend here, but the foundation - and it doesn't just mean the absence of seams. It means a feeling of lightness: a bra that molds to the body, moves with you, and feels almost invisible against the skin. For pregnant and new mothers, whose bodies are constantly changing, that difference can be felt in everyday life. If you want a little extra fullness and coverage, there's, for example, a maternity and nursing bra with padded inserts.

What practical items are good to have ready?

You don't need to fill your house with equipment. But a few things will make the first few days easier when your milk flows and you're changing many times a day. A small checklist might look like this:

• One or two nursing bras you're comfortable with and can sleep in.
• Breast pads to prevent leakage onto your clothes.
• Something cold and warm for your breasts if they become engorged and tender.
• A patient attitude that it takes a little time to find a rhythm.

For leakage, you can choose reusable organic cotton breast pads if you want to wash and reuse, or disposable bamboo breast pads if you prefer the easy and quick option. If your breasts become engorged, a warming and cooling gel pack can provide relief - warmth before feeding and cold after, if it feels good.

If you want to gather the essentials in one place, there's a "Ready for Breastfeeding" package, put together specifically for the start.

How long does a feeding take?

The answer many people want in advance is also one of the most individual. For a newborn, a feeding can take anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes, and some babies feed for a long time and calmly, while others are quick and efficient. There isn't one "right" number of minutes.

Initially, most babies feed frequently - ideally 8 to 12 times a day - because their stomachs are small and frequent feeding helps establish milk production well. It can feel endless in the first few weeks, and it's completely normal to doubt whether your baby is getting enough.

Try not to stare at the clock. Instead, look at your baby: is he or she sucking and swallowing, does he or she seem satisfied afterward, and does he or she have wet diapers? That often tells you more than the number of minutes. And if you're unsure, it's never too early to ask your midwife or health visitor.

What if you plan to pump?

Perhaps you already know that you want to use a breast pump - because you're returning to work, because your partner needs to be able to feed, or for other reasons. That's perfectly fine. There's nothing wrong with pumping.

What's worth knowing is that skin-to-skin contact, warmth, and the shared calm at the breast are part of what breastfeeding also provides. So, if you can, it can be lovely to combine pumping with nursing so that you both benefit from the closeness - without it being a requirement. You'll find the solution that suits your life.

How do you prepare for the time right after birth?

Breastfeeding begins at the same time your body needs to recover after childbirth. Your belly often feels soft and unstable for the first few weeks, and a little gentle support can help - both for comfort and to feel more "held together."

A nursing top with built-in shapewear can provide that kind of gentle support, while also allowing you to breastfeed easily. It can help the top fit better without rolling up and give a smoother silhouette under clothes, without feeling tight. For example, look at the nursing top with shapewear. If more focus is needed on abdominal recovery, a post-birth belly band can be helpful in the first few days.

And for the very first time at home, it can be nice to have the practicalities of self-care ready. A new mum care pack gathers some of the things that make the first few days gentler for yourself.

Frequently asked questions

When should I start preparing for breastfeeding?

There's no fixed date. Many people start reading up a bit and getting practical items ready in the third trimester, when their breasts have found a more stable shape. But the most important preparation - calm and realistic expectations - you can carry with you throughout.

Should I do anything to my nipples before birth?

No, you don't need to prepare or "toughen up" your nipples. Gentle, regular care is enough. If you experience cracks, pain, or anything else that worries you after starting, seek help from your midwife or health visitor rather than enduring it.

How many nursing bras do I need to start with?

Most people manage fine with two to three, so you have one on, one ready, and preferably one for the night. Choose bras without underwire that have room to accommodate the changes in your breasts when your milk comes in.

Does breastfeeding hurt, and can I prepare for it?

Breastfeeding can be unfamiliar and a little sore at first while you find a good technique, but strong or persistent pain is a sign that something might need adjusting - often the baby's latch. You can't train yourself out of it beforehand, but you can reassure yourself that help is available. Reach out to a professional if it hurts. You are not alone.