Since ancient times, Russian women have hardened their nipples. In Russia, this hygienic custom was one of the tribal rites: once a year, on Ivan Kupala, the elders of the tribe lined up the girls in a row and checked their nipples for hardness. At the command of the leader, the nipples of all Slavic women present at the review were to harden and stretch forward 1-2 cm, followed by several similar commands, and then the nipple reaction speed, elasticity, stiffness, and also the height of extension were evaluated.

The winner was called "Nipples of the Year" and a beautiful emblem of cones and rabbit feces was hung over the entrance to her dwelling. Every woman secretly dreamed of hanging this insignia over her door, and all year long she carefully prepared and trained her nipples. Of course, even then there were cases of dishonesty: some Slav women, realizing that their nipples were not sufficiently hardened and strengthened, cut off the nipples of a cow and put them on their own - with such a scam, the chances of winning for women who honestly hardened their nipples were minimal ... Unfortunately, the truth popped up only after the discovery of the injured cow, during which time the emblem of distinction was tightly glued with rabbit feces to the door of the deceiver, and it was time for haymaking, so everything was left as it was ...

Currently, nipple hardening has gone into oblivion, not every woman knows how important and useful it is to have trained nipples. Ideally, you can train not only the nipples, but also the mammary glands themselves. With the help of a series of exercises, you can learn to wag your breasts (for example, at the sight of a beloved man), clap one breast against the other (for example, in a theater after a performance), spread your breasts to the sides (as if bewildered) - yes, you can learn a lot of things if you breasts and desire! At the same time, the size of the chest does not matter - of course, breasts of the fifth size clapping the actor in the theater will look spectacular, but joyful waggling looks better at small sizes - the first or second. With minus one and zero sizes, there is no need to despair - the volume of the mammary gland can be successfully replaced by the training and agility of the nipple muscles.

And, of course, you can’t ignore the dances of breasts - and what these pretty topless dancers just don’t do with their breasts! Variable jumps, rhythmic lunges of breasts from side to side, torsion of the nipples! How popular is the notorious ensemble "Breast"! All this is another brick in the socially important cause of strengthening the nipples and breasts.

A modern woman should know that she needs breast care and nipple hardening. Here's just one simple tip:

Prick before work chamomile ice into a clean aluminum dish, remove the right nipple and hold it over a bowl of ice for fifteen minutes, then do the same with the left nipple. It is possible that your husband wants to hold his penis over a bowl of ice, drive him away. Now put handfuls of ice in your bra and run to work - we are all busy people, so we tried to keep the procedure to a minimum.

Remember! The health of your nipples is in your hands!

The Daily Baby editors decided to take a short trip into the past and find out: what was the mother like in the Soviet Union? Was everything really the way the posters of the USSR times displayed, or were they wishful thinking?

In the USSR, special attention was paid to the topics of motherhood and the place of women in society. This was not a personal matter for everyone, but a matter of national scale.

The ideas of socialism touched all spheres of life of the Soviet people. The suffrage received by women in 1917, and Soviet propaganda, and the ideology of the Soviet Union as a whole played their role: everyone should work for the good of socialism. With no exceptions.

As in any state with a strong ideology, in the Soviet Union posters performed an educational and agitational function, along with radio, newspapers and later television.

There was a cult of the heroic Soviet woman in the USSR, especially in the post-war period, when the number of men in the Union dropped sharply, and Soviet posters fully reflected this. There were no gender differences: we all work for the good of society.

So what is she - a heroic Soviet woman? Ideally, this is a mother of several children who takes care of her family, from two months she sends her child to a nursery, often at the factory where she works, in order to breastfeed him at lunchtime. In the evening she returns home, on the way she picks up her other grown children from the kindergarten, after dinner she checks the diaries of her older sons or daughters, cleans up, cooks, and starts all over again in the morning.

Now, in the era of individualism, this way of life seems like a real madness, but then it was what many aspired to. Such mothers received diplomas, medals, often more comfortable living conditions and, of course, universal approval.

They themselves worked for the good of the country and gave birth to a new labor force. What else could the Soviet state dream of?

"Full in consultations, empty in children's cemeteries"

In the era of the heyday of socialism in the country, medicine was just beginning to reach a new level. As in the rest of the world, in the 1920s and 1930s, Russia had a high infant mortality rate and the death rate of women during childbirth. Which is not surprising: children were literally born in the field and immediately continued to work, there was complete unsanitary conditions, women were not educated about their health and the health of the child, and in general medicine was often powerless.

Time passed, for several decades science made confident steps forward, mortality began to fall, and it became obvious: the more often women are observed and give birth under the supervision of doctors, the more healthy children get Soviet Union therefore, the greater the labor force in the country.

Authority medical workers in Soviet times was unshakable. The doctor said, “Do not approach the child when he is screaming, he must calm himself down” - and the woman did not approach. If the doctor said "Breastfeed", then you need to feed.

Now, by the way, many are wondering why on many posters a woman was depicted naked, but what about “There was no sex in the Soviet Union”? In most cases, these posters were hung in antenatal clinics, where men were not frequent guests.

"I wanted to have an abortion"

The RSFSR was the first country in the world to legalize abortion. For comparison: in Russia a decree was adopted in 1920, and in the USA and Europe only 50 years later, in the 70s.

And despite the fact that the ban was reintroduced from 1936 to 1955, this did not significantly reduce the number of abortions.

Sad fact: in the USSR there were record world figures for the number of terminated pregnancies. Sociologists are still arguing about the reasons. Someone considers propaganda to be to blame: if there was no sex in the country, then sex education too. At least in matters of contraception.

Another reason is the denial of God and the church. Abortion was not considered a sin, murder - so women had fewer deterrents.

The record number of abortions in the country was recorded in 1960: 5.6 million. For comparison: in 2017, about 600,000 abortions were performed.

“We can do everything ourselves, we help our mother”

Many posters in the USSR were devoted to the upbringing of children. Basically, they called for self-sufficiency, independence, help for the elders and impeccable studies at school.

Come to think of it, many of them aren't all that obsessively idealistic. What, for example, is wrong with helping your mother with the housework?

Where are the dads?

Oddly enough, but on the posters dedicated to the family and motherhood, men do not appear so often. And if they do appear, then in the role of alcoholic dads who are condemned by society, or on rather neutral posters about a happy Soviet family.

One gets the feeling that the mother-heroine is still at the head of the Soviet family, therefore both the words and the posters are about her.

How to feed the future baby, how to prepare the breast for feeding is a question of interest to many mothers, especially those for whom this is the first birth. To make the feeding process as comfortable as possible for you and your baby, there are several recommendations for preparing the breast for feeding. You need to start preparing even during pregnancy. Particular attention should be paid to preparatory procedures for women with flat, inverted nipples and overly sensitive breasts.

Any manipulations with the breast require prior consultation with a doctor. He will talk about ways to prepare for breastfeeding that are right for you, as well as help you avoid the most common mistakes among new mothers.

What is your nipple shape?

Some mothers who have flat nipples or inverted nipples start to panic that this will somehow interfere with feeding, that the baby will be uncomfortable. Actually, it won't hurt. You just need to prepare the nipples in advance.

The first thing to do is validate the form. Perhaps your suspicions are unfounded, and everything is in order with the form. Take the halo of the nipple with two fingers (forefinger and thumb) and lightly press - if the nipple is pulled inward, then the shape is not quite correct, if the nipple protrudes forward - it is convenient for feeding the baby. Also, a normal nipple, under the influence of cold, is pulled forward and takes on a convex shape, retracted - drawn into the areola, flat - does not change shape at all.

Flat or inverted nipples

• Massage. But it is in your power to change it slightly to make it more convenient to feed the baby. Enough effective method- massage. The first and simplest is stretching and twisting the nipples. With two fingers, gently pull on the nipple, twisting it slightly. Probably, there is no need to remind that the hands must be washed clean, and the nails trimmed and filed? But do not overdo it - the skin on them is very delicate, you can damage it. Also, too much twisting of the nipples can cause an increased tone of the uterus.

There is also the Hoffman maneuver that can be used to pull the nipple. Two thumbs should be placed at the base of the nipple and soft rubbing movements should be started with one finger up, the other down, then to the sides. Thus, the adhesions at the base of the flat (or inverted) nipple are loosened and it is brought out. It is recommended to do this exercise for several minutes 2-5 times a day. This method is a little controversial, some experts consider it effective, others are extremely opposed.

• Special bra with special inserts and nipple correctors. The bra gradually changes the shape of the nipples, making them more convex. You can also find special correctors in the pharmacy that act on the principle of a pump. But often they cannot be worn - start putting on correctors a month before the birth of the child for about 5 minutes a day, gradually increasing the time to 30 minutes, and before engaging in such procedures, consult a specialist. After the baby is born, continue to put on correctors before feeding for 15 minutes. Correctors and pads put pressure on the areola area and help the nipple to stretch.

• The third method is a breast pump. Use it after the start of feeding, but consult in advance if you have any contraindications to pumping. It also helps to draw out the nipples.

In no case do not listen to the "advisers" who recommend switching to artificial feeding if the nipples are too flat (do not use a pacifier and a bottle with a nipple for feeding. Remember that in the case of inverted nipples, after a bottle with a nipple, you will definitely struggle with your baby's "nipple confusion";). Even if you didn’t have time to prepare your breast for feeding before the baby was born, don’t worry, the baby will do everything by itself. In the process of feeding with lip movements, he will gradually change the shape of the nipples. In this case, try to use bottles, nipples and pacifiers to a minimum.

What to do about nipple sensitivity

Nipples with hypersensitivity make every feeding a torture. You are distracted by discomfort, and this interferes with the comfortable feeding of the baby. Preliminary preparation of the nipples will help get rid of the problem. There are several ways to do this.

Moms take note!

Hello girls) I didn’t think that the problem of stretch marks would affect me, but I’ll write about it))) But I have nowhere to go, so I’m writing here: How did I get rid of stretch marks after childbirth? I will be very glad if my method helps you too ...

1. Bra made of coarse fabric. The fabric should not be too hard so as not to injure the skin, but at the same time rough enough to help the halo get rid of excess sensitivity.
2. Go without a bra more often - every day for 10-15 minutes, arrange air baths for your chest (walk bare-chested around the apartment). You can go to the nearest store without a bra - 10-15 minutes is just enough. In warm weather, you can expose your chest on the street in your summer cottage.
3. Another way is massage with imitation of feeding a baby. Grasp the nipple with two fingers, squeeze lightly and begin to pull. But do not press too hard on the mammary glands - it may seem to the body that the feeding time has already begun.
4. Do not rub the nipples and do not use lotions containing alcohol! These manipulations break the protective layer of the areola and injure the nipples.

Even if you don't have any problems with your nipples, there are a few guidelines for preparing them for feeding that you should follow:

• Try to avoid getting soap on the nipples so as not to overdry the skin - wiping the halo with a damp towel is enough;
• During pregnancy, the breasts increase in size. To prevent sagging breasts, you need to wear the right bra. It should not squeeze the chest, preventing proper blood circulation. It is recommended to choose underwear with wide straps, made from breathable hypoallergenic natural materials;
• Breast care. Preparing the breast for feeding includes taking proper care of the skin condition. On the later dates pregnancy, it is recommended to avoid the use of aggressive cosmetics leading to overdrying of the epidermis;
• Compresses. You can make natural decoctions from oak bark or strong black tea, moisten a cotton swab in the solution and apply to the halo for several minutes. This strengthens them and prevents the appearance. Repeat the procedure several times a day;
• hardening. For a future mother, it is very important to harden her breasts, since during feeding she is in constant tension. The easiest way is air baths. You can also pour cold water over your chest. Gradually reduce the temperature - it is impossible to start pouring ice water over the nipples from the first procedures. A tonic effect has a dousing of the chest alternately with cool and warm water. Another way is to rub your chest with ice cubes. You can make a frozen decoction of chamomile, oak or string, which is good for the skin of the areola of the nipple. Ice cannot be kept for a long time to prevent hypothermia;
• Special bra. Its shape is specially designed to prepare the female breast for feeding the baby. When wearing such a bra, avoid tight and overly tight clothing;
• Massage. Periodically massage the chest, making circular movements around the breast. This increases blood flow and prevents pain during feeding ();
• Communication with the doctor and with other mothers. The waiting period for a baby is very exciting. Many questions arise in my head, including how feeding will take place. You can talk about this with your doctor. Ask him about everything that interests you. Also try to talk about this topic with other moms, ask about the problems they have faced, and learn from their experience. You can go to special classes for new mothers, where they will show you how to properly attach the baby to the breast, how to prepare her for feeding and how to take care of her after that.

If during pregnancy you responsibly approached the preparation of the breast for future feeding, after the birth of the baby, the process will be comfortable and painless for you. As soon as the baby is born, he will feel the mother's warmth, and your body will start the processes responsible for the production of milk.

How to keep your breasts in shape

• It is recommended to wear a special bra, just like during pregnancy. You can't let him squeeze his chest. Excessive squeezing of the mammary glands can lead to the fact that milk is completely lost. Do not buy it "for growth" - it is better to get a new one every time the breast increases or decreases. It is advisable to buy a bra with wide straps;
• Do special exercises. Push up from the floor or wall, squeeze an object with your palms, placing them with the inner side to each other, as in prayer, cross your arms in front of you. But skip jumping and running for a while;
• Don't sleep on your stomach when your breasts are full of milk;
• Do not try to drastically lose weight in the first time after the birth of a child;
• Feed the baby in the correct position ();
• Do regular breast massage with natural oils.

What Not to Do

• Rubbing the chest with a rough cloth, a terry towel, putting a rough cloth in a bra (so that the nipples become less sensitive), as doctors advised several decades ago, it is forbidden. From this, the skin around the nipples is erased and covered with cracks. Nature has made female breast ready to feed your baby, you only need to slightly adjust, if necessary, some points for personal comfort and ease of feeding your crumbs;
• It is impossible to pull with force, massage the nipples, and also subject them to too strong manipulations in the later stages, otherwise you can cause an increased tone of the uterus and provoke premature birth;
• It is also impossible to smear nipples with cream. Natural lubrication by the breast is produced independently - this is enough. Do not trust the beautiful jars in stores and pharmacies with the inscription "nipple softening cream" - this is a skillful marketing ploy. An exception - the cream may be needed if there are cracks on the nipples, but subject to prior consultation with the doctor. Also, do not use alcohol-based lotions.

Video consultation

Do I need to prepare the breast for feeding the baby? What are the myths surrounding breast preparation for breastfeeding? Do you need to rub the nipples during pregnancy to make them coarse? What causes nipple cracks? What you need to know and what to be prepared for before you start breastfeeding? Do I need to smear the breast to prepare it for feeding? Why is breastfeeding painful?