Sore nipples now - is there any hope?

[Essie3]

My nips are really sore and I'm only 34 weeks. I mean so bad that when I was getting dressed and my pj's brushed them, it hurt. No leaking or anything. They're ok once bra is on (but then nothing can brush against them...
MW told me to massage in order to get milk going but I can't bear to touch them at all! Do they need toughening or something and if yes, how?

[NotQuiteCockney]

I had really sore breasts in pregnancy, but no particular problem with tender nipples once I was breastfeeding.

I don't think you need to massage to get milk going, but if you were going to, you could massage around the nipples, to be fair ...

[PortAndLemon]

You shouldn't need to massage them to get milk going -- that's what the baby's for...

But if you have sore nipples already then if I were you I would arrange to see an experienced breastfeeding counsellor (not just a midwife) at an early stage after your baby is born, so that you don't get a bad latch making them any worse.

[littlelamb]

I have 3 weeks to go and feel very sore too. I can't remember this happening with dd, but they were certainly very tender for the first few days of breastfeeding, so I am looking on the brightside and wondering wether this means I am getting the discomfort over and done with before the birth [wishful thinking emoticon]. WIth dd I was leakign quite badly before the birth and wearing breast pads for at least a month before hand, but this hasn't happened this time. I have no idea why, but I am hoping it will not mean that I have trouble building up a supply (could have fed a small army with my milk with dd )