OK, so "Breasts are never empty"...

[SoupDragon]

... but I assume they are "never empty" in the same way that a jug being filled by a dripping tap whilst you drink the water with a straw is never empty rather than the way a tap is never empty?

[beansprout]

I think that too. Diminishing returns and all that.

[hunkermonkee]

I've started a thread on which Tiktok can explain that one too, SD All the empty/full/hind/foremilk queries in one place, has long been my dream

I ought to get out more, right?!

[hunkermonkee]

(If Tiktok doesn't mind, that is)

[expatinscotland]

got i never thought about it. i just thought, 'well, the baby will know when it's had enough.'

[SoupDragon]

I'm right though aren't I? They're never truly empty but they're as good as whlst they produce more milk.

[beartime]

I think they must get to almost empty tho' cos I remember evenings when ds would suck for a few minutes and then come off and cry till I put him on the other side, suck for another few minutes then come off and cry and back to the other etc. I'm convinced its cos they didn't have much milk in them so he 'emptied' one and then went to the other one, by which time the first had a few more oz in etc.

[hunkermonkee]

That's cluster feeding, Beartime - your DS was establishing your supply.

[harmonicacarrier]

OK so answer this one:
is it true that you are advised not to wear underwired bras because of the risk of pressue if yu lift the cup up so if you don't do that it's OK??
please tell me this is true

[beartime]

But he did it for days and seemed so unhappy!

[hunkermonkee]

In awe of any woman who can lift the wire over her nork - dping that with mine would result in a Rather Unfortunate Incident, I'm afraid.

[hunkermonkee]

Ah, yes, you're also forgetting the one thing you Must Remember about babies. They're funny buggers.

Seriously, he was establishing your supply. I remember MSNing VVVQV some evenings when DS2 was tiny and having to break off every half hour to feed for half an hour. Tedious, she must've found it

[UniSarah]

Underwired bras are more likey to put pressure on a small area of the breast constantly and so increase the risk of a blocked duct ( IIRC)

[NotQuiteCockney]

SD, they are sometimes emptier and sometimes fuller. But the fat sticks to the sides of the reservoirs, so when they're emptier, they're putting out quite high fat milk ... it all works out.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Oh, and one of the issues with underwires while bf is that underwires should be well-fitted, but if your norks are going up and down over the course of the day, it's hard to have a bra fit properly ...

[beartime]

yeah - just don't get it fitted in the evening or you'll regret it in the morning - like my bridesmaid dress which had to be taken out for that very reason!

[Enid]

if I sit on my batty at lunchtime and eat a big plate of food, drink a big glass of water and rest for half an hour I have tons of milk in th eevening

if I race around and dont eat properly = crappy supply in the evening

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

Oh yes, very tedious Hunker

Babies are just sooooooooooo inconsiderate

[CMac]

Harmonicacarrier - I've just been fitted for an underwired feeding bra - a German company apparantly and fully tested etc. No idea what the difference is but it's a proper feeding bra with pull down cups and i got it from a really good specialist bra shop so am confident it's fine to use and OMG it's SOOOO comfortable compared with the horrible thing i've been wearing all pregnancy and the nursing bras I had last time round!

[PinkTulips]

CMac where did you get it? 2+ years of peregnancy, bf-ing then pregnancy again and i'm having serious withdrawal symptoms for my underwire, that bra sounds fab

[tiktok]

Babies do sometimes cry on one breast and then settle happily on the other breast, and while they are not totally emptyig breast one, they are ready for the more abundant flow of the second breast.

[harmonicacarrier]

yes where did you get it pppppplease

[CMac]

i got mine from a small independent shop in Stirling (Scotland) so might not be too handy! It's from a company called Anita Maternity. i had a look at their website to see if they listed stockists but could only find German ones. I did find it on a couple of websites though - see \link{http://www.figleaves.com/uk/nsf/qwiser.asp?brand=338&src=GOUK01APs004\figleaves}

Hope the link worked - it's the one on the right on the top row.

[PinkTulips]

sob, i want one , will have to start moaning at dp now to convince him i should spend that much on a bra if i want to have it by the time baby comes.

[CMac]

I know what you mean - especially as it'll only be worn for a year or so max, but last time I bought one for about £15 that was so uncomfy I had to buy another (again about £15) which also ended up being really uncomfy (both bought in a flap with newborn screaming in pram!) so this time I was determined to get fitted properly and peacefully before the event so hopefully it will be worth it!

[PinkTulips]

sounds just like me, underestimated the need for one pre-birth and made a made dash to mothercare a week after dd was born, had to guess the size too, not a wise move!