Question for breastfeeding mums about sleeping + leaking

[ThatFluentBird]

Hi all,

I hope it’s ok to post! I’m not selling anything, I’m doing a bit of early research for a personal project and would love to hear your honest experiences.

When you were breastfeeding, did you ever leak at night?

• Did you sleep in a bra or without?
• If you wore a bra, how did that feel overnight?
• If you didn’t, how did you deal with leaks (pads, towels, other hacks)

I’m trying to understand what works (or doesn’t) for real mums when it comes to night-time breastfeeding, and whether there’s a genuine problem that could use a better solution.

Any experiences good, bad, or “I just put up with it” would be hugely appreciated. Thank you so much in advance!

It was only an issue for the first 5-6 weeks and I wore a bra which provided me with support which made me more comfortable

This is good to know! Some mums find sleeping in a bra uncomfortable, is this an issue for you?

For the first few months, I always used breast pads (reusable ones) inside a swim suit top or tight yoga top with in built padded bra as it was tight so I could stick breast pads in it. I don't wear breast pads anymore but wear the same as above minus the pads and sometimes wear an old loose maternity bra to bed so it's not too tight or uncomfortable and a string top over it. I don't feel right with just a string top (what I used to sleep in pre baby).

Thank you for your reply!😊 that’s a good idea for an alternative to a bra, I personally find sleeping in a bra really uncomfortable. Do you think you’ve gotten so used to wearing one due to having too that is now feels unusual to be without that support?

I wear non wired crop top style bras that are padded. I find pads, even the reusable ones, uncomfortable and annoying. It’s only really a problem the first few weeks and/or if your baby suddenly sleeps a really long stretch and doesn’t normally so you wake up desperate to feed. As a narrow backed big boobed girl however it would be good to be able to find decent non-wired sleep bras that actually fit my boobs and back instead of just standardised S/M/L tops which do one or the other!

I just wore a loose sports bra and reusable pads. No more uncomfortable for me than sleeping in a tank top.

I over-produced so had to sleep in a bra with pads all the time I breastfed. Once baby started sleeping longer, pads weren't enough. I used to wake up drenched and have to change my top half way through the night. Always slept on a towel.

First baby, sleeping bra and pads, second naked on a towel, you learn!

I use to wear silicone breast pads. I wore a bra in the early days when they used to get a bit engorged but once that settled down no bra.

I’m old, but back in the 90s, all of my mum friends and I used sleep bras. They were just like a soft crop top, and we used pads with them.

I wore vest tops that had breastfeeding clips on the straps and elastic under breast so comfortable and easy for breastfeeding. Then just put in a breast pad and you are good to go!

If there was to be a pajama top/sleep dress that was absorbent and allowed you to feed baby easily without the need for a bra or pads would it be something you would purchase? I personally find sleeping in a bra uncomfortable

Probably not. I like the leakage to be controlled, rather than just all over the inside of a pyjama shirt.

Plus it's only a problem for a few weeks and I don't think it'd be worth it to buy multiple pyjama shirts for just that purpose.

I disagree with it being a problem for just a few weeks. For me, it was the whole time I breastfed - many months.
However, I agree - damp pyjamas tops sound very unappealing. Unrestrained big boobs and over-supply - there'd have been milk running everywhere! These days, there are lots of comfortable bralets that can hold pads in place.

I do agree! What if the design was to have specific absorbent areas around the nipples that you would then move( lift flap or wrap) to allow baby to feed to its more of a built in pad

Defo much better to sleep naked with towel

I just can't picture how that would work with moving around in my sleep and keeping the pads in the right place. Wouldn't it have to be pretty tight? And that would kind of defeat the purpose of no bra for me because I like loose pyjamas.

I'm sure it would work for someone though.

I’d never buy this, I prefer to sleep without a bra anyway. Wearing a soft bra is already outside my comfort zone so there’s no way I’d choose something with even more material over a nonwired padded bra especially when freshly postpartum and having sweats.

This would have a massive additional laundry committment and might go mouldy while waiting for a suitable load.

I used a combo of sleep bras and pads, sleeping on a towel and when I was skinny, a muslin folded like a bandana and tied around my chest.

And you quite often stay in your pajamas for a while AM with a new baby - it's a cliche - how do I get dressed? You don't want to add to it by being covered in milk!

I’m almost 6 months postpartum, barely have any supply, but still leak multiple times per day and night, even with getting up to express. I’m sick of wearing a bra 24/7 but don’t feel comfortable naked on a towel, and I’m even sicker of wearing breast pads, it’s like sanitary towels for boobs. If there was a magic top that could wick away liquid and keep me dry without it being straps and closures, I’d wear it. As it stands, I wear soft sports bra type bralets as they’re the easiest to move out of the way along with the breast pads. If I use a bra that clasps, I then usually lose the breast pad with it once it’s open. So much faff.

This sounds similar to my experience/feelings on it, but I had oversupply and used to leak for a long while. I can’t quite envision the design you are suggesting op, because I wear loose pjs so can’t imagine how this would stay in place. And would it really feel dry. Naked on a towel sounds horrendous to me btw!!