leaky boobs

[yingers74]

am into my 3rd week of bf dd2, and was just wondering when do boobs stop leaking? Breast pads are so uncomfortable, is there any way of encouraging them not to leak????

Hi Yingers
Horrid, isn't it? I'm afraid mine didn't stop for a good while, months, not weeks - though they got considerably better after a few weeks. I heard it best to lie on your back so there's no pressure on boobs. Other than that, I'm not sure. Midwife said put some plastic sheeting on your mattress as it could stink if it gets all the way through and festers! Which breast pads are you using? I found the Avent ones best - worth the extra cost. At night, I wrapped a muslin round me!
Hope it settles down soon - it really is a relief when it stops, though I daren't go out without a pad, I now use the washable ones as they are quite comfy (useless absorbancy so no good at start)
HTH
ps congrats on birth of daughter

once feeding gets well established it does reduce

I wore breastpads for several months, although found some better than others. The comfiest for me were the Johnson and Johnson ones. Might be worth trying another brand? The other thing that helps, although hurts a tiny bit the first few times is pushing the heel of your hand into the other nipple when feeding from the other breast. Hope this helps?

Oh god, don't get me started. I was leaking queen! I leaked so much in the first 6 weeks I thought I would have to give up breast feeding!

You know those little cup things you are supposed to wear in one cup while feeding? The ones that collect milk? Well I wore them 24/7 for 6 weeks! And I had to empty them out at least once an hour!

If I put pads in they soaked through in minutes...

Don't know if this makes you feel better or worse! Still, for me it reall reduced after 6 weeks although I did wear the pads for a while after.

Hi Yingers,

I'm in the 6th week of breastfeeding my Dd and know how you feel. The best pads I've found so far are Tommee Tippee Freedom. They're quite thin, very absorbant and don't slip like some of the others do.

It's calmed down for me already but I was caught out at the weekend so I don't know how long we'll have to wear the pads.

Congrats on your Dd's birth, and I hope you find this helpful.

I wished I'd remembered about those cup things - could have saved up loads of milk in the first few weeks.

lol

Racers - that was the one good thing about the leaking - loads of milk in the freezer!

yingers74,thinking of you! I was Miss Wet T shirt of the year kind of,but it did settle after awhile but I always wore breast pads right up till i stopped feeding.I bought the Avent ones which are very soft,quite thick and you put them in the washing machine!!which saved a fortune!

Hi Yingers74
I am sorry to tell you that i'm still bf my dd aged 15 months and unless i press my boob that shes not on (like loulou said) i still leak. My mw and hv both said i have a really strong let down and that's maybe why i still leak. Bit embarrasing cos if i'm out and bf i look like i'm groping my other boob!!

Oh I'm always groping my boobs to check my pads are in place LOL! These washables don't have the sticky bits to hold them in place and esp. if I've recently fed and hastily replaced them, they could be just about anywhere (within the general bra area, hence the boob fondling)

My son is 8 months old and I still leak a bit and still wear pads all the time but it is much better than it was - sorry I can't remember when it improved

Lansinoh breast pads are my recommendation. They have that gel in them (like in disposable nappies and always ultra)so they are very thin and hold loads of fluid. They are more expensive but you can change them less often. If I ran out I also used always panty liners in my bra which were better than any other make of breast pad I tried and stayed in place better as the whole back was adhesive.

Try Lilypadz. I haven't tried them [ersonally... They sell them at www.twinkleontheweb.co.uk. They're silicon breastpads that sort of stick to you and stop leakage. You wah them by rinsing under the tap and reuse. I think they're about £15 but from the reviews I've heard they're worth it.

I don't have a huge leak problem but wear tommee tippee freedom ones as they are wide & thin and don't show through the same way. They're also shaped with a curve so don't slide too much.

Well i've been BF for nearly 9 months now and I still get engorged and still leak! It has reduced but still happens. Tommy Tippee breast pads are nice and comfy and seem to hold alot, also avent is good.

tah everyone, guess it comes with territory so will just have to grin and bear it.

yingers - you may find that they settle down in another few weeks once your supply settles.