Why, when you feed from one breast, does the other one leak?

[CuppaTeaJanice]

...because it's bloody annoying!!

What evolutionary advantage could this human design feature possibly have in a mammal that predominantly produces one baby at a time?

It means I have to wear a bra and breast pads, which I then need to change and check positioning several times a day to avoid embarrassing leakage. DD is only 3 weeks old - please tell me my boobs won't still do this once BF is properly established.

Probably not but it might take a while to settle. Maybe buy some breast shells. I could collect about 20ml+ sometimes! You could then use the milk in a bottle or freeze and save for when you wean to make porridge :)

If you use the heel of your hand against the nipple and apply gentle pressure while you are feeding on the other side it stops the leaking.

I used to get this, especially at night feeding lying down. Used to hold a muslin against the leaking one or it dribbled down my chest. Hasn't happened for ages now and DD is 6 months.

It should settle down pretty soon. I sometimes expressed off the other side with my first as I felt it might as well go in the freezer rather than just spray across the room / soak a breast pad.

Suppose if it is a response to a hormone in the blood stream it has to affect both?? Btw mine still leak at 6mo, cost me a fortune in breast pads, but I think I'm unusual :(

It's the letdown reflex, which is triggered when baby feed's from one side. This is why some women find it easier to express from one side while baby feed's from the other. And it will seatal down once feeding is more established, some women don't even need to use breastpads ever. I stoped wearing them around 3months.

Bah! Not fair! I leaked massively for about 8 months! After that LO was weaning herself off bfs during the day time anyway and was only having two breastfeeds a day at 9 months, one first thing and one last thing, so basically i leaked the whole time I was feeding her during the day and she fed every 2-3 hours as well - so being out and about with her was quite awkward! You just have to use several breast pads one on top of the other and check they are still in the right place on one breast before you start feeding from other breast. I tried those Lily Pads things that stick over your nipples and are meant to compress them to stop leakage, but they made it even worse, as one would fill up during a feed, and once it reached critical pressure/capacity, it would suddenly burst off my nipple with a huge gush of milk (like someone had thrown a cup of milk onto my top) which was even worse than a the steady spray you get through the breast pads! RE: MigGril, yes, I always found the ONLY time I could express anything significant was when my LO was feeding from the other side. Now she is 14 MO I still get a little trickle from the other side when she feeds, but luckily it's never in public as she only has one feed first thing in the morning and last thing at night now and I'm in my dressing gown anyway, so it doesn't matter..

I am still feeding dd at 23 months and only get this for her first feed of the day now. I agree with Rikalaily, use the heel of your hand, it works.

Mine is only just settling now at 22 weeks. But so glad! Breastpads are hateful!! But if I go somewhere I still wouldn't chance going without, just in case!

I had this with letdown while feeding DS1 until about 8 weeks or so. With DS2, for some reason, I had it for months at night. I found wearing a breastfeeding vest (Emma Jane is the business - bamboo stretchy fabric, v comfy) holds the breastpads on under your pjs or nightie. Far more comfortable than wearing a bra in bed. And yes, gentle pressure with the heel of your hand often stops it.