Is it just me or are nipple pads a bit s**t?

[purplemunkey]

They just scrunch up in my bra every time I pull the cup back up after feeding. I've used the Boots ones and some Avent ones that came with a bottle/pump/steriliser kit I bought. Both have a rubbish, very small adhesive strip that doesn't do a great job holding them in place. Or am I just doing it wrong?

I have tried every brand of breast pads around as I leak a lot, even 9 months in. Lansinoh are probably the best, but are very expensive. Tommee Tippee ones work pretty well too. All the rest are crap if you have lots of leakage or fast letdown like I do. I leak straight through washable pads, so seem to spend a small fortune on pads.

I don't stick them, just leave them loose and pull them out / put them back in before / after a feed. Also like Lansinoh.

Yes!!!
I used the Boots own brand ultra thin ones and they were the best for me

Use breast shells instead - and collect the extra milk.

Like Tree, when using breastpads I don't stick them, just pull out when feeding and put back when done.

Lansinoh or however it's spelt were the only ones I would use too

Try breast shells instead...has added bonus of collecting milk from 'spare' breast whilst feeding which can be used for bottle dreamfeed. Boots and Mothercare both stock cheap options www.boots.com/en/Boots-Maternity-Breast-Shells_1252875/

I only tried Lansinoh but they were pretty good. Sometimes they would get folded in half in my bra while feeding but were pretty easy to sort out. Not sweaty or itchy at all.

Interested in the breast shell idea, but I'm having a summer baby - will the milk keep fresh ok?

Use the breast shells while you feed to collect milk from 'spare breast'. First weeks or so you should get about 2-3 oz in total during the day. Pour milk straight into baby feeder bottle and keep in fridge until dreamfeed, use that day or freeze. If you produce more than required you can always supply Special Care Baby Unit with any surplus. Some discussion about whether there's any 'hind milk' with milk that expresses/leaks this way, but it was never an issue with either of my daughters and their very contented babies :)

Breast Shells

My baby is 8 1/2 weeks. I collect about 4oz/120ml in breast shells during day.

I tend to put them in about half an hour before I expect to be feeding (when I start leaking) or anytime my breasts feel very full.

I keep them in until after a feed. Then transfer what is collected into a bottle in the fridge. I collect enough most days for DH to give a top-up dream feed at 11pm - without any of the hassle of expressing.

Ah ok thanks Roz. So that maybe suggests breast shells for when feeding at home (with fridge available), but breast pads for when out and about?

Must admit I never noticed any major leakage from the spare breast, but I wasn't really looking!

Sadly my milk seems to have excess lipase so doesn't keep well... would have to use that day and there might not be enough without expressing. But every little helps!

Breast milk can be kept at room temperature for up to 6hours so if you're out and about there's no need to refrigerate it straight away. It might separate but just needs a shake to return its look to normal. Take a look at this link for more info www.babycentre.co.uk/x553833/whats-the-best-way-to-store-breastmilk
Hope this helps and gives you more options :)

Good to see that FATEdestiny has similar experience and advice

Another vote for the lansinoh ones here. More expensive but worth it.

I've heard good things about silicone breast pads.

"silicone breast pads" are what breast shells are.

"So that maybe suggests breast shells for when feeding at home (with fridge available), but breast pads for when out and about?"

Shells are really useful when out and about if (like me) you leak a lot. No risk of breast pad soaking through or moving leaving you with the dreaded wet patches on your top. They definitely keep you drier.

Two down sides of wearing shells out and about though. (1) They look odd if wearing a tight fitting top. Not often a problem this time of year because I will be wearing a big coat when out. But unless I'm in lose fitting or bulky clothes, they give your breasts an odd shape. (2) I don't like having to remove one and find a flat surface to balance it on when feeding outside of the home.

I used to have to use breast shells as I leaked so much, I was at uni and used to go to the 'bowl' cafe and feed ds1 then take out breast shell from the other side, I tipped the milk into the same plant pot for ages as s sort of experiment to see how the plant fared and then months later realised the plant was an artificial plastic one!

Another vote for little lamb bamboo ones, no leaks yet, v discrete and comfortable
Hated hated the disposable ones with my first baby

Yy to breast shells - but if you're using them to collect milk don't get the Boots ones as they have holes in them and it's easy to spill the milk everywhere. Medela do ones without holes and with a little lip for easily pouring into the bottle and they are much better.

Glad the rest of you think the pads are shit. The ones with adhesive end up turning round in my bra and getting stuck to the breast - ouch.

Lansinoh I found were bes disposable. I leak a lot, and they stayed in place and kept me feeling dry. Tommee tippee also stayed in place but would itch and I always felt damp.
Now I use little lamb bamboo reusables.

Hmmm I had decided on ordering the bamboo little lamb reusables, but I must check out these breast shells...so should I look at the Medela ones?

Boots £6.15 Ventilation holes can be a problem until you get used to them.
Medela £9.99 cheapest on Amazon, have 2 versions, with or without ventilation holes.
Mothercare Philips Avent £12 include choice of 2 backings without or without ventilation holes.
The world's your oyster! Definitely a better solution than breastpads :)

I use Avent breast shells. They are great.

Tommee Tippee ones are very similar to lansinoh ones. Both were great. At one point was also using folded up muslin for overnight. No one warns you of the leaking do they?!

Johnson's ones are amazing.

I found washable ones the most comfortable too, in fact having recently regifted all my cloth nappies I have come across the pads & would happily post them to anyone who wanted them. :-)