avoiding mess whilst bfing?

[ihatelego]

just wanted to ask if any of you have tactics/tricks to avoid getting messy whilst bfing. i usu bf bras, pads, muslins and usually a breast pump to express the fast flow off the other breast but i still keep managing to get in a massive mess/wet tops, bras and milk everywhere! curious to know if i'm missing a trick

How many weeks in are you? If your baby is under 6 weeks then it can be messy, but at 6 weeks things settle down and you're usually (though not always) less leaky.

I found the heel of my hand pressed on the non-feeding boob for a short while at the start of the feed usually helped stop the leaking.

Always messy for me. Never solved it. Even after months. Good luck and remember always better to be covered in milk than not have enough

babys a week old today, ah ok that would be good yesterday i leaked through pads and bra whilst my family were visiting! thank you for the suggestion will have a go

I used to pad my non-feeding breast with a folded-up muslin.

Folded up (clean/new!!) Terry nappies. One up the jumper on the off side. Work a treat.

Which pads are you using? I find Lansinoh the best by far.

I remember my HV recommending breast shells. I never used them but apparently they're plastic things that you can put inside your bra when feeding (on non feeding side obviously) and they collect the milk so that you can use it in bottle later if you want to.
Might be something to think about....

Asda do reusable pads which are quite good.

Asda do reusable pads do they? That's going on my shopping list now!

Before you start, tuck a hand towel/flannel into the bottom band and crunched up cup of the bra, once you've opened the clip and exposed your breast (like you'd do with a dinner napkin round your neck).

Breast shells are brilliant, especially if you have a fast flow. Pumping will increase the supply of milk so if you've got enough, the shells are a more passive way of collecting- rather than encouraging- excess.

9 months in, DD still dribbles while feeding! Folded muslin tucked into bra and over her shoulder catches most of that. Layering tops (one up one down to feed) so any leakage goes on top that isn't seen.
Lansing breast pads if going disposable route. I switched to little lamb resuables.
Over supply will settle, but took months for me I'm afraid! Try to avoid expressing too much, as that is telling your body you need the extra milk. Only express to relieve a bit when painful.
Congrats on your precious bundle.

Here are the breast shells

You can use to collect milk whilst feeding

Also swear by lansinoh pads

It does get easier! Your milk has just come in and your body adjusting to baby's demand. Improves when supply/demand is balanced.

Lansinoh breast pads are the most absorbent I leak through other brands!

Lansinoh the only pads I didn't regularly leak through, would use a Muslin as well when feeding. Definitely try to avoid expressing. Try pressing down on the nipple you aren't feeding from. I had a pretty big oversupply which took ages to settle down

Try not pumping the other side- when you do this you are signaling to your body that you DO want that milk to come out (which you don't). Also maybe try nursing more frequently so the other side doesn't get engorged. Eventually, the leaking will stop.