How much longer will I need these bloody breast-pads??

[danceswithbaby]

I've been b/f for 15 months a little girl who needs mummy long and often. I'm in for the long haul. The only thing I hate is stuffing these horrid great discs into my bra. I'm an ex-classical dancer for god's sake. I like close fitting clothes. Voluminous tops are just not me. I look weird.

Am I likely to need them until b/f stops?

I had to use them until I dropped to just two feeds a day and even that took some time getting used to!

Have you tried things like Lily padz - they're supposed to be good and they're very thin, not a soaky up type pad

I only could ever stop using breastpads, etc...when I had compeltely stopped to bf...however I used to have these and they were brillaint, and not as visible, etc...however, looks liek they have been discontinoued...but you might find them elsewhere, I don't know.

What I really wanted to hear was "everyone knows you stop needing them the day your lo turns 18 months, they just haven't told you!"

Still in the absence of such great news:

I've looked for the Blis ones 3andnomore, but no success there. Thanks anyway.

ELF, I just ordered some Lily Padz. They'd better be good ^£14.99??^ Thanks for the tip though!

Muminfife, I've gone from no boobs (suits me fine) to a 32D. A bra with extra padding is the last thing I want

danceswithbaby - unrelated to the breastpad issue but you say your little one feeds long and often. My DD is 14 months and is still very much demand feeding long and often too. I'm finding it hard having well meaning relatives thinking I'm mad for doing it - how do you handle it? or have you just got more enlightened relatives?! DD is not feeding any less than she did when she was 6 months old probably so like you I've accepted that I'm in for the long haul! I am pretty lucky though as I haven't had to use breastpads for months and months, the lilypadz did work but were not great at the start of bfing when if they stopped the milk leaking out it would make me engorged, I think they'd be great for me know (have lost them somewhere in bedroom, probably covered in fluff by now).

good luck with the lily padz. if they're looked after and followed per the instructions, then they should do you well

Hi Jenkeywoo! Why don't you need breast pads then and I do? Not fair!

Seriously, with regard to the long term b/f, my family and friends all think I'm some sort of pervert. The reason I can handle it is because I'm 42 years old and don't give a bugger what anyone thinks

I honestly don't think I ever had a choice, dd is just wired that way and I love her far too much to fight it At the moment her canine teeth are threatening and all she's living on is fresh air and breast milk. I think she's been attached about every hour or less today.

The secret is to ignore (with a beautific smile) anyone that disagrees with your instincts and only read stuff that is likely to make you feel good about what you're doing. The LLL "Mothering your Nursing Toddler" is a great read.

Good luck and go with it! It can only be a good thing.

im still having to use them nearly 11 months in to bf. i have a white uniform tunic top and all you can see is these bloody great dustbin lids things through my top. i used to cver up wearing a cardi but now due to infection control measures im not allowed to wear it ans now mt breast pads can be seen by all and sundry maybe i will have to give these lilypad things a try...

danceswithbaby you have totally made my day - thank you! I feel the same. I've just been upstairs with DD now, she was crying and crying in DH's arms for all of 2 mins when I thought - why should she cry when I have the perfect solution?! For whatever reason she just needs me and needs to breastfeed more than some other children. I've been getting really hett up about the fact that she survives almost solely on breastmilk and a little food so your words 'living on fresh air and breast milk' really cheered me up!

I have no idea why I don't need breastpads now, for months and months it used to just pour out, I used to have to wrap the unused boob in a muslin whilst she was feeding as it was going everywhere! not sure when it stopped, my body is obviously very clever and now seems to produce just enough milk for her without needing breastpads.

Wouldn't it be fab if one could sort of do exercises to train ones nipples not to dribble,eh....sigh....

2 years on and I still need them. Grr.

I'm using Lansinoh ones - they're not perfect but a damn sight better than the washable ones I was using. They have a sort of gel in them that absorbs the leakage sort of makes it solid I think.

Jenkeywoo, I'm glad I made you feel better. You made me feel better too! I've never come across another one like my dd, but it sounds like yours is the same

Tinker, you still need them after 2 years?? That is NOT what I wanted to hear!

Ettenna, you are right about the washable ones, they are the ones I'm using. I'm being so 'right-on' with washable nappys, washable wipes and god knows what else, that I can't bring myself to use disposable breast-pads. Maybe I should just get over that...

Because my breast-pads muminfife, would be visible through two jumpers and a padded anorak

What are you using worleyhurly? If you haven't ordered these Lily Padz yet, I'll let you know how I get on. Do you still need yours if you are at work, away from you lo?

I hate those bloody things. I use size one cotton towelling nappy liners (no seriously) folded in half. Much less obvious, they don't have hard edges and don't get sucked up the washing machine pipes.

Aren't they on the bulky side? Or ruck up inside your bra? Do they go back easily, after a discreet public feeding (my dd has made me whip them out in the most unfortunate places...).

They are really soft so they mould to your boobs. And yes they go in very easily, in fact they are much less likely to fly across the restaurant than those horrid Avent things.

Three months ago a waiter trotted up and said: Madam, I think you've dropped your ahem 'coaster'.

Lol Well, I've already forked out £14.99 on Lily Padz and it looks like I'd better order some size 1 nappy liners as well. I'll give anything a try, if I'm going to go on needing them and it looks like I am. Don't tell me, you're still feeding a 5 yr old and needing breast pads...

Nope -seven months old and I spray the ceiling on a regular basis so there is a LOT of mopping up going on here!

Bloody hell! Please tell me you live in a modern house with a nice low ceiling and not one of those victorian jobs...?!

Actually we live in a thatched 16th century place but the ceiling is seven feet from the bed!

Hurrah! Lily Padz are here! They are pretty good actually. I can just see the outline through my bra, but anyone who didn't know they're there would have to look carefully to spot them. Not perfect, but 100% improvment on my dinner plates Give them a try Worleyhurley.

Thanks for the tip ELF! I was getting a bit fed up, what with this lovely weather. These opens up a few more wardrobe options.

I'm a bit worried about the lack of air flow though. Is that likely to cause any problems, anyone know?

Also, after b/f stops (somewhere in the dim and distant future), what will happen to my 32D's? Will they shrink back to pre-preg size? Will they ever be the same again?

I went from a B to an F cup, slopped to a DD when slowing on the b/f and then now stopped I think I'm a C. Sigh