How many reusable breast pads do I need if I plan to EBF?

[Crocodilian]

Just that, really! I've made eight pairs so far with two layers of fleece in the middle as well as cotton on the boob side and a waterproof layer on the outside but have no idea how often I'll need to change them.

I imagine I'll be washing every day as am planning on using reusable wipes and nappies so anticipate a lot of washing!

Thank you!

Well, with my first and second I genuinely didn't use one. They remained unused in the bathroom cupboard

With my third I used a few, perhaps 10 times in total. Mostly at the start when my supply was unpredictable.

I'd say you've got enough, you can always make/buy some more if you need to

@ParisianLady ah that's amazing, thank you! I was sort of assuming that I'd generally leak milk every moment of the day so it's a relief to hear that that's maybe not the case!

I use reusable pads ( and nappies and wipes).

I have 12 pairs which is about right for me. Now 6 months in I don’t leak half as much, but still wear clean pair day and night. In the earlier 3 months could easily need to change them 3-4 times per day. Plus I keep spare pair in changing bag.

I had about 10 but never needed them for either dc. Some people leak more than others.

They dry so quickly and with a young baby the washer is always on so I wouldn't go to crazy amounts. Maybe 10/12?

I've never used them. I just didn't leak until DS3. This time I did but I'm at home because of Covid all the time so I just used a hakaa collector cup to collect anything until my milk settled down. I'd say you've made enough for now.

With 3 kids i probably used them about a dozen times for actual milk. Just a few times in the first few weeks if I was a bit engorged and leaked a bit. I didn't leak at all after that. They are handy to protect your clothes if you have sore nipples with cream on them though 😄 My first DC had a tongue tie, so I went about with Lansinoh on for a while took they got better...

I don't think I bought any for DC2 and 3 at all.

The stereotype of 'leaky boobs all day' is certainly not the case for everyone. I think out of all my friends only one or 2 had much leakage that they mentioned. Obviously it is a problem for some people but I was lucky enough.

I never leaked a drop with either child. You may need none or you may need hundreds of them (unlikely!). What you have made is probably fine for now.

I leaked constantly for about 9months after giving birth. Through to clothes and everything. Think I had about 12 pairs but wore probably 2 or 3 pairs a day.

really depends on the baby.

dc 1 I had so much milk, that when I fed him on the left I was pouring from the right. In the end I collected it! It was better than expressing!
So when I was out and about I stuffed several in the side I wasn't feeding on. I got through hundreds.

But dc2 and 3, I just needed one on the off side per feed. I didn't tend to need any between feeds with any of them, although I usually wore them just in case.

So that would be 8 -10 per day?

I’m another who didn’t leak. I’ve got a newborn who is #3 and haven’t ever needed any.

Oh thank you very much for all the replies! It sounds like there's a good chance I just won't need them, and if I do, I've got a good number to be getting on with for the very start. Thanks everyone!

If you don’t use them they’re not wasted, they make great reusable makeup wipes! This is what I use mine for now!

Wow I amazed at those who didn’t leak. I was like a bloody fountain.

Four months in and I have ten pairs, which is fine as I only change them each morning. Not really leaking any more so it's more to catch the odd drop, and my bras aren't padded so I feel like they shield me a little when carrying a baby up against my chest etc.

But at the start I would've been constantly changing and found they weren't nearly absorbent enough. I used disposables and switched to reusable when my supply had settled.

I had 14 pairs of reusable pads. It felt like the right number.

A word of caution - disposable pads are much kinder to the nipples than reusable pads (even with lansinoh) should you have any issues breastfeeding and your nipples crack/weep at all. Might be worth getting one box of disposable for the hospital/early days. And do buy some lansinoh, it's a lifesaver!

I didn't leak either. though at one point DD seemed permanently latched on.

I found I only leaked during first few weeks at the let down. Sometimes it was so much a pad didn’t even help.

They don’t leak at all now though.

If you do leak a lot a set of the breast shells can be great to catch the milk and add to your stash if you are wanting to give some expressed milk!

I don't understand all those that don't leak! I'm 8 weeks in as a FTM and leak leak leak! I have to change breast pads at every feed otherwise I (we) get thrush. 10 would not be enough pairs for me with washing every day. I have about double that! I also collect letdown during feeds in a Haakaa so the leaking is between feeds too 😩 night time is worse!

I never used breast pads. I never leaked between feeds.

With my second I would sometimes leak during night feeds but never at any other time.

I'd stick with what you have and get more of needed

For a bit of contrast I’m 11 months in and still leaking! Need 3 sets for over a 24 hour period, maybe 2 if I’m having a good day! Like others have said, the reusable ones didn’t cut it for me early on. Initially I would be going through about 3 on each side per feed (so say 10 feeds per day at 6 pads = 60 day). I then gave up on this and just shoved towels down my top if I was in or used breast shells and doubled up pads if I was out! Settled after 8 weeks but still at times the reusable ones aren’t absorbent enough x

I leak a lot, I go through three pairs of xl bamboo pads with a pul backing. I have 7 pairs we are washing cloth nappies and wipes. Every other day.

I had small cotton ones at first which were no where near sufficient, I went through all 10 pairs in a day. I used csp for a week or so whilst I worked out whether my leakiness would be a short term thing or not.