Leaking 6oz a feed from other breast… please help

[Rosafar]

I am constantly leaking breast milk it soaks me my clothes the baby the bed through towels everything. When I feed and my partner holds something underneath to collect (luckily he’s currently off work) around 6oz leaks out of the boob not in use. They are so painful and it makes feeding so frustrating for baby. This is my first baby and he is 10 days old. Really starting to get upset I don’t know how to cope :( we have already tried adding a couple of bottle feeds to try to reduce supply and it just doesn’t work and my boobs become more painful. My nipples look like they’re caving in in places. I have no idea what to do and the midwife is in just as much shock…

has anybody else out there dealt with this???

Try a haaka pump. It was a lifesaver for me as I let down super quickly when feeding but struggled to pump otherwise.

I second the haaka pump. It will get easier! Congratulations on your little one.

Haaka is exactly what you need!

Thank you for the advice, I actually have tried using Hakka but the midwife said to not stick it on the boob as it can increase supply ? So now me or my partner are just holding it underneath but it still manages to go everywhere :/

I am also suggesting the Hakka I loved it! If u think it's increasing Ur supply I would bottle what u collect and give them that as next feed to counteract. Gets them used to a bottle in case u want a break too. I used an electric pump with my first born then when the second came along I didn't need it from what I was collecting from the Hakka. Highly recommend from me!

Have you tried breast shells?

I used to use a washable breast pad and hold it firmly onto the nipple on the non--feeding side, otherwise I'd pour milk out.

Breast shells. They collect passively, rather than actively extract, so they shouldn't increase your supply. And they take the pressure off your nipples, which is very nice at a time when the softest bra feels like a brick wall.

It does get better. The only time I ever leaked copiously was in the first 5-6w. With each baby I leaked less, and only ever in the first few weeks. Hope it will be the same for you.

It's early days. Right now your body is awash with hormones and isn't quite in tune with your baby's needs yet. Your supply is hormone driven, so whenever you latch (or even think about) your baby your supply is going into overdrive.

It will absolutely settle down when your baby and body become more in tune, but it's embarrassing and uncomfortable.

Steer clear of the haaka. It does use a little bit of suction, so can encourage production of even more milk. Breast shells that you put in your bra are more passive and catch the let down without stimulating your body.

Running a warm bath and relaxing in the water can help also - excess milk leaks out without the need to stimulate your body.

You'll probably need to sleep on a towel - I used to get night leakage too.

Hang in there. It will calm down. But the first few weeks can be excessive.

Also used breast shells. I used to leak loads but it does quickly settle down.

Eh?

That sounds total nonsense to me. I swear by haakaas. They're amazing. I froze so much breast milk using them to catch let down. Never needed to pump.

It will calm down in the next few weeks. Your body is just figuring it out and your hormones are getting the hang of it. I know it seems hugely overwhelming now, but it will get better.

Be careful of trying to reduce your supply as you don't want to end up with mastitis and the first 4 to 6 weeks is when your supply settles in.

If you feel you need more support give the National Breastfeeding Helpline or your local La Leche League a call. Both are fabulous. In the meantime this article is well worth a read, it's a very well respected font of breastfeeding knowledge.

It will calm down. Get Lansinoh and use it before feeds. It says after but I used it before. It can be brutal : (

Oh and get in the shower instead of faffing with a pump.

I had a huge over supply with both children. I did manage to bring it down a bit by using peppermint oil capsules (which did work for me) and block feeding - so you keep baby on the same side for more than one feed, until breast is totally empty and then switch sides. This means that each breast will go for a period of several hours without being stimulated and then supply will drop. You can collect the excess milk to freeze if you want to, but often I just let the let down run off into a muslin cloth.

Have you tried block feeding? Basically you swap sides less often then you're advised to in order to encourage your body to make less milk. The opposite technique is switch feeding is when you swap sides multiple times a feed to bring your supply up.

I found the elvie curve helped me loads, I used a Hakka with my first baby but the elvie sits inside your bra so makes it a lot less stressful. You can use it with suction but otherwise it works just the same as a breast shell only it holds twice as much milk.

I had massive oversupply both times, my baby is now 6 months old and it's settled down loads but like you in the first few weeks/3 months I was usually getting around 4oz off the opposite boob while feeding on one side. Now it's calmed down a lot and I can get away with just wearing a pad on the opposite side if I don't want to collect it.

If you do collect it but aren't wanting to store it/offer a bottle then it's great to put in baby's bath as it's so good for their skin, nice for you to know it's not being wasted.

Please don't block feed at only 10 days in without getting expert advice. You risk causing real problems.

Breast shells and hang in there! It will get easier

As others have said hakaa (only lightly applied) or breast shells.
You can also try putting some cold savoy cabbage leaves in your bra given your supply is definitely on the over supply end. They contain a enzyme which reduces milk production but be careful and use sparingly - start with 15 mins 1-2 times a day. The outer leaves are better.

I had a oversupply with both but far worse with my first after neonatal stay and pumping. You can also donate milk of it doesn't settle down. But personally would freeze it.

So much of the above is incorrect advice. You would be far better off speaking to someone trained. Personally la leche league have been invaluable, but any of the breastfeeding helplines or find a qualified ibclc before you try anything suggested above.

This must be really difficult for you at minute but as long as you manage it the right way, not as above, I’m sure you will go on to have a much more calm experience.

What is? Many people have just said they had the same experience. I certainly did, twice. I didn't need to speak to a trained advisor, I needed to wait for my hormones to calm down and use breast shells in the meantime.

I think they mean don’t do block feeding too early as you’ll potentially mess with your supply.

I swear it'll settle down. I used to stick a nappy in my bra on the side that wasn't being used to stop getting soaked. If you can collect it, you can freeze it for some bottle feeds.

Your boobs are still learning, at some point they'll produce on demand rather than feel like rocks all the time.