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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Breastfeeding - milk everywhere

22 replies

Jennyb79 · 07/12/2008 10:34

Hi, does anyone have any tips on not getting milk all over my top while breastfeeding?!? My tops are constantly covered in milk from my breastpads being saturated and leaking and my son (4 weeks) dripping milk everywhere. I want to get some of those discreet nursing tops but at the moment there's no point - nothing is discreet when covered in milk! Not a massive issue, I realise, but would be great if anyone has any tips. Thanks!

OP posts:
hercules1 · 07/12/2008 10:48

Not at this stage, no. But it will get better, honestly. Eventually you wont even need breastpads.

TheTwelveDAISYOfChristmas · 07/12/2008 10:50

Hang in there Jenny and things should calm down as your body adjusts itself to your son's needs. I've never had any real problems with leaking so can't give you any advice, but there's some information on kellymom that you might find helpful. You could try expressing the fisrt bit off before latching your son on so it isn't gushing everywhere

Congratulations on the birth of your DS by the way

and come and join us on the November PostNatal club; if you have the time that is

littlelamb · 07/12/2008 10:53

Try different breast pads. I had this problem at first when I was using tescos own, but I switched to Tommee Tippee ones and they don't leak at all. I swear those things could soak up a flood

EssieAStarInBethlehem · 07/12/2008 19:44

Tommee Tippee are the best. It sounds a bit like you have oversupply - I did too.
I basically had to stuff a muslin down my bra whilst feeding from the other side.
Also try the Medela Breast Collection shells - you can save the milk too.
Double up on breastpads? I did.

callmeovercautious · 07/12/2008 19:49

Good tip from Essie about stuffing the other side

I also found my leg would get soaked as she would drip it out of her mouth. I used kitchen roll or a muslin to cover my knee which helped catch the puddle.

AmIDoingThisRight · 07/12/2008 20:01

You have my sympathies Jennyb79 - I had a massive oversupply problem, and at the height of it all I was filling a jug from one side while feeding DS from the other, making feeding in public pretty much a no-no for the first few weeks. Even breast shells were overflowing after a couple of minutes. I consoled myself with the fact that it was probably better to have too much than not enough.

It does eventually calm down and regulate itself, which is not much help at the moment I know.

I absolutely second the muslin idea - I used a breastpad, muslin and really absorbent kitchen roll on one while feeding from the other which seemed to catch it all. Did mean that changing sides was a bit of a palavar though.

kathryn2804 · 07/12/2008 20:43

A good tip is to press firmly onto the nipple/areola area and hold for a few seconds, it should stop temporarily. Alternatively if you can master the multi tasking, you could try expressing that side whilst feeding from the other. You can also buy little things that look a bit like breast shields but are actually little collecting cups that fit into your bra and collect all the excess milk. Might be worth investing!!

EssieAStarInBethlehem · 07/12/2008 22:05

We should start an oversupply thread!

A friend used a nappy to catch the milk!!

EssieAStarInBethlehem · 08/12/2008 12:24

Collecting cups were great - I think I may start using them again. I was annoyed because I could only get 10ml, (actually that's quite a lot) and it was a faff to freeze that amount. Now, though, I'd have good use for it to mix baby rice etc.

My supply was a while settling down. Well beyond 10 weeks when I didn't need to express off before feeding. I still squirt from time to time too.

giantsantasacks · 08/12/2008 12:52

Jenny - would second the shells idea - you can put it in the fridge and add to it during the day (not official advice I know but there has never been any problem with this for my dcs) and then freeze it at the end.

I am still having to use breastpads at 7 months and the lansinoh ones are the best imo.

if its really loads and involves a jug maybe you could have a think about donation?

scotlass · 08/12/2008 12:57

I had this and after a couple of weeks discovered collection shells which were much better than pads when feeding. I threw the milk out though - something I will not do this time!! I'd put it in a sterilised bottle and add to it over the day. Even if you only get half a feed it might be useful. Second the trying out different types of breastpads too, some are definately more absorbent than others.

QueenFee · 08/12/2008 13:02

have you tried these
They work by pressing the nipple up like you would with your hand. Some people love them some people hate them

notcitrus · 08/12/2008 15:19

My only suggestion is lots of cheap, baggy, dark-coloured tops...

My mum tried to make me feel better about ssquirting all over by digging out a 14th-century woodcut of Madonna & Child - the Virgin Mary is jetting streams of milk into the face of an unimpressed Baby Jesus. Happens to the best of us!

fledtoscotland · 08/12/2008 19:01

i had the same problem. DS2 was/still is a really messy feeder so he has to wear a bib which i tuck under his chin to catch the drips. my other boob leaked loads in the early weeks and i used a clean flannel to absorb all the milk.

Original poster
Jennyb79 · 10/12/2008 09:49

Thank you everyone - lots of really helpful suggesteions - I'll try the tommy tippee breast pads and the collection shells sound good too!

OP posts:
EssieAStarInBethlehem · 10/12/2008 10:07

LilyPadz didn't work for me - I would fill up on the other side when feeding. It would then either ping off with a splash, or turn white. When I tried to peel it away, I would open a little hole and the pressure made a fountain!

whomovedmychocolate · 10/12/2008 10:30

Sympathies - I am tandem feeding a toddler and a five month old and the milk just widdles out continually on the other side. It actually comes out at high velocity too - which is a bugger when you are feeding in public .

Pressing gently can help, but quite honestly, if I even think about feeding the milk starts to spurt so I think we're both just going to have to wait till it starts dying down a bit (with me last time that was four months but this time because I'm feeding two it's taking longer!)

Congratulations on your baby btw!

TeaSleepInASproutFartHaze · 10/12/2008 10:36

Apropo of nothing: I meant to say this before, I love your name chocolate!

EssieAStarInBethlehem · 10/12/2008 12:31

Better thread than oversupply - embarrassing bfing moments!
Mine was gently spraying the window of a teashop whilst feeding. I hadn't realised.

whomovedmychocolate · 10/12/2008 15:09

Thank you teashop

Oh my worst moment has to be with DD when I was feeding her, she came off and it spurted off into the chap at the next table's coffee. I was quicker witted them and said 'you did want milk didn't you' .

The staff in Starbucks changed his coffee for him free because he did look slightly nauseated

Original poster
Jennyb79 · 11/12/2008 09:19

ha ha, love your embarassing moments - I haven't braved feeding in public yet. I've just ordered the collection shells off the mothercare website - I'm looking forward to giving them a go!

OP posts:
turtledove23 · 11/12/2008 09:33

Somebody please tell me when the magical time comes that you don't have to use breast pads? DS is 8 months and I'm still soaking the other side without them...

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