Leaky Boobs!

[AllyWB]

Hi, I'm 26 weeks pregnangt with my second child and have very leaky boobs. More recently it changed from a clear liquid to white. When I was pregnant with the first, I remember my boobs leaking when I was about 35 weeks but I'm ages away from this. Has anybody else had this problem. I'm leaving little puddles in the bed clothes every night!

Hi AllyWB - I'm no expert on the subject, but IME of having 3 kids, your milk (or colostrum) does start to come in earlier with each pregnancy, I suppose it's because your body now knows what it's doing and is more responsive to the pregnancy hormones. All you can do is pop a couple of breast pads in your bra (day & night) to catch the leaks (I found washable breast pads to be far more economical, comfortable and absorbent, if you haven't already tried them). If it's too uncomfortable to sleep in a bra, what about laying on top of a towel, not very glam, I know, but it will save your bedding. If it's really worrying you, mention it to your midwife/GP and they will beable to reassure you. HTH.

AllyWB, I had it too with Baby1, early on like you. I used breast pads in day, but I too left puddles in bed, it was as though the pressure of lying on side made them leak. Towels was the only answer really.

Its nothing to worry about. Had a great milk supply later on!

Hope you don't mind me joining this thread. I am in the opposite situation - 38 weeks pregnant, no leaking at all, and unable to express a drop.When I bf my last two babies ( not very successfully) I never once had leaky boobs. Is this proof of a poor supply ( which I always believed to be the case)?

jasper - you could be on to something there. I leaked A LOT from very early on and I produced loads and loads of milk - one of the reasons I gave up when I did was because I hated being soaking wet ALL the time! Sorry, I'm going to get told off now, I know.

Jasper, I never leaked either and was told it was probably because I had good muscle tone in my nipples. Nice to know at least one bit of me is well toned!

Good muscle tone in my nipples? Fantastic! Wish I could say the same of my bum.

At my last antenetal check my midwife (who is great- we have a very good relationship) palpated my abdomen, made a face and said " You're going to have to do a lot of work on these tummy muscles".
It was all I could do not to say "You're not exactly Darcy Bussell yourself"

jasper

not having leaky breasts is not a sign that you have no milk - i had the same worry early on in bf and spoke to a bf counsellor about it. apparently it is just one of those random things.

good luck.

ROFL at Darcy Bussell, Jasper!!!

Thanks for all your replys, at least I don't think I'm a freak now. When I mention it to any of my friends they look as though I've come from Mars.

AllyWB, I used to get those looks too!

SueDonim - I want to know what exercises you do for good muscle tone in your nipples.... I always thought pelvic floor weighted cones were bad enough, but the mind boggles?

Did anyone have hypersensitive nipples while pregnant - mine positively sting if I get coldat the moment!

LOL, Motherofone! In my case, I think it's that all the muscle tone in my body is concentrate in the nipples, cos the rest of me is getting pretty saggy!!

I sometimes used small plastic cups that fit over your boobs to stop any leaks. People use them to catch milk when they're breastfeeding. I think I got mine from Boots. I wouldn't recommend wearing them at night though, a bit uncomfortable, best thing as people have suggested is to lay on a towel. That way you let air to your boobs as well. The thing I suffered a lot from was thrush on my nipples because they were permanently soaked when I used pads!