Leaky, engorged breasts don’t last forever. This is one of those things you don’t tend to hear about. Everyone tells you to be prepared for leaks with breast pads, but no one tells you when or if the leaks will stop. Possibly the reason that we consider leaking breasts to be the norm is because people breastfeed for such short times in NL. If you only breastfeed for three weeks or three months then all you will know is leaky boobs.
With both of my babies, I leaked for about three months after the births. I remember once holding a cup under one breast while I nursed on the other just to catch the enormous amount of milk leaking out! Those cloth nursing pads were useless to me, they would be saturated within minutes. During postpartum visits by family and friends, I would often have to run out of the room and change my shirt, desperately hoping that no one would comment on those dark circles that had appeared on the front of my shirt! I’ll be honest, it wasn’t fun. I didn’t always enjoy nursing in those early days. I think three things got me through: knowing that I could stop most leaks by folding my arms tightly over my breasts when I felt that let down coming on, always wearing a jacket or sweater over a t-shirt so that leaks wouldn’t go right through, and finally, finding those silicone nursing pads (Lily Padz) that actually prevent leaks by pushing the nipple in instead of just absorbing the milk. Also, knowing that the leaking would eventually stop helped me to persevere.
There is lots of information on the Internet about leaking breasts. Kelly Bonyata (of the KellyMom website), BS, IBCLC, writes, “At some point, typically around 6-12 weeks (if a mom has oversupply it may take longer), your milk supply will begin to regulate and your breasts will begin to feel less full, soft, or even empty. You may stop leaking, you may stop feeling let-down (or feel it less), and if you pump you may notice that you’re not getting as much milk. This doesn’t mean that milk supply has dropped, but that your body has figured out how much milk is being removed from the breast and is no longer making too much. This change may come about gradually or seem rather sudden. Many people are not aware that these breast changes are normal because so many mothers stop breastfeeding early on and never see this change (or mistakenly interpret this change as a sign that milk supply has dried up and wean because of this change).”
Anyone else have ideas on how to get through the leaky boob stage? Got a funny leaking story to share?
Felicie is a teacher turned work at home mama to two busy little angels, aged 22 months and 4 and a half years. She is a proud member of La Leche League Canada and has helped to organize three World B[..]
I wore a floral print top anytime I went out. Wtih all those multi coloured flowers no one could see the leaky milk spots!
I remember reading at my friends wedding (in a silky BF -unfriendly dress!) and having to cut a dispossible diaper to sop up the milk- especially, since I tend to get emotional at anyone’s wedding!My chest looked substantially bigger by the end of the evening, but I didn’t remove the duct-taped diaper until the last dance was over . It weighed about 12 ounces by then.
I should have know that trick when I went to a Christmas dance and my conventional breastpads fell out of my dress and an elderly (and somewhat baffled !)gentleman passed them back to me.
Public education??
Public graces!
I only wish I’d stopped leaking by 3 months! I leaked until about 15 months. Oh, how much money did I spend on disposable breast pads?! I did have an over supply though.
Janet, that is too funny!
I wanted to throw out there that every mom is different, and it’s different with every baby. I leaked a bit with baby one, but never enough that I needed breast pads. I didn’t leak at all with baby two. Not leaking doesn’t mean no milk, just that I work a bit differently!
Janet- I love it- disposable diaper nursing pads!! Wish I had thought of that!
Good idea, Lesley-a floral print would be perfect, especially in the summer.
Anyone else?
Thanks Amber and Jane! I guess we’re all a bit different!I just hope women out there are aware that there are ways to get through this difficult time. It’s funny to look back and laugh, but not so funny when it’s actually happening to you!
Thanks for linking up to this week’s Breastfeeding Blog Hop. Always happy to discover new BFing friends!
I hope you’ll join in again next week – we’ll be talking about Dads & Breastfeeding. You can link up current or past posts, too.
So the ladies get comfortable and just stop leaking? Or do we just get used to managing the drips? Either way…you made me think! Thanks for sharing!