Other boob leaking while feeding?

[stellaj]

Do you have the problem of the boob you are not feeding with leaking all over the place? I thought breasts could operate independant of each other IYKWIM? I end up covered with milk and when i go to swap Luca to the other side the milk has all gone. Anyone else with this problem?

[Mum&bubs]

:yes: i had and sometimes still have the same problem while breastfeeding. Just hold it for a minute and it usually goes away. :thumbsup:

[*Sal*]

I have that problem too, but I wouldn't say all the milk is gone from the second boob when I swap sides. Just press on it with the palm of your hand, I find that less leaks out when I do this. Also, as bub gets older you can control it more if you concentrate. I gave up wearing nursing pads after a few months because I found I could stop the let-down if I needed to. Try it and see!

[cjb/jbvd]

i used to leak like a dripping tap almost constantly. and breastfeeding was almost like a shower. very embarrassing!!!! i used to use a cold compress while i was feeding on the side i wasn't using. this helped a fair bit. but i had to switch to a warm one just before i put bub on it, otherwise it use to sting a little when bub started sucking extra hard to get the let down back.

[cheezelkat]

I place a terry towelling nappy against my breast to stop the leaking.

I've never lost enough milk though to stop feeding from the other side!

Actually, I read somewhere you could hold a sterilised container against your breast to collect the milk and freeze it for later!

[Maghan]

Sorry to tell you, that's normal. If you're expressing it's great. You just put bub on one side and that awful contraption on the other... If not, pad up, it is usually only for the let down anyway!

[draught]

Yep - I was a fan of the terry towelling nappy on one while feeding from the other. My mum said she would sit a tea cup under hers and collect quite a bit to use for a bottle later on while feeding us - I was never that organised!

[Funkychicken]

I am a huge leaker and during DS#1's breastfeeding time the only breast pads that were reliable were the Pigeon ones. Leak away and no seeing it. This time around, trying to stay environmentally aware, I have got some Hemp breast pads and they are fantastic. The first cloth ones I have ever tried that work. I bought them on Ebay if you are interested.
I will just mention, Sheila Kitzinger recommends that when your other boob is leaking, don't try to compress it as it is this flow that then helps to produce more milk. Especially in the first 6 weeks, try to feed topless (I know it's hard in cold weather) and, as others have said, use a terry nappy against the leaking one but only as a soaker not a stopper. This was a reality check for me recently as I found I was forgatting to take breastpad(s) out with me and I was using the heel of my hand to stop the leaking but I unwittingly was reducing my supply. It needs to flow for your baby to grow!:D
At night I go braless and have a terry nappy in the bed to put over my leaking boob whilst Hamish is feeding on the first side.
Also, I was given as a birth gift a packet of disposable change mats that I thought :eek: about but have found they are great under the sheet where my boob meets Hamishs mouth. They take up the leakage and save the mattress. They came from Kmart, I think.
All the best.:D

[nemosmum]

Yep happened to me too,

Dont all boobs do that?:p

[Tam-I-Am]

Yep, normal.

This used to happen to me. the good news is, it stops, for some people, eventually! DD is nearly 11 months and it stopped about 6 weeks ago - i don't even have to wear breast pads anymore.

Yay for no breastpads, no leaking, and no more bra at night time!:smiliedance:

[stellaj]

thanks for your replies everyone- glad i don't just have some kind of weird breasts.
I don't know when i will get to the stage where i can just pull my top up and neatly feed away in public etc. without milk going evrywhere but never mind. I'm proud of my boobs and the job they are doing!:hugs: .

[Baby Girl]

Yep!!

I used to prop a bottle under it and collect it - by the end of the day (plus a little hand expressing) I had a full bottle and DP could feed bub while I had a shower and got ready for bed!!

[mamachops]

Mine used to go crazy, and I would catch about 20ml and save it. Now I get a dribble with the let-down reflex, but hardly any. Not brave enough to go padless yet though! DD is 13 weeks.