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Why am I leaking?

Kim - posted on 02/13/2009 ( 8 moms have responded )

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This only seems to happen at night, but when I feed my DD on my right side, my left side leaks! Why would this happen and is there anything I can do about it?

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8 Comments

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Emma - posted on 02/14/2009

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Like everyone else has said, this is completely normal. Still happens to me and my girl is nearly 7 months. Just part and parcel of breast feeding.....and shows your body is doing what it was designed to do and doing it well!!!!!!

User - posted on 02/14/2009

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Much to my husband's chagrin, the only time I am not wearing a bra is in the shower. I even sleep with one on because I'm constantly letting down. Some people have a hard time with it but I guess it's not a problem for me. All I have to do is think about my baby and ... oup! (just went again LOL). The reason why you're leaking is because of the stimulation when your son feeds. It's called a "let down" and be glad you have it because some women do not let down easily and have trouble breast feeding. It's natural and normal. Other than being annoying and possible making whatever you're wearing wet there is no harm in it. And don't worry about your milk supply. Though it may seem like a lot of milk, it's really nothing to sweat over your baby is still getting most of it.

Rachel - posted on 02/14/2009

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I think the reason it only seems to happen at night is because you are not wearing a bra. It happens to me too, but a comfy sports bra can keep the leaking in check. When your milk lets down it lets down on both sides, if there is nothing there to stop it.

User - posted on 02/14/2009

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I have found when you start to leak if you press the palm of your hand over that nipple firmly it will stop.

Melissa - posted on 02/13/2009

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What everyone else said is right .... but one suggestion that I like to do so I don't have to wear a bra to bed: I will wear a spaghetti strap shirt with the built in "bra"with the elastic... and I will just stick nursing pads in there to hold them in place but not have to wear a bra. And when I need to nurse, I just pull the one strap off, and expose one side.

Allison - posted on 02/13/2009

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It's just a natural response to nursing by your body - hormones cause letdown :-) Your body probably will adjust over time. I stopped leaking with my daughter around 7 months or so, but never leaked at all with my son. Go figure.

Taryn - posted on 02/13/2009

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I leak a ton too! I tuck a nursing pad (or facecloth) under my pillow, this way I don't need to wear a bra 24 7. When I start to feed at night I just grab the pad and stop the leak on the other side. The pad also comes in handy when my milk comes down to fast and is spraying my poor little girl in the face.

Ashley - posted on 02/13/2009

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That happens to me too.  It's just the body being stimulated to breast feed.  There isn't anything you can do about it except wear nursing pads and maybe try pumping that breast before feeding at night ir the leaking is bad

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