Breast feeding help!

Katie - posted on 01/24/2009

I love the reusable pads from Motherhood Maternity and they come in organic cotton. I didn't like the ones sold in the box at Target (Gerber maybe?) but you can double up the reusable with the disposable. Gerber does also have ultra thin pads which can add extra absorbancy to regular pads.

Karen - posted on 01/24/2009

It does get better. The first month breast feeding is the worst. After awhile your breast will regulate to what your baby needs. So you wont leak as much. if you pump too much the might start to leak even more so be careful. Keep on trying different leak pads. Good Luck there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Sheena - posted on 01/24/2009

Wow! Lol...even though it's not funny at the time, I went through the same exact thing. I was very aggravated with wet bras and t's. It got so bad, I had to place hand towels in my bras. It sounds like you have a lot of milk coming down. What helped me was pumping and storing my milk, as well as nursing a lot. It caused my breast not to be so engorged and painful. They became softer and less full, but yet I still had more than enough milk for my baby to feed. My little girl is a month now and I've noticed that in the past week or so, I don't leak nearly as much as I did in the beginning. I can actually be free of wearing a bra all day when I am at home. What a relief! So try that and try not to get discouraged. Congrats and good luck!!!

Laura - posted on 01/24/2009

HI Laura, i breast fed my little boy who is now 17mths. have you tried expressing a little frm each breast after u have finished feeding? it may work

Bonnie - posted on 01/24/2009

I haven't had my first yet (3 weeks out!) but while at a Baby Expo in town, I came across a vendor who had the most amazing invention. She is an RN and a mom. She has this "cup" thing that you can actually place in your shirt that collects milk on one side while you nurse on the other side. Therefore, you arent leaking all over AND you are saving valuable milk. This is the website: http://www.mymilkies.com/. Hope this helps!

Angie - posted on 01/24/2009

Don't wear a sports bra, not even a nursing one. Invest in a good nursing bra like at Motherhood or even Target has some good ones. Anything too tight on the front is going to make your body think theres a baby up there. Lansinoh makes really great pads too, change them everytime you nurse and you should be fine. Trust me I've been there for all three of my babies. I had enough milk for triplets, just from pumping! Over time your supply and everything will balance out.

Nicole - posted on 01/24/2009

Like everyone else has said your supply will level out.  Just nurse on demand and your baby will tell your body how much milk it needs to make.

Until then, maybe try cutting a super absorbant maxi pad in half and try using that...  I've heard that can help.

Good luck and congrats on achieving a happy BFing relationship already!

Deanna - posted on 01/24/2009

What about trying differnt breast pads? I find some work better for me then others. And the disposible ones work better I find. Your supply will eventually figure out how much it needs for baby and stop overproducing but that may take a bit. Another option is, you could pump and store all your extra milk. Pump right before you and baby leave the house and then your breats will be empty and while your out im sure your little one will eat. Hope something I suggested helps

Tanya - posted on 01/24/2009

Are you using the washable cloth nursing pads or the disposable kind? I found for the first 8 months if I used cloth it'd leak through. The disposable work better!

Sarah - posted on 01/24/2009

My lactation special told me not to pump with in the first 2 months of breast feeding my daughter so that my body could adjust to her needs...supply and demand. Your body just needs time to adjust and things will get a lot better just hang in there...you are doing a wonderful job for your baby!

Amber - posted on 01/24/2009

i remember the first few weeks were the hardest cause my boobs were sore and HUGE. my daughter is almost 3 months now and i usually only leak at night because she is sleeping and im not about to wake her up just to feed her. i know a lot of people say that pumping will help but with me it does the opposite...when i breastfeed and pump my boobs make more milk later in the day that my daughter doesnt need then i leak. i would suggest not pumping at all if they are leaking try squeezing them a little while you are in the shower just to let out a little milk and then you should be able to make it without leaking until your baby needs to eat again. i know you might be thinking "yah if i get to take a shower"...bring your baby in the shower with you my daughter loves it, sometimes i feed her there.

Tiara - posted on 01/24/2009

I breast fed my first for 18 months, and my 2nd for 13 months. Your baby is currently building your milk supply, it will eventually level out and you won't have a wet t-shirt contest every time you have a let down :) Soon your body will make just enough milk for your baby and there won't be so much leaking in between feedings (unless you pump, creating more of a demand). You could try doubling up on nursing pads in the meantime and chaning them more frequently. When you do leave the house I'd suggest bringing along an extra shirt or two for you in the diaper bag. I promise it does get better! Sounds like you and baby have established a great milk flow.    

Kelly - posted on 01/24/2009

hey, my advice would be not to express this early on, yr body is adjusting and does not know how much to make yet, it will get better but if you express yr body will make more. I can remeber waking up to find my nighty drenched in milk. It does improve stick with it!!!

Emma - posted on 01/24/2009

the more you express the more is produces so maybe thats not such a good idea.. i know im of no help suggesting this but all i can think of is that you change your nursing pads every hour untill your supply calms down.. once you and your baby are in a regular feeding routine you should only make the amount of milk you need and not leak inbetween.. sorry cant help anymore... i breastfed my 18 week old girl for 16 weeks...i had problems that meant there was no way i could continue.. i envy you guys.. lol xx

Leah - posted on 01/24/2009

Sometimes there are big pains to breast feeding, but I always remember what my nurse told me in the hospital "if you can make it past 3 weeks, you can make it." Your body is still adjusting to the amount it is supposed to make. The more you pump/or baby eats, the more milk you make. It's a matter of supply and demand. I eventually started feeding one side at a time. (usually only works if you make a decent amount of milk which it would like you do!) By doing it that way, you always know which side to feed on next (your body will adjust to this...be patient) and your baby is getting the "hind" milk which has all the nutrients and fat in it that will help your baby stay full for longer, and this in turn will help them sleep for longer stretches. TONS of moms would love to make the amount of milk that you do, and most have the opposite problem. I am sure you know that, by stick to it! It only gets better with each day! Think about what you have learned already, and how far you've come!

Janice - posted on 01/24/2009

Sounds like a really powerful let down reflex but it will ease up. I never had the reflex when i had my first, so when i had my second i didn't have aclue what it was. Tomee tipee breast pads were the best ones. It will settle though,

Shawna - posted on 01/24/2009

I had the same problem...Babies r us sells nipple shields that also come with things that collect the breast milk.  It helps!  But I promise it does get better, when your body finally figures things out.

Tara - posted on 01/24/2009

Oh yeah ..I hated that too when I breastfed my first.I found it helps to express a bottle after every time you nurse your baby.Not only does it seem to minimize the leaking but you get extra milk for if you need it.By the way , if you have another and decide to breastfed again you probably wont have that problem.Seems to be a bane of the first time nurser.