Need recommendations for leaking at night.

Stina - posted on 03/31/2010

This is super normal. My dd is 11 mo and my milk still threatens to let down on both sides when I nurse her in the wee hours of the morning.

When I hook her up, I use my other hand to gently apply pressure to my other nipple until the letdown has passed.

during the first months, when this letdown was too active to stop with simple pressure, I always kept cloth diapers by my bed to fold up and cover my unused breast with to soak up the milk that leaked out.

don't worry about waste- it's good that you have a plentiful supply that leaves you leaking extra. Your body will get used to letting down one side at a time and after a while, all you will need is a little pressure to remind your body that you are only nursing one child at a time.

Tammie - posted on 03/31/2010

I hope you find this helpful. When I start to feel a let down on my other side or my other side is full I will place my hand or forearm against it with some pressure while feeding on the other side and that has stopped me from leaking.

User - posted on 07/21/2012

If you don't want to waste milk during the letting down period is a great time to pump one breast while the baby is feeding on the other. It is great for multi tasking and for mothers like me who can not pump out a lot of milk

Illyssa - posted on 03/31/2010

Thanks everyone for your great suggestions, they are very helpful!

Justine - posted on 04/01/2010

I'm also in the same situation i leak through the day but at night i wake up and my shirt is wet i leak through breast pads and clothes my doc said it will settle with time

Valerie - posted on 04/01/2010

it is normal...use a washcloth as it will hold more...it is normal as your milk supply is adjusting to need

Sheila - posted on 03/31/2010

I am in the same situation as you. My son is 8 weeks old and is exclusively breastfeeding. I am finding that later in the evening (when he nursing the most often) my breasts feel "empty", and then at night when he isn't nursng as often, they feel a lot fuller and leak while I am sleeping. The same thing happens to me with the let down also, and I also catch it in a bottle ( or try to!)

User - posted on 03/31/2010

When I am bfing at night and am nursing one side I push my other nipple in slightly during let down. This prevents leaking. I even do this during the day. Bummer is I spent lots of money on breast pads for about 9 months before I figured this one out. Hope it helps!

[deleted account]

Leaking is normal & I think that's a good sign that you have a great supply! To me it sounds like your body is reacting to needing a bigger supply at night & less in the afternoons. Does he go longer during feedings in the afternoon? And sleep less at night? That could be why. Your body adjusts accordingly to when your body needs milk & how much.

There are a couple of things you could do- You could feed him more frequently at night if he's not already, but that will also just stimulate your body to make more. You can feed him more frequently during the day to stimulate your production then. If this doesn't sound appealing then I would keep sterile bottles on hand and when you nurse one side, catch the leaking side in a bottle. Even if you don't plan on being away from your baby, it never hurts to have an emergency expressed supply on hand.

Good luck!