Breastfeeding Issues: Leaking Breasts
Leaking breasts is just one of many embarrassing problems you'll find yourself having now that you're a mom. Especially during the first weeks of nursing, you may find your breasts leak milk in between feedings.
Here are some tips for how to minimize the damage—and the potential embarrassment of leaking breasts:
- Wear breast pads. We're not sure who invented these things, but let us just say "THANK YOU!" Breast pads are life-savers for new nursing moms. With the breast pad firmly in place, you don't have to worry about leaking breast milk onto your shirt for the whole world to see. Keep in mind that to avoid sore nipples and breast infections, you should stick to cotton or cloth breast pads and change them frequently.
- Wrap your arms across your chest. If you feel yourself about to let down milk, wrap your arms around your chest, squeeze tightly for a few seconds, and you'll buy yourself a few more leak-free minutes. If you get weird looks, just say "Brrrr" and pretend you caught a draft.
- Wear clothing that camouflages (like prints). It's a lot harder to detect breast leaks on a paisley top. You might also get in the habit of carrying a sweater or scarf to cover up any leakage.
- Breastfeed more frequently. If you nurse your baby more frequently—or express breast milk—your breasts will be less likely to leak (but we can't guarantee they won't!).
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