While some new moms don’t think leakage is an issue at all, others just see it as an annoyance. If and when your breast milk production adjusts to your baby’s demands, the leakage may lessen or even stop.
If a new mother makes too much milk or her ‘let down’ reflex is too strong, the leakage may last longer than usual. Leaking breast milk may be messy, uncomfortable, and upsetting for many women, especially if they need to return to work.
a. You have a higher chance of leaking breast milk near the end of your pregnancy.
b. This is because leaking relieves pressure and can help prevent some of the typical issues with nursing, such as breast engorgement, clogged milk ducts, and mastitis, which may occur if your breasts get overly full.
c. While you are nursing on the other breast, the breast that is not being used may also leak.
d. Your breasts may leak when you hear your baby or another baby cry, when you think about your baby, or when you view a photograph of your baby.
e. Warm water running over your breasts during a shower might also cause leakage.
f. You may find that you’re leaking when you’re becoming intimate with your spouse.
g. Breasts can sometimes leak for no apparent cause.
Tips to handle leaky breasts
a. To absorb the milk, avoid embarrassment, and protect your clothes, use breast pads in your nursing bra.
b. Breastfeed often if you are with your baby to keep your breasts from getting full. As a result, there may be less leakage.
c. Hand-express breast milk or use a pump at regular intervals. You can pump or use hand expression to alleviate full breasts and help avoid leaks if you need to go back to work or need to spend time away from your baby for another reason. Your expressed milk should be properly dated and frozen for later use.
d. Put pressure on your nipples as soon as the let-down reflex starts to tingle to help stop the milk from flowing.
e. Put on garments that can be used to cover leaks. Nursing clothes, pattern-filled shirts, skirts, and blouses might help cover up an unintentional leak. It’s also a good idea to have jackets, sweaters, and vests available in case you need to cover up.
How long do leakages last?
Some new moms will continue to leak during weaning and even while they are nursing. Even after your infant has finished nursing, it’s common to continue leaking for up to three weeks. Consult a healthcare expert if you still leak breast milk even after three months of fully weaning your baby.
