What
to do about ‘leaking’
I had an embarrassing moment in the
supermarket once. I was breastfeeding at the time and had bought some milk in
plastic bags. Unfortunately, one bag was leaking. This resulted in a trail of
milk following my shopping trolley. A woman stopped me and said, “You’re leaking
milk.” My first reaction was to clutch my breasts in horror and go bright red. I
quickly recovered when I realised that it wasn’t me who was leaking!
Breastfeeding experts tell us all
about the bonuses for mother and baby when it comes to breastfeeding, but they
forget to warm moms about leaking. Leaking colostrum can start as early as six
months. It’s all connected to hormones
made in a pea-sized gland in the brain called the pituitary. As soon as a baby
is born, breastfeeding hormones called oxytocin and prolactin are produced.
While prolactin helps to make milk, oxytocin stimulates the tiny muscles around
the milk-producing lobules in the breast to contract. When this happens, it’s
called the ‘let-down reflex’, and then the milk flows.
Women aren’t strictly aware of this
sensation until a breastfeeding pattern has been established – unless it’s her
second or third baby. Painless, this feeling is described as ‘pins and
needles’ sensation. If you’re topless, your breasts literally ‘stand up’ before
the milk starts dripping. It’s particularly embarrassing when you’re sexually
aroused during love-making and you find yourselves feeling wet and
sticky. Nursing breasts leak when it’s time for a feed, or mom hears a baby
(any baby) cry or sometimes, even just thinking about her baby. Breastfeeding
women who go back to work and have to sit through board meetings or are in the
public eye, should be advised to wear breast pads inside her bra. These can be
washable or disposable. They should be wide and cone-shape – otherwise, it looks
like you’re wearing a pair of socks inside your bra.
Breast pads should be changed often
to avoid getting thrush (especially when the pads are plastic lined) on your
nipples because of the warm, wet and sweet environment created by the milk. Washable
pads don’t have a plastic lining so they’re less likely to cause this problem. They’re
also environmentally friendly.
There’s a wide variety of breast
pads (washable and disposable) available on-line, with prices ranging from
R59.99 (Clicks disposable breast pads – 36 in a box) to Avent washable (6) at
R246,99. I went to Dis-Chem to see what they have available. Their range
includes Bump (4 for R69,95) that feature: extra soft and absorbent/reusable/gentle on skin. Softi disposable breast pads featuring: ultra-absorbent /
soft and skin-friendly / reliable (breathable protection) / contour shaped / 40
individually wrapped. Other brands include Madela: super dry, discreet, and
super absorbent. Honeycomb boast ultra slim/discreet under clothing / super
absorbent with a polymer that traps excess milk keeping the skin completely dry /
waterproof/non-slip adhesive tape to ensure the pad is kept in place.
The online special I found and
recommend is for Newchic Reusable pads at R75.86 (were R198.29) Visit www.newchic.com – and type in reusable breast
pads to find them.
