Breasts that leak, drip or even spray milk in the weeks (and sometimes fifty-fifty months) afterward commitment are a common and normal postpartum symptom. Here's what new moms demand to know about leaking breasts in the postpartum menstruum, plus ways to minimize the mess.

What causes leaking breasts postpartum?

Leaking breasts are your body's way of getting used to both making milk and the feeding schedule you and your baby are trying to perfect right now if you're choosing to breastfeed. Breasts leak because of the letdown reflex — a powerful and normal part of the breastfeeding process.

Leaking should improve every bit your body adjusts to breastfeeding. But until your breasts become adept at the art of releasing milk from the ducts at precisely the right time (i.eastward. when baby is at the chest), letdown and the subsequent leak could occur at any time, without warning.

What you lot demand to know about leaking chest milk

Leaking breasts have both physical and emotional triggers, which is why you might notice yourself of a sudden soggy even though your babe is miles abroad.

A baby's cry (even if it'south non yours) or fifty-fifty a glance at your baby'south motion-picture show might trigger a squirt. You might spring a leak in the shower, in your sleep or when you're thinking or talking about your baby. You may also leak if you lot're running a lilliputian late for a feeding, and you lot can drip from one breast or both.

There's only no telling when or where you might leak, so continue that in listen as you plan your day — and your outfit.

What tin can you do about leaking breasts?

Luckily, there are some steps you can accept to minimize the mess of leaking breasts while it lasts:

  • Stock up on nursing pads. They'll absorb leaks and go along your clothes clean and dry out. Like diapers, they should be inverse whenever they're wet in social club to avoid irritation. Y'all can opt for disposables or washable cotton fiber pads, but skip ones with a plastic or waterproof liner — they'll just trap moisture.
  • Save your sheets past sleeping on a large towel or a nursing pad. You've got enough diapers to modify now without dealing with your bed linens, besides.
  • Apparel smart. Stash away the silks for a while, and opt for darker colors (better for camouflaging milk marks) until the leaking stops.
  • Avoid trying to pump breast milk to prevent the problem. Y'all'll probably just make the situation worse by stimulating your breasts to make fifty-fifty more than milk, which means more leaks.
  • Be patient. Once your milk production is well established and your feeding schedule is in total swing, you lot tin try to plug the dam by pressing on your nipples when they leak or crossing your arms tightly against your breasts. Avoid this play a joke on in the first few weeks subsequently delivery, though, since it may inhibit letdown or pb to plugged milk ducts, which you definitely don't want.

When to call your doctor almost leaking breasts

Although leaking breasts are normal in the postpartum period, call your physician if yous notice whatever of the post-obit:

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  • Significant leaking that continues after y'all've stopped breastfeeding
  • Nipple discharge that doesn't resemble milk, such as discharge that looks like blood or pus
  • Breast hurting, swelling or redness accompanied past fever and other flu-like symptoms, which may be signs of mastitis

Leaking, dripping or spraying milk can all exist par for the course during the early on days of breastfeeding. The good news is that information technology's a temporary symptom that should ease up as your body adjusts to nursing. In the meantime hang in there — and take some nursing pads at the ready.