Painful letdown and leakage! | ExpatWoman.com
 

Painful letdown and leakage!

522
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 18:03

Is everyone's painful? Mine always has been this time... it feels like needles raking down my boobs when it starts! Not overly enjoyable!!! And I have such a strong letdown that I'm constantly leaking :/: I'm always wearing breastpads...

Has anyone used the reusable/ washable breastpads? It's getting expensive to buy disposable and if this continues then it's going to be a lot of waste!

74
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 21:00
Hi meals, I don't think the Lilypadz will help you much with the leakage. If too much milk leaks they won't stick anymore. They are nice though because they are invisible under a t-shirt. I leaked quite a bit during the first couple of months and I always used the Avent reusable pads. they are thick but I liked them. Obviously you need a well fitting nursing bra, then they stay in place quite well. But with a tight top the would show a bit... So I had the Lilypadz for nice occasions and special outfits ;) I had to rinse them off every hour or so though to make them stick again.
310
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 20:53
Thanks :)!!! Icedqueen I can't really do without breastpads at all - I literally just have to dry off after a shower and I'm leaking! So it's a 24/7 thing for me. I've been using the Mothercare one's and they're ok- was just hoping maybe someone had a magic cure! It doesn't seem to be so much an engorgement thing as just a really strong let-down. It doesn't seem to bother DS at all. (and yep, def know I'm lucky to be able to bf - it is reassuring to know there is milk there). Thanks Plumie! I'll check out DM for the lilypadz :) Oh you just reminded me! I used to struggle after a shower as well... Sometimes even before I jump into the shower it would leak. And nobody that I spoke to seemed to have this issue. DD would sometimes even choke when feeding as the milk would flow too fast. It did get better at around 6 months. And you do forget about it eventually. I remember trying all the brands on the shelves and settled with the Cool & Cool one. They were cheap and did the job better than most of the others. I have the washable ones but they did not work at all. I just lived with the issue taking solace in the fact that at least DD had plenty of milk in 1 feed (from one b00b at a time) so I would have to express the other side. I froze quite a bit of milk this way and it came in handy when I started weaning. <em>edited by Icedqueen on 01/02/2011</em>
522
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 20:32
Thanks :)!!! Icedqueen I can't really do without breastpads at all - I literally just have to dry off after a shower and I'm leaking! So it's a 24/7 thing for me. I've been using the Mothercare one's and they're ok- was just hoping maybe someone had a magic cure! It doesn't seem to be so much an engorgement thing as just a really strong let-down. It doesn't seem to bother DS at all. (and yep, def know I'm lucky to be able to bf - it is reassuring to know there is milk there). Thanks Plumie! I'll check out DM for the lilypadz :)
494
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 20:20
hi meals, I never got a painful letdown or leakage, but did have thrush so was changing breastpad every feed. I'm relatively large in the bust area - without them being full of milk!!, so I noticed any b'pad that was too thick. First years (??) were my favourite only 20 or so in a pack though and can't remember how much they were but I found them to be the very best comfort wise and also how my b**bs looked through clothing, you couldn't really see these pads. Next, and the one that I ended up using 90% of the time, were from mothercare, you can get a huge pack for about 40 dirhams. I can't remember how many were in there but it was very good value.
2937
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 20:11
My letdown always felt like electric shocks down my boobs. Not nice, not un-nice, but definitely verging on painful. I tried to comfort myself with the thought that DS was getting a good gobful of milk!
651
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EW GURU
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 19:27
I have the Medela re-usable ones, and don't really like it! They are thick-ish and move around in your bra as there is no stick-on! They also make my breast feel as if they cannot "breathe" if that makes sense?!?! I actually have the Lilypadz but did not know they can be used for leakage :) I keep them in the fridge and use when i have engorgement. You can get them at Premaman in Dubai Mall Meals! <em>edited by plumie on 01/02/2011</em>
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 18:28
I never leaked, but second time around the let-down felt like pins-and-needles and was really quite strong. You can get reusable pads called Lilypadz, I think, that basically are silicone and kind of stick to you, compressing the nipple so that nothing comes out. Obviously, I haven't tried them myself, but all the reviews I've seen are good. Don't know if you can get them here though.
283
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 18:21
I had the similar problem, all i did was expressing the milk at regular intervals that helped and DS caught up with the supply slowly :)
310
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 18:19
Mine was painful and had this strange kind of feeling and lots of leaking all the time. I used the disposable ones... thousands of them and spent a small fortune on them. Try using a dry washcloth on the side you are not feeding on as I am sure you must be getting a letdown while feeding. It soaks up all the excess. Sleep with a towel on the bed to avoid having to change the sheets daily. Unfortunately I don't have any remedies on how to stop the letdown. Its so irritating but at least have comfort in the fact that you have b/milk. Not all mothers can b/feed or some just don't produce enough milk.
 
 

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