Breast milk leakage is normal
phenomenon during pregnancy especially in the third trimester or the first few
weeks post-delivery. Leaking breasts are infact a gentle reminder that you’re
lactating well. Leaking of breastmilk is different among different women. Some
mothers do not leak at all, while others can barely keep their nursing tops
dry.
Why breasts leak?
Leaking breasts in pregnancy or during
breastfeeding happens due to the secretion of a hormone called, oxytocin. This
hormone causes milk ejection reflex (MER) and triggers the muscle cells of the
breasts to squeeze out the milk.
How to prevent Breastmilk leakage?
Leaking breast milk is a good sign as
it ascertains you that you’re producing enough milk for you baby to drink to
his heart’s content. However, leaking is unpredictable. And hence, calls for
the need to take proper precautions all the time, when at home, in the market
or as simple as sleeping
.
Here are some necessary measures you
must take to prevent the leakage:
•
If you begin to feel a tingly sensation of milk let
down, apply pressure to your breasts firmly by crossing the arms over your
chest and hugging yourself. You can also put the base of the palm over the
nipple and press it for some time.
•
You can use several types of breast care products
to limit breast milk leakage such as using washable bra pads, disposable
nursing pads, breast shells, etc. Try not to use plastic lining products
because they keep the areola damp, cause the nipples to sore and open door for
a fungal infection such as candida to develop.
•
Keep an extra cloth diaper to soak up the milk from
the leaking breasts and save you bra pads for outings.
•
Wear clothes that camouflage wetness.
•
Try to breastfeed more often or express milk
manually. During breastfeeding allow your baby to relieve the pressure before
you leak. If you do not relieve the pressure, you might develop a plugged
breast or mastitis-a type of breast infection that is painful in nature!
To conclude, it’s important to note
that breast milk leakage is not related to the amount of milk you have or
doesn’t mean that your breasts are malfunctioning. It means that you are
producing more than enough milk to satisfy your baby’s hunger needs. The amount
of leakage a woman experiences varies from one person to another and also the
functionality of their bodily hormones. All you need to do is take some
precautions to prevent the extra milk oozing out from embarrassing you in
public or creating a problem for the baby when he latches to your breast during
his regular breastfeeding sessions.
