I'm Leaking Milk, What Do I Do?

Hi L., Im 22 years old, (young mother as well) and i have a 6mos old baby boy as well. I have breastfeeding, and I can say it has been the best thing I have done for my boy. It was hard at fist, but now, It's sooo much better. It's really a life saver. I HIGHLY recommend you breastfeed your boy. The fact that your breast are still leaking, might be a sign to give it a shot. Your body and baby are still insync. ur baby, im sure prefered the bottle, because he does not have to work to get the milk out. The benefits of breastfeeding are amazing! This is the best gift you can give to your son

2 moms found this helpful

hurry and go back to breastfeeding while your milk is still in!! It is the best thing for your baby!

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Lansinoh makes good nursing pads that you can put in your regular bra and it does a good job soaking it up. You can find it and other nursing pads in the nursing aisle at Target. Also, you weren't clear, but you should just ride it out, eg. not pumping at all, until you stop producing.

Everyone has their own choices to make, but I can't HIGHLY ENOUGH recommend continuing to nurse. It is probably one of the hardest and most rewarding things you can do. PLEASE, please, please consider going back to nursing and get off of formula. Babies usually prefer formula not because it tastes "better" or anything, but because the flow out of a bottle is faster than the breast. PLEASE contact a lactation consultation via your OB, pediatrician, or your hospital.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi L.,
Congratulations on your new baby boy!!!!If you are done with breast feeding your Dr. can give you these pills that help dry you out.If you are not done they sell what is kind of a breast pad(kinda like a maxi pad but is round and fits in your bra) to help with leaking.
Take care.Angela E.

Hi L.,

Try Lansinoh (sp?) breast pads, they are the best! Also, if you want your milk to dry up, I've heard that strangely enough, you place a cabbage leaf on each breast and wear them all day (this will supposedly dry the milk up completely). Otherwise, you can pump and donate/sell your milk to organizations. Also, breastfeeding and/or pumping burns alot of calories, so if you are still trying to lose the extra baby weight, keep your milk supply up for at least another month or two. Good luck!

W.

Have you tried those breast pads? I haven't nursed in 5+ years (but am 18 weeks pg, so I've been thinking a lot about what I did before to get ready). There are a couple brands, Evenflo and maybe even Johnson & Johnson. They are little round cotton pads about 3 inches in diameter. You put them in your bra and they absorb the leakage. I've even used 2 on each side and carry around extras when need be.

Another thing...are you sure your baby doesn't want to nurse anymore? What if you put him to breast--perhaps he'd go for it? Your body is making milk probably in response to your baby, so perhaps you could give it another go?

In any event, those pads are a lifesaver for me.

Try the green cabbage leaves in your bra to dry your milk out. Your breasts will look very lumpy, but it should dry your milk out. Keep changing them out as the leaves get withered. As long as your not alergic to sulfa meds then you can do this if you are alergic to sulfa meds then I don't think it is recomended.

this is an old wifes tale but use a brand new bar of soap and rub it around your breasts this is too dry up the breast milk. hope it works for you

believe it or not, put cabbage leaves on your breasts. just the regular cabbage leaves from your grocery store will somehow remove the milk. I know it sounds strange, but this is how I got rid of my milk after I stopped breast feeding. good luck! the pain and pressure should be gone within 2-3 days :)

Wear nursing pads in your bra to soak up the milk. Also carry a sweater or sweatshirt to cover up if you have a really bad leak.

lily padz. You'll love them!

I read all of the other replies and I dont want to give you info you already have, however......I tried the cabbage leaves and it works! If you take a rolling pin, or a cup and slightly smash them,it helps with them forming to your breast and aleviates the "lumpy" look a bit.

Good luck.

I'm so sad to hear that your son preferred formula. Since you obviously still have the milk, would you be willing to pump it and mix it with his formula?

Lansinoh has the best brand (in my opinion) of breastpads. I compare them to Always Ultra Thin pads. they are thin, and absorbent. and have a plastic liner so when they are full, they don't leave a wet spot on your shirt. Overtime, your milk will stop leaking.

There are many excellent brands of breast pads out there- you can get them all at Target near the baby formula area. They are thin and discreet. I prefer the Gerber brand myself. So, yes, wear a tight sports bra and stick the pads in there and you won't have wet spots. Eventually the sports bra will do the trick and you'll be done!

HI L.,
There is this wonderful product called nursing pads. They are circular in shape and you put them inside your bra. They absorb any leaking milk so your shirt doesn't get wet. There are reuseable ones and disposable ones. I really liked the disposable ones-you just throw them away when they get wet and put in nice, new dry ones. You already have enough laundry to do with a new baby, so the washable ones seem like more work.
You can find nursing pads at places like Target and Walmart near the formula/baby food aisle. Some grocery stores carry them too. My favorite brand comes in a purple box, but I can't remember the brand name.
Hope this helps!

get the nipple pads to wear in your bra

Have you tried disposable nursing pads?

Lily pads are amazing. they are not like panty liners (although that one was a good idea :)) but they are rubbery and go right over your boob inside your bra. they stick to you, not the bra, they don't make the sounds of a diaper inside your clothes, and their gently adhesiveness holds the nipple down and stops the possibility of leaking. they are also re-usable and washable and all that good stuff. you can probably get them on line. maybe it's padz with a z?

try an herbal remedy call Lacanium (SP?), I used it after breastfeeding and it dryed me up, no more embarrasing wet spots. Good luck.

Nature's Answer Liquid Sage will dry up your milk, you can get it at the herb stores

Hi! There are breast pads that you can buy from target or babies r us. I used them for a while until the leaking stopped. I just layered my shirts to make it less noticeable.

Just fyi, check out www.globalsynergy.usana.com for supplements for you and your family. Nutritionals you can trust. Simply the best. Any doubts? Go to any bookstore and get Nutrisearch Comparative Guide to nutritional supplements and you will find that USANA HEALTH SCIENCES is on top of the list. K....take care.

M. B.

Lanisoh Breast Pads worked for me!

You could also try to up your caffine intake. My sister's doctor told her to drink coffee or soda to help inhibit milk production. And the pads are lifesavers, you can even get some that you can wash and reuse...
Good luck and have fun with your new little man.
R

Continue to wear breast pads. There are disposable ones that you can buy. I found that they weren't thick enough and I made my own out of old flannel sheets. You can also fold up socks and put them in your bra.
Wear a very firm, even a little bit restricting bra. An old one from before your pregnancy would probably work.
If you don't dry up soon, ask your doctor if you can have a shot to dry you up.

I had to wear breast pads for my daughter's first 3 and a half months. I liked the lansinoh pads the best.

Hi :) I nursed 3 & had the same problem Drug stores carry boxes of nursing pads. You may have to wear 2 at a time if leaking heavily but it should work itself out at some point. Just rember to keep some w/you at all times. Blessings, V.

Since there is no longer stimulation on your breast, you will gradually stop producing milk as the days go by. It took me about 2 weeks for my body to stop producing milk, but each person may vary. For now use nursing pads that’s the best thing you can do.

Have you tried wearing the pads?? May seem like a silly question, but if you haven't do that until you dry up.

You are probably going to laugh but hey it worked for me, get a panti-liner cut it in half and stick it in your bra it will absorb it until you dry up!!!

They sell disposable cotton pads that you can stick inside of your bra to prevent leakage. I used them when I had to go back to work. My breasts leaked for a few months after I stopped breast feeding. The pads really helped. I think you can purchase them @ Walmart.

hi, i can only say .. see what nature wants you to do, nurse the baby,its his time ,until its absolutely neccsory to bottle feed due to health problems.i bet you are going to thank the women who suggested start nursing again, atleast nurse for first 6 weeks pls.

Congrats on the birth of Christian Daton. I leaked quite a bit after I stopped breastfeeding too. Sports bras are good, but the trick is to BIND your breasts. If you have to wear two sports bras to really compress your breasts, then do it. And you have to keep them bound 24/7 until the leaking subsides. Also, avoid direct contact with warm water on your breasts when you shower. The moist heat usually releases the milk.

I bound my breasts for about 1 week, and the leaking stopped. Good luck.

I suggest buying Lansinoh (brand name) Breast Pads. You can find them in the grocery store, Target, or Walmart in the baby care area. Usually near bottles. Hope this helps!

Lansinoh pads are definatly the best. They have them at Walmart. They are in a purple box. It took me months to dry up from my frst child. Good luck!

I can't believe I'm actually smiling. Your issue brought back memories of when I first had my daughter (she's almost 23 years old now)... She wouldn't breast feed and I was trying so hard so at first I wouldn't let the doctor give me anything to dry me up. The funny part is no matter where I was, near to her or not, the minute she started crying my "girls" would "spray" milk, they would just jet that stuff out like no one's business... it got so bad I had to have injections from the doctor to dry me up. It wasn't funny (to me) then but now that I reflect on how it must have been for my loved ones it's hillarious!

No breast pad back then could hold my milk output. I even tried pumping it but the doctor said it would never stop if I did. Whew, thanks for the memory and if all the other "remedies" and ideas don't work ask the doctor if there's something he can do for you.

My sister turned me on to the best thing for this - they are called Lily Padz, and they are silicon pads that go over your nipples. They are wonderful!! Because they are silicon, the milk does not leak through. If you are experiencing a lot of leakage, you'll need to check them every hour or two to clean off the milk that pools in the pad. I also found that I needed to wash them daily with a little antibacterial soap to prevent them from smelling like sour milk over time. You can get them at Target or on-line. Here is their web site, http://www.lilypadz.com/index1.html. I hope it works for you!

Hi I'm T.,

I breastfed 3 kids. You will need to wear breast pads until the milk dries up. Depending on your body and the amount of stimulus it is getting the milk usually take 3 weeks to dry out. Hope that helps.

L.,

They sell nursing pads that you insert into your bra that help keep the leaks from showing through your shirt. I like the Lansinoh ones. They are tapered around the edges so they aren't noticable under my shirts. You can find them in the same aisle of the grocery store or target or walmart with other baby things.

T.

I love Lansinoh breast pads. They are disposable, thin, and the only brand that doesn't leak. You can get them anywhere. I get them at Walmart.

This may sound a bit weird but put cold cabbage on your breast (in between your bra & breast) when you can. It will dry up your supply. I nursed my second for his first year & when I tried to stop I was still producing enough to leak too. My sister told me to try it, I did & it worked! It took about 2 day. I'm a stay at home mom so I just didn't go anywhere. It will smell funny, but at least you won't have milk spots! LOL!

There a special breast pads, that you insert inside of your bra, that nursing mothers use.
Look for the nursing pads anywhere that nursing mother supplies are purchased.

wear a tight fiting bra and breast pads. You can buy some pads in the baby section by the breast pumps. It can take a while for your milk to stop all together.

I've seen that people have recommended cabbage leaves, which are GREAT BTW even if they are wierd, and also nursing pads (which I'm sure you use).

But I also took PARSLEY capsules to dry up my milk and it helped. I remember my midwife telling me to stay away from it while nursing because it dried up milk. If you don't have a problem with allergies, it can really help.

You can go to wal-mart and get some nursing pads until your milk dries up completely..there are several different brands. I am currently nursing and they work great to prevent the embarressing leaks that happen during the day when my breasts are triggered to release milk. You can also use thin maxi pads or light days...cut them in two and stick them in your bra.

They sell reusable or disposable breast pads to put in your bra for leaking. Check the baby department at most any store. It won't last much longer. But I have to agree with Aimee, breastfeeding is best and it's not too late to get back into that with your baby. It's not the formula he prefers its the ease of the bottle, nursing takes more effort and gains much better health rewards. Did you know there are more vitamins and nutrients in dog food than infant formula? Something to consider.
F.

There are bra pads that can be purchased to put in your bra to absorb the liquid. If you can't find them mini pads. And it will stop, believe me. Been there done that

I don't know what to do to stop the leaking. However why don't you where nursing pads untill the leaking stops. That way you won't have any more embarasing moments. I recomend Johnson's brand. They work the best.

I'd also suggest the sports bra. In addition, I wrapped the 'girls' with an ace bandage and cold compresses (drying up can be uncomfortable!) Like others have said, the trick is to keep them good and wrapped for a few days. Good luck!

Getting on the pill should help dry you up if you're definitely not breastfeeding anymore. In the meantime, Lilly Padz will help stop the leaking (about $20 at Babycenter.com and The Right Start].

It will take awhile for the milk to dry up-frustrating yes it is, but like the other lady said put the nursing pads in for the time being.Just have patience:) L.

I know this will sound crazy but it worked for me and my sister in law. Buy a cabbage and put the leaves on your breast with a tight bra sports bra tank top over night. IT should work. Also don't touch them too much make sure that whatever you wear that it's very tight it might take a few nights so be patient oh and it will hurt depending on how much milk you produce so take an asprin. HOPE THIS HELPS

Hi L.,
Even though you are not breastfeeding, you still need to use a breast pump to drain out all your milk. Otherwise you can catch fever, etc. I'm telling you from experience.

In good health,
D. A.

use the breast pads they are comfortable and just sit in your bra just like they would if you were nursing they are super absorbant.

You can try cabbage. Yes, cabbage! It works great. put cold cabbage leaves on each breast for about 20minutes at a time or until wilted. Keep doing this until milk has dried up. It will take about 2-3 days.
Hope this helps

They're gonna keep leaking until all the milk dries up! Just wear the breastefeeding pads inside your bra- as far as the sports bra...it may only make you more comfortable, but it won't stop the milk! Good luck!

Hi there, L. D!
Try putting a green cabbage leaf on both sides of your bra, sometimes that helps dry it up. It worked for several clients of mine...
Good luck!
M.

Hey, I too had the same problem, What I ended up doing was buying Johnsons nusring pads, they are life savers. They arent too exensive and work great you just slip them into your bra and change them every few hours and no more leaking through shirts! good luck to you and congrats on your baby!

Cabbage leaves!!! Thats may seem weird but I actually read it in a book written by an OB GYN, JUst buy a head of cabbage and peel a whole leaf off and smash with the palm of your hand and place it over one breast and do the same for the other and you should change the leaf every time they get wilted and put a sports bra over them so it holds them in place and I promise you if you do this for a week you will not have milk anymore Oh and avoid hot water on your breast, and dont squeeze your nipples to see how much milk comes out or else you will just keep re producing. Good Luck

Hi. Have you tried the pads that you wear with your bra? It can take a bit of time for the milk to dry up.