Babys First Year Blog
I Don’t Need Nursing Pads — Or Do I?
My milk supply came in slowly. Really slowly. It took me months to build up enough supply just to keep Tate fed. I never got engorged. I never had the leak all over the place, wake up in a puddle problem. I held on to wearing nursing pads mostly out of fear. What if I just started leaking for no reason and I ended up with a wet shirt? So, I walked around with those lumpy pads for four long months.
When the Costco-sized box of pads was finally empty, I made the executive decision not to buy any more. And it felt good. I felt good. I felt more confident, because the lumps were finally gone. And it was wonderful.
Fast forward to early this morning, I woke up in a wet haze. With Tate beside me I tried to reason out what had made the bed wet. Had he leaked out of his diaper, or spit up in his sleep? It took me a few minutes to realize that Tate wasn’t the source — I was. Tate must have gone a bit longer between feedings because I leaked milk all over the place.
I still don’t think I need the nursing pads. This is only the first leak I’ve had in almost a month, but it did make me give the whole situation a second thought.
Did any of you give up on nursing pads only to have a leakage situation?
Read about Danielle’s decision to Scrap the Boob Pads!
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11 Comments
Kate commented on Oct 06 11 at 12:41 pmYup! I still leak overnight 2-3 times a week. I just wash my bra. It’s just a PITA to worry about one more thing. I still have a huge stash of cloth nursing pads, though.
Erin commented on Oct 06 11 at 2:29 pmI wear them every day and every night just in case. I’d rather wear them than leak all over my bra and have to wash it constantly. They don’t bother me but it will be a nice bonus when I don’t have to wear them any more.
Sara commented on Oct 06 11 at 2:34 pmI’m 4 months in, and I still soak a towel every night with leaking! I have to have a waterproof pad under my side of the bed. I go thru 4 pads at work every day. I don’t know when I’ll be able to stop using them. It’s not fun.
Christine commented on Oct 06 11 at 6:24 pmWhenever I forget nursing pads, I leak.
If you do find yourself leaky, and don’t have any pads, I have used panty liners and they work great for a small case of the drips.
Melissa commented on Oct 07 11 at 12:35 pmI quit wearing pads after the first three weeks. I even contenplated taking back the big unopened box of pads (I used washable ones while i was home), but of course while I was feeding D last night I leaked all over my shirt on the other side. How annoying. So looks like it’s back to the sleeping bra with pads.
Kiley commented on Oct 07 11 at 8:19 pmWow, you are braver than I was. I wore those things forever! I did switch to the washable ones though, and felt like they weren’t as lumpy.
Eliza commented on Oct 08 11 at 9:12 pmI like the Gerber brand–not lumpy and pretty comfortable. Both the disposable and the washable kind are good, although the washable kind are not as absorbent.
With this baby (#3) I have taken to stuffing the end of a burp cloth into my bra (on the non-nursing breast, which lets down at the same time) while I nurse. Because usually I find myself without a pad when I need one. Fortunately, nursing is the only time I let down, and I haven’t had an “accidental” letdown in months. Although I did have a close call the other day. If I’m going to be away from the baby for a while (I work once a week) I try to remember pads and use folded up Kleenex if I forget. Classy, I know.
Jamie B. commented on Oct 08 11 at 9:39 pmStill using them at 6.5 months postpartum, but only to work. I use the cloth ones by Dr. Brown. Much better than the disposy type.
Jessica P commented on Oct 22 11 at 9:13 amI wear pads called Lily pads. They are silicone-like pads that are amazing and reusable! They are claim to be absorbant and I havent had an issue. They aren’t the gel pads that you have to throw out after 24 hours. With these, you just wash with soap (I use baby wash) and reuse.
Amy commented on Nov 07 11 at 8:10 pmI stuffed baby facecloths in my bra. Lumpy, yes, but they didn’t stick and fold over the way the horrid paper ones did. My only regret is not trying wool. Here’s the thing, though – I’m pregnant again, 7 years later, and this time I don’t wear bras – a move that has seen an end to breast pain. But I DO leak – I had a hospital birth last time and leaked any time ANYONE’s baby cried. What to do?
Lauren commented on Nov 08 11 at 3:49 pmI wear breast pads all day, every day. Everytime I nurse my daughter, the opposite breast will leak & I leak at night. I recently switched to reusable pads by Charlie Banana. They are absorbent, but not bulky and I just wash them along with my daughters cloth diapers.
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