How can mothers control breast milk leakage?

Women who choose to breastfeed will most likely have the problem of breast leakage. It usually happens when milk is just beginning to be secreted, the reflexes in the breast are active, and the mammary ducts are also very unobstructed, thus causing milk leakage. Although milk leakage does not harm your health, frequent milk leakage still brings a lot of inconvenience to mothers and is really a troublesome and embarrassing thing.

Colostrum after childbirth

In the early days after delivery, the milk that flows out of the breasts is called "colostrum". It is thick and a little yellow. Although it doesn’t look very good, it has extremely high nutritional value and is rich in high-quality protein and multiple antibodies, so it is also called "liquid gold".

What to do if you have milk leakage during pregnancy

Many mothers worry that if they start leaking milk during pregnancy, then will all the milk for the baby be leaked out after giving birth? The fact is obviously not the case. During pregnancy, the mother's body only stores colostrum. It is not until after giving birth that it naturally and slowly transitions to mature milk. At this time, the baby will have enough milk to eat.

What can I do if I have milk leakage?

1. Wear breast pads

Buy and use soft, breathable fabrics, or make your own using 100% cotton fabrics. Store-bought breast pads come in two varieties: disposable and reusable. If you buy disposable ones, make sure they don't have plastic linings, because plastic is not breathable and can easily breed bacteria if it stays damp for a long time after milk leakage, so be sure to change the gasket frequently. It’s not a bad idea to keep a set of spare pads ready in your bag at all times, just in case they come in handy.

2. Use the "arm trick" and refer to the following steps

Apply gentle pressure to your nipple with your wrist or the bottom of your hand.

If both nipples are leaking, cross your arms across your chest so you can apply pressure to both nipples at the same time.

In addition to the above methods, mothers should also learn to choose clothes wisely. It is best to wear layers (for example, an extra cardigan or vest), or clothing made of fabrics that are not easy to show milk leakage (such as patterned fabrics or darker colors).

Things you shouldn't do if you leak milk

Don't use the "arm trick" too many times. If you use this method on the same place multiple times, it may cause blockage of the milk duct, which is very painful and may even lead to infection or mastitis. But don't worry, it's okay to use this trick occasionally.

Do not plug your own breasts, which can clog the ducts and cause mastitis. Don't try to stop the milk flow with anything. Although milk leaking is annoying, it will stop soon if you just let nature take its course.

Finally, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to see a doctor.