What to Expect the First Year (21 page)

Some women continue being high-volume milk producers—and if you find that's the case with you, don't worry. As your baby becomes bigger, hungrier, and a more efficient nurser, chances are she'll eventually learn to go with the flow.

“Am I supposed to be leaking milk all the time?”

There's no contest when it comes to wet t-shirts (and wet sweatshirts, and wet sweaters, and wet nightgowns, wet bras, and even wet sheets and pillows): Newly nursing moms win hands down. The first few weeks of nursing are almost always very damp ones, with milk leaking, dripping, or even spraying frequently and often unexpectedly. The leaks spring anytime, anywhere, and usually without much warning. Suddenly, you'll feel that telltale tingle of let-down, and before you can grab a new nursing pad to stem the flow or a towel or sweater to cover it up, you'll look down to see yet another wet circle on one or both breasts.

Because let-down is a physical process that has a powerful mind connection, you're most likely to leak when you're thinking about your baby, talking about your baby, or hearing your baby cry. A warm shower may sometimes stimulate the drip, too. But you may also find yourself springing spontaneous leaks at seemingly random times—times when baby's the last thing on your mind (like when you're sleeping or making the car payment) and times that couldn't be more public or less convenient (like when you're about to give a presentation at work or you're in the middle of making love). Milk may drip when you're late for a feeding or in anticipation of it (especially if baby has settled into a somewhat regular feeding schedule), or it may leak from one breast while you nurse from the other.

Living with leaky breasts definitely isn't fun, and it can be uncomfortable, unpleasant, and endlessly embarrassing, too. But this common side effect of breastfeeding is completely normal, particularly early on. Over time, as the demand for milk starts meeting the supply, and as breastfeeding becomes better regulated, breasts begin to leak considerably less. While you're waiting for that dryer day to dawn, try these tips:

• Keep a stash of nursing pads. These can be a lifesaver (or at least a shirt saver) for leakers. Put a supply of nursing pads in the diaper bag, in your purse, and next to your bed, and change them whenever they become wet, which may be as often as you nurse, sometimes even more often. Don't use pads that have a plastic or waterproof liner. These trap moisture, rather than absorbing it, and can lead to nipple irritation. Experiment to find the variety that works for you—some women favor disposables, while others prefer the feel of washable cotton pads.

• Don't wet the bed. If you find you leak a lot at night, line your bra with extra nursing pads before going to bed, or place a large towel under you while you sleep (or a waterproof pad or mattress cover). The last thing you'll want to be doing now is changing your sheets every day—or worse, shopping for a new mattress.

• Opt for prints, especially dark ones. You'll soon figure out that these clothes camouflage the milk stains best. And as if you're looking for another reason to wear washable clothes when there's a newborn around, leaking should seal it.

• Don't pump to prevent leaking. Not only will extra pumping not contain the leak—it'll encourage more of the same. After all, the more your breasts are stimulated, the more milk they produce.

• Apply pressure. When nursing is well established and your milk production has leveled off (but not before), you can try to stem an impending leak by pressing on your nipples (probably not a good idea in public) or folding your arms tightly against your breasts. Don't do this often in the first few weeks, however, because it may inhibit milk let-down and can lead to a clogged milk duct.

Not leaking at all—or leaking just a little? That can be just as normal. In fact, if you're a second-time mom, you might notice that your breasts leak less than they did the first time. Just chalk it up to breast experience.

“My 2-week-old baby had been nursing pretty regularly—every 2 to 3 hours. But all of a sudden, he's demanding to be fed every hour. Does that mean he's not getting enough?”

Sounds like you have a hungry boy on your hands—and at your breast. He might be going through a growth spurt (most common at 3 weeks and again at 6), or he might just need more milk to keep him satisfied. Either way, what he's doing to make sure he gets that milk is called “cluster feeding.” His instincts tell him that nursing for 20 minutes every hour is a more efficient way of coaxing your breasts to produce the extra milk he needs than nursing for 30 minutes every 2 or 3 hours. And so he treats you like a snack bar rather than a restaurant. No sooner does he happily finish a meal than he's rooting around again, looking for something to eat. Put him to the breast again, and he'll do another feed.

These marathon sessions are definitely draining for you—not only literally, but physically and emotionally. Fortunately, cluster feeds usually last only a day or two. Once your milk supply catches up with your growing baby's demand, he's likely to return to a more consistent—and civilized—pattern. In the meantime, bring on the feed as often as your little bottomless pit seems to want it.

“Breastfeeding my baby is something I always wanted to do. But my nipples have become so painfully sore—I'm not sure I can continue nursing her.”

Ready for breastfeeding to become the pleasure you always thought it would be instead of the pain you never expected? Of course you are—so are your poor, sore nipples. Fortunately, most moms find their nipples toughen up quickly, usually within the first couple of weeks of nursing. Some, however (especially those who have a “barracuda” baby—one who has a very vigorous suck), suffer longer or harder—and if that's what you're up against, the soreness, cracking, and even bleeding may have you dreading feeds instead of looking forward to them.

To find some relief while your nipples adjust to the demands of nursing life (and they will!), try these tips:

• Be sure your baby is correctly positioned, facing your breast with the areola (not just the nipple) in her mouth when nursing. Not only will her sucking on the nipple alone leave you sore, but it will also leave her frustrated, since she won't get much milk. If engorgement makes it difficult for her to grasp the areola, express a little milk manually or with a breast pump before nursing to reduce the engorgement and make it easier for her to get a good grip.

• Vary your nursing position so a different part of the nipple will be compressed at each feeding, but always keep baby facing your breasts.

• Try not to favor one breast because it's less sore or because the nipple isn't cracked. Try to use both breasts at every feeding, but nurse from the less sore one first, since baby will suck more vigorously when she's hungry. If both nipples are equally sore (or not sore at all), start off the feeding with the breast you used last and didn't drain thoroughly.

• Expose sore or cracked nipples to the air briefly after each feeding. Protect them from clothing and other irritations, and change nursing pads often if leaking milk keeps them wet. Also, make sure the nursing pads don't have a plastic liner, which will only trap moisture and increase irritation. If your nipples are extremely sore, consider surrounding them with a cushion of air by wearing breast shells (not shields).

• A little dry heat will help if you live in a humid climate—wave a blow dryer, set on warm, across your breast (about 6 to 8 inches away) for no more than 2 or 3 minutes. In a dry climate, moisture from your own milk will be more helpful—so after feedings, leave any residue to dry on your nipples. Or express a few drops of milk (often the best medicine) at the end of a feeding and rub it on your nipples—just make sure they're dry before putting your bra back on.

• Wash your nipples only with water, whether they're sore or not. Never use soap, alcohol, or hand sanitizer. Your baby is already protected from your germs—and the milk itself is clean.

• Apply natural lanolin, such as Lanisoh, on your nipples as needed after nursing to prevent and/or heal cracking. You'll probably need to do this only when you're feeling sore, since nipples are naturally protected and lubricated by sweat glands and skin oils. Avoid petroleum-based products and petroleum jelly itself (Vaseline) and other oily products.

• Wet regular tea bags with cool water and place them on your sore nipples. The properties in the tea will help to soothe and heal them.

• Relax for 15 minutes or so before feedings. Relaxation will enhance the let-down of milk (which will mean that baby won't have to suck as hard—and you'll have less pain), while stress may suppress it.

• If the pain is severe, ask your practitioner about taking an over-the-counter pain medication to relieve it.

Sometimes germs can enter a milk duct through a crack in the nipple—so if your nipples are cracked, be especially alert to signs of breast infection. Nipple pain can also be the result of a yeast infection. Click for information on
clogged ducts
,
mastitis
, and
thrush
(yeast infection).

“I really feel like the baby is attached to my breasts these days—and as much as I'm starting to like breastfeeding him, I'm also feeling like there's no time to do anything else.”

Breastfeeding a newborn can feel like a full-time job—make that a full-time job with double overtime. Immensely satisfying, once you've gotten the hang of it, but all-consuming (as in, your baby is consuming all you've got, all the time).

Will you and your breasts ever catch a break? Absolutely. As your baby becomes more efficient at his job of feeding, you'll be able to spend less time at your job of feeding him. The number of feeds, and the length of each feed, will become more manageable—and you'll stop feeling like
you're serving milk 24/7. By the time your baby's sleeping through the night, you'll probably be down to five or six feedings, taking a reasonable total of only 3 or 4 hours out of your day.

Meanwhile, since you can't catch much of a break, use those many hours of breastfeeding to catch some rest and relaxation—and your breath—while capturing some of the most special time you'll ever spend with your little one. Chances are, when your baby's nursing days are over, you'll look back and think about how much you miss those many hours of breastfeeding (and how easy it was compared with feeding a picky toddler).

“I'm so tired these days, and sometimes I just can't keep my eyes open anymore when feeding my baby. Is it okay for me to fall asleep while nursing?”

Breastfeeding babies are sleepy babies—but guess what, so are breastfeeding mommies. That's because the same hormones that relax your baby during a nursing session—oxytocin and prolactin—relax you, too. That feel-good hormone-induced stupor, especially when combined with the physical and emotional challenges and demands of being a new mom, topped off with the inevitable life-with-a-new-baby sleep deprivation, can definitely lead you to nod off midnursing. Being cozily cuddled by a warm little bundle of sweet-smelling baby can have a lulling effect, too. And if you're nursing lying down, well, it's a pretty sure bet you'll doze off at least some of the time.

Here's the good news. It's okay to nap while nursing. Just make sure you don't start out breastfeeding sessions in precarious positions (you should both be comfortably supported) or while holding a hot beverage (something you shouldn't do with baby in your lap anyway). Keep in mind, too, that you'll likely wake as easily as you nod off—since new moms tend to sleep very lightly next to their little ones—probably nature's way of keeping your mommy radar on high alert. Chances are that as your baby becomes more alert at the breast, so will you.