How long does breast leakage last

Or you might leak when your letdown reflex — which releases the milk — kicks in. In the first weeks of breastfeeding, your letdown reflex is being conditioned to respond to the sensation of your baby nursing. Until your reflex adjusts to that stimulation, certain sensations and even thoughts may trigger letdown. For example, hearing your baby cry, thinking about your baby, smelling your baby, or sitting in the chair where you usually breastfeed might be enough to trigger your reflex and cause leaking.

Here's how it works: These stimuli prompt your body to release oxytocin. This hormone makes the milk-making lobes of your breasts contract and eject milk toward the nipple.

If your baby isn't nursing at that moment, the milk may leak or even spray. Oxytocin also causes the contractions felt during orgasm, so your breasts also may leak or spray milk during sex. You may want to bring a hand towel to bed. If you're producing too much milk in the early days of nursing, be sure to nurse frequently — before your breasts become too full.

If your breasts are full but your baby isn't ready to eat, it may help to "pump to comfort. Manually expressing a little milk is another option. It's important to relieve the pressure, otherwise you could develop a clogged breast duct or mastitis , a breast infection. You'll soon establish a breastfeeding rhythm that works for you and your baby. Once you're in sync with each other, you'll probably produce just the right amount of milk for each upcoming feeding.

If you want, you can try to collect your leaking breast milk to save for later with a product like Milkies Milk-Saver and Lacti-Cups. Some women continue to leak for as long as they're nursing, but many find that the problem goes away once their baby gets the hang of breastfeeding — usually within the first six to 10 weeks.

In the meantime, remember that your leaking breasts are a sign of your body's efficiency making milk for your baby. And don't worry — when the leaking eventually stops, you'll still be making plenty of milk to meet your baby's needs.

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