Leakage?

[LJC6780]

Hey there.. I have learned SO MUCH from you ladies over the past few months.. I figure why not learn while I'm TTC so I won't be so overwhelmed when the time comes!

Anyway, the real reason for the post is I sew things.. this and that, baby and mama and home items.. and I was wondering, I've made some breast pads, while I've had no complaints, I want to make sure I am making them absorbent enough or not too absorbent and just wasteful..

So.. ON AVERAGE.. how much does a breast leak milk? Can you either put a ml or oz on it.. or compare it to a menstrual period (Sorry, that sounds gross, but I make pads too and liquid is liquid.. )

I've seen some make pads with 2-3 thin layers of bamboo or even just flannel.. that just doesn't seem very absorbent.. but if you only leak a tiny bit, then I guess it is..

Any help or opinions or personal experiences will help me a TON..

TIA!

EDIT** I understand everyone is different.. the reason I'm asking, if nothing else, but for YOUR personal experiences, is so that I am not making joke pads! I would like to be able to label them light, medium, etc.. SO, if you could compare the amount you leak (at any given time) to using a menstrual flow pad to catch it, would you use a panty liner, or an overnight heavy flow pad? Does that make more sense?

I just want to make sure that what I'm offering is relavent to the situation! So that moms can make an informed decision on what they need..

[AliciaOlson]

Mine don't really leak so bump

[LJC6780]

Thanks!

Quoting AliciaOlson:

Mine don't really leak so bump

[jackiewal10]

You can't really measure that.  Everyone is different, every baby is different.  I leaked A LOT with my first, but not at all with my secend.  It just depends.

[ruthie11617]

Depends on the person, I think. Me, I leak quite a bit. DS is six weeks old and I'm still leaking quite a bit.

[LJC6780]

Ok, I understand everyone is different.. but can you tell me what "a lot" is... like dripping, or running! LOL if you had to compare the amount you leak to a menstrual flow, i.e. if you used a menstrual pad to catch it, would you use a panty liner or a heavy flow pad?

I'm just trying to gauge how much absorbency I need to offer.. I know some will need more and some less, but at least I can put a label on them, light, medium etc.. make sense?

Quoting jackiewal10:

You can't really measure that.  Everyone is different, every baby is different.  I leaked A LOT with my first, but not at all with my secend.  It just depends.

[LJC6780]

Please refer to the last post, but can you define "quite a bit?"

Also, is it an all day thing or a leak and done thing? I have never BF'd and have no idea!!

Quoting ruthie11617:

Depends on the person, I think. Me, I leak quite a bit. DS is six weeks old and I'm still leaking quite a bit.

[littlecheifsmom]

i had over active letdown and was using johnson and johnsons nursing pads at the time.they are med thickness and there times when i needed two of them at once especially when in a mall or store. as any baby cry would let off my let down. i was like that for 15 months.  i would have to change them out every hr or i would soak through. so id say about 1-1.5 oz or so.

[GoodyBrook]

OK, I measured once. DS was nursing off one side, and my other side was spraying like crazy. I grabbed a bottle and tried to catch what I could. By the time DS had finished nursing one side, I had over one ounce in the bottle. (Hope this helps you!) :)

[LJC6780]

Oh you poor thing! Thanks a bunch for trying to put a measurement to it! I know there is no way the pads I've made will hold that much.. BUT I know that that's a possibility and can offer something that may get close!

Quoting littlecheifsmom:

i had over active letdown and was using johnson and johnsons nursing pads at the time.they are med thickness and there times when i needed two of them at once especially when in a mall or store. as any baby cry would let off my let down. i was like that for 15 months.  i would have to change them out every hr or i would soak through. so id say about 1-1.5 oz or so.

[LJC6780]

Yes it does very much! Thank you! I don't currently make a pad absorbent enough for that much milk BUT I will now! Or at least I'll try to get close! Would you notice leakage like this when you were out and about or only while nursing on the other side? I'm asking because I would think if it's at home, you COULD grab a burp cloth or something (or bottle) instead of HAVING to use a pad.. but the pad to be there for security when in public.. I've got some Zorb II, I need to test how much a pad size will hold!

Quoting GoodyBrook:

OK, I measured once. DS was nursing off one side, and my other side was spraying like crazy. I grabbed a bottle and tried to catch what I could. By the time DS had finished nursing one side, I had over one ounce in the bottle. (Hope this helps you!) :)