Giving birth is just the first step in a huge year of learning, bonding and healing for both yourself and baby. The first six weeks are usually the most difficult and during this time you’ll need to cope with afterbirth pains, postpartum bleeding, sleepless nights and of course, learning to breastfeed.
For mothers who choose to breastfeed, the first few weeks can be a huge learning curve as neither you nor your baby has done this before. So if you’re planning to breastfeed, how many nursing pads do you need available to avoid leaks and drips?
First Week
During the first 2-5 days, you’ll only have a small amount of colostrum which is more than enough to fill baby’s tiny stomach (for comparison, it’s about the size of a cherry at birth). You may have a tiny amount of colostrum leak (in fact, some women leak colostrum in pregnancy), but you generally won’t fill a nursing pad. Rather, you’re more likely to change the pad because it’s uncomfortably moist.
When Your Milk Comes In
This is the point at which you’ll need the most nursing pads. When your milk starts to come in, which can happen anywhere in the first 3-7 days, you’ll experience big letdowns of milk. This can be anything from a leak, through to a squirting fountain of milk. You may change your pads as often as every 10-30 minutes during this period, as your pads are filled up and begin to leak.
During this period, it’s best to have at least 20 pads available per day, so you don’t run out. As the first week after a baby is born is usually busy and tiring, you may want to make sure you have enough nursing pads for seven days (140 pads), so you don’t need to worry about getting extra supplies.
Weeks 3 and onwards
When your milk comes in, you’ll experience an oversupply as your body prepares to feed your new baby. However, once your body has adjusted to baby’s demand, you’ll find that your breasts aren’t as swollen and you experience less leakage. Once you reach this point, you may experience occasional milk letdowns, such as when you’re feeding baby and your alternate breast leaks, or when you think about your baby.
Once your supply has settled, you can expect to use as few as 6-8 pads per day, with 2-4 pads after the six-week mark. This does vary by woman, though, so if you use more than this, don’t stress; too much or too little leakage is not a sign that there are any problems with your breastfeeding relationship.
Tips:
- Try a variety of different types of nursing pads before buying in bulk – they can vary widely in comfort and dryness and most women have a favourite brand.
- Use cloth nursing pads and wash them if you’re looking for a cheaper and sustainable solution.
- Change pads regularly, as a warm, moist environment can lead to ductal thrush which can be painful for mother and baby.
- If you experience some leakage and don’t have a pad for protection, gently place a finger on your nipple and press down for 5-10 seconds to lessen the flow.
If you’re concerned about leaking or unsure how much is normal, check in with your midwife or lactation consultant.
Susannah is a certified Birth Doula through Childbirth International and the founder of Trimester Talk. With a background in journalism and digital strategy, she combines evidence-based research with real-world knowledge to create accessible content about pregnancy and parenting. She’s a mother of two and stepmother of two more, all of them now teenagers.