Originally written 3rd of June 2021
18 weeks + 6 days gestation
This morning I decide tonight I would get an early night.. ha
At least the intention was there, after a week of late nights sorting things out as we move into our new family home, my body has been feeling exhausted. My midwife had warned me at my appointment last week of, how should I put it… a turbulent few weeks of high hormones, mood swings, low energy (the list went on) basically I went home and told my hubby I may be a raging lunatic over the next few weeks ha
Anyway it’s 10pm, sitting here minding my own business, doing some work from bed and my arm happens to brush past my b**b and it feels wet! “Surely not leaky boobs already” I thought, I’m only just going 19 weeks. I checked however, and low and behold it appears to be a bit of colostrum leakage. Colostrum is often dubbed as liquid gold; due to the incredible antibody and nutrient content it holds.
Please don’t say this is going to be a regular thing just yet, I don’t want to be caught out, out and about with a wet t-shirt (Imagine!) or having to use breast pads in my bra on a daily basis. I know that time will come but let’s hold off for another few months yeah?
Let’s be honest, I’m living in sports bras already as it is seen as my boobs decided to grow when I was about 8 weeks pregnant and my normal bra’s no longer fitted me! I do have a stash of maternity bras from my pregnancy with Lil but they don’t fit me properly yet either so sports bras it must be. I’ve actually been meaning to order some more in the next size up seen as we have a long way to go before they expand to coconuts full of milk! Lol
Your breasts will have been producing small amount of milk from 16 weeks of pregnancy. So if you notice your nipples are leaking, the substance is usually colostrum, which is the first milk your breasts make in preparation for feeding your baby. Slight leaking is normal and nothing to worry about.
Once your baby is born and the placenta is expelled, your hormone levels start to fall and milk production starts. When your baby suckles at your breast it stimulates the nipple and a message is sent to a gland in your brain called the pituitary. Part of this gland sends prolactin into the blood stream to the milk producing cells. The other part of the gland sends out oxytocin, which makes the muscle cells around the milk producing cells squeeze the milk down the ducts. This process is called the “milk ejection” reflex. **
It’s not very often I would be up working this late but when you get inspired thoughts, you must take inspired action!! Followed by getting distracted looking at maternity/newborn photographers, we all know how quickly they get booked up! My advice is don’t leave it too late to get one booked in if you know you definitely want it done (I absolutely love my photos from pregnancy number 1 and love to now show them to Lil)
UPDATE – 24th of July 2021
Phew! The wet patches have been few & far between. Slight leakage in my bra some days but that I can cope with.
I have been on the hunt for some reusable breast pads I can use during the later stages of pregnancy and once little one arrives. Not only are reusable breast pads easy to use, just pop them in the wash but also you are making an impact on the planet. It’s one simple way to live a more eco-friendly life.
I have found and purchased some from the lovely Katy at Niahm’s Neverland. They have two types of breast pad to choose from depending on your need. Fleece which are perfect for heavier let downs and bamboo which are still very absorbent but would suit a lighter let down. Waterproof, machine washable and lots of lovely material designs to choose from.
** Mothers & others guide issue 14 http://www.mothersguide.co.uk
