Leaking breasts

Many mums notice leaking especially in the early days – during feeds or in between. There are lots of simple ways to cope.   

Leaking is a sign that your breasts are making and releasing milk. Some breasts leak more than others. It's also normal if yours don’t leak – they’re still making milk.

Leaking usually eases as your baby gets older but some mums may leak for longer.

How to manage leaking 

• Wear breast pads in your bra. Some are washable, some are single-use.
• Shaped breast pads are less likely to press and flatten your nipples than flat ones.
• Change your breast pads when they are wet to stop your nipples becoming sore or damaged.
• A silicone breast pad that presses against your breast can stop leakage.
• You can also apply gentle pressure yourself to stop your breast leaking. Be careful not to do this too often as pressure on the breast can cause inflamation. 

• When your baby feeds, your let-down reflex may cause milk to drip from the other breast. Soak up extra milk with a soft cloth or towel.
• Some mums collect leaking milk to use later. You could use a silicone milk catcher or clean container but see below for milk catcher warnings. 

• Wear a sleep bra or singlet-top to bed fore gentle support and to hold breast pads.
• Use a mattress protector, waterproof underlay or folded towel to keep your bed dry.

• Carry spare breast pads or tuck a clean towel into your bra to soak up leaks.
• If you need to stop leaking milk completely, press firmly on your nipple for a few seconds. Be careful not to do this too often.
• Patterned, loose clothing can help hide wetness from leaks. 

Silicone milk catchers can collect leaking milk while feeding or between feeds. These may be effective but continual suction may remove more milk than needed, creating an oversupply. 

Using a catcher too often or for too long can make your nipple or breast sore. 

© Australian Breastfeeding Association June 2025