https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 02:06:49 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-breastfeed-after-giving-birth#post-683513 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 06:59:42 +0000 T.H.O.U. 683513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@katiew92081: If you are leaking, the milk could be sitting on your bra/sheets/etc and the bacteria grows. Like I said, itching was my first sign, luckily my daughter never got it though. I washed my bras with vinegar and made sure to use disposable nursing pads and replaced them often (so bacteria doesn't grow). You can even use a cotton swab of vinegar on your breasts or even soak them in water/vinegar. What honestly helped me the most though was using Milk of Magnesia on my breasts (again, applied with a cotton ball) which immediately soothed the itch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-breastfeed-after-giving-birth#post-683466 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 06:07:52 +0000 Dandelion 683466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Yikes! I didn't even think of that! How could I even get thrush without a newborn? I'll keep an eye on that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-breastfeed-after-giving-birth#post-683252 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 21:30:13 +0000 googly-eyes 683252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did BF for a little while but when I stopped I didn't leak. I also got on a medication at that time, though, so that could be partly why. I don't remember if I was itchy, sorry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-breastfeed-after-giving-birth#post-683033 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:43:26 +0000 singingbee 683033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I delivered, my milk came in. It took about a week to dry up, but I would leak for several months after, like 6-7 months after I bound my breasts with an ace bandage and had 3 sports bras on at one time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-breastfeed-after-giving-birth#post-683011 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:35:00 +0000 T.H.O.U. 683011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@katiew92081: be careful that you haven't developed thrush from leaking. Itchiness was my first sign. Start washing everything with vinegar. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-breastfeed-after-giving-birth#post-682959 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:13:06 +0000 Andrea 682959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Take Sudafed! Decongestants dry you up big time which is why you shouldn't take it when sick and breastfeeding. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-breastfeed-after-giving-birth#post-682947 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:06:24 +0000 blackbird 682947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A friend of mine said they gave her a diuretic of some kind in the hospital and it dried her up BIG TIME. Not sure what it was </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-breastfeed-after-giving-birth#post-682778 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:17:26 +0000 Dandelion 682778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@emg86: I will try that tea! I think I know of a place around here that may sell it. If not, I'll turn to my trusty Amazon :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-breastfeed-after-giving-birth#post-682756 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:00:11 +0000 LuLu Mom 682756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@katiew92081: it sucks I'm not going to lie, but I was tried up completely within a month! And I only wore the ace bandage for maybe a week to bed? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-breastfeed-after-giving-birth#post-682744 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:55:09 +0000 emg86 682744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My SIL just went through this. She wore an ace bandage, took a Benadryl for a couple of nights and drank Earth Mama Angel Organic No More Milk Tea a few times a day and she dried up within a few days. She's 6 weeks pp and has had no leaking since then. She swears by the tea and Benadryl. You can find it on Amazon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-breastfeed-after-giving-birth#post-682721 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:46:23 +0000 Dandelion 682721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LuLu Mom: I've been wearing a tight nursing bra, but maybe I'll try the ace bandage. Ugh, I'm sweating, just thinking about it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-breastfeed-after-giving-birth#post-682696 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:38:16 +0000 photojane 682696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>6 weeks and still leaking! I tried BF, but it didn't work for us. Now I leak in the shower, right after, when I'm sleeping, and if she's crying a lot. It doesn't seem to be going anywhere! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-breastfeed-after-giving-birth#post-682682 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:33:24 +0000 LuLu Mom 682682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did you try wrapping them tightly with an ace bandage? I did this for a few days and it really helped dry me out and also I avoided hot showers so they leaked as I felt the heat made me keep producing milk and caused me to leak more. I know the heat sucks but sleep in the ace bandage &amp; a tight sports bra, I was done after 3 weeks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-breastfeed-after-giving-birth#post-682677 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:31:39 +0000 loveisstrange 682677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@katiew92081: Haha, the wearing a bra to bed should be over soon. If you're already seeing days where you don't have issues, the end of the really awful part is in sight. I think I got to give up the breast pads after about the first month. </p> <p>I didn't favor any particular lotion. I think I used cocoa butter because that's what I had on hand (and I had stupid crazy stretchmarks on my boobs). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-breastfeed-after-giving-birth#post-682663 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:26:50 +0000 Dandelion 682663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: Ugh, 6 months?? It's so HOT to wear a bra to bed! I was hoping to be done with it, soon!</p> <p>The itching is crazy. I'll try the lotion...any particular brand you favored? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-breastfeed-after-giving-birth#post-682662 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:25:19 +0000 loveisstrange 682662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>YES. My engorgement was never too bad, but lots of hot showers and lotion helped a whole bunch. I want to say they leaked really hardcore for about a month and then continued to leak, gradually decreasing, for about another 4-5 months. It took about 6 months for it to really be totally dried up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-didnt-breastfeed-after-giving-birth#post-682656 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:22:55 +0000 Dandelion 682656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did your boobs itch? How long did you leak for?</p> <p>I'm 3 weeks postpartum, and no one is nursing from me. I started with cabbage leaves for a while, but I really got tired of smelling like coleslaw. DH hated it, too. So, once they got less engorged, I ditched them.</p> <p>I thought I was in the clear, and I finally was going to stop leaking last week. But, after 3 days of nothing, they started leaking again. I suppose it's part of the postpartum cocktails.</p> <p>And now, they itch like crazy! Ahhh!! </p>