Gifted · Breastfeeding · Kit
Leaks, sore nipples and a lot of laundry: reusable breast pads for the early weeks
Your milk comes in, your bra gets soggy and your nipples lodge a formal complaint. Here's what the NHS says about leaks and soreness, and the Fraupow kit we're trying, starting with its washable bamboo breast pads.
Nobody mentions the leaking. The antenatal class covers latching, the birth plan covers everything else, and then a few days in you wake up in a damp T-shirt wondering what on earth has happened. It's very common, and much easier with the right kit in the drawer.
Fraupow, the feeding brand behind a range of breast pumps and breastfeeding accessories, sent us a few pieces to try. Here's what they are, what they cost, and what the NHS says about the problems they're designed to help with.
Why the early weeks are so leaky
Your milk comes in. According to the NHS guide to the first few days of breastfeeding, around 2 to 4 days after birth you may notice your breasts becoming fuller, and breast milk can sometimes leak unexpectedly from your nipples.
Feeds come thick and fast. The same page says that in the first week your baby may want to feed very often, possibly every 1 to 3 hours in the first few days. That is a lot of feeds, and a lot of opportunities for the other side to join in uninvited.
Breast pads help, if you change them. The NHS says wearing breast pads will stop your clothes getting wet with breast milk, and to change them frequently to prevent an infection. That's where a washable stack earns its keep.
Reusable or disposable?
Plenty of mums use both: disposables for the hospital bag and nights out, reusables for every day, so you're not buying more each week. The trade-off is laundry, which is already happening on a loop.
One thing worth knowing if your nipples are sore: the NHS advice on sore or cracked nipples is to change breast pads at each feed and, if possible, to use pads without a plastic backing. Fraupow's pads have a waterproof outer layer, and the brand doesn't list what that layer is made of, so if you're sore it's worth changing them at every feed and asking Fraupow directly.
The Fraupow kit we're trying
Three pieces from the range, all built around the leaky, sore early weeks. Prices correct at the time of writing.
01 · The everyday pads
Reusable Nursing Pads (8 Pack)
Thin, flexible bamboo pads designed to cup the breast and stay put, rather than crinkling up and wandering around your bra. Each one has three layers, with a super soft natural fibre layer against your skin and a waterproof outer layer to stop wet patches. Fraupow says bamboo is up to 4 times more absorbent than cotton. The pack includes a waterproof bag for used pads on the go and a mesh bag to keep them together in the wash.
White, milk, blush and espresso (2 of each) · 80% bamboo, 20% cotton · Large, 14cm · Machine wash up to 60 degrees, tumble dry low
£11.99 · Fraupow
Shop the nursing pads
02 · For between feeds
Hydrogel Breast Pads For Sore Nipples
Soft hydrogel pads to wear between feeds. The brand says the hydrogel surface cools and soothes sore skin, and the pads stop your bra or top rubbing against tender nipples. Each pad is individually covered with protective film and can be used, removed and reapplied for up to 24 hours.
Pack of 10 · Hydrogel on non-woven fabric · Each pad can be reapplied for up to 24 hours
£12.99 · Fraupow
Shop the hydrogel pads
03 · For fast flow
Milk Savers
If one side leaks while your baby feeds on the other, these breast shells sit inside your top and catch the milk instead of your clothes. Each shell holds up to 60ml and has a pour spout. They also create an air dome over the nipple, with ventilation holes, to lift fabric away from sore skin.
2 shells · BPA free · 60ml per shell · Clean and sterilise between every use
£12.99 · Fraupow
Shop the Milk SaversSore nipples: when to get help
Pads can make you comfier, but they don't fix the cause. The NHS says sore nipples when breastfeeding are usually because your baby isn't positioned and attached properly.
No pad fixes a shallow latch. Soothe the nipple, then get the attachment checked.
Ask early. If one or both nipples hurt at every feed, or start to crack or bleed, the NHS says it's important to get help from your midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding supporter. Cracked or bleeding nipples raise your risk of infection. You can also call the National Breastfeeding Helpline, open 24 hours a day, on 0300 100 0212.
For more on the bits nobody warns you about, our piece on what every new mum should know about breastfeeding is a good next read.
Making reusables work at 3am
- Keep the wet bag by the bed. Used pads go straight in, no damp little piles on the bedside table.
- Wash in the mesh bag. Eight small pads are very good at vanishing into duvet covers.
- Keep a spare pair in the changing bag. Leaks rarely wait until you're home.
Weighing up the costs of feeding? We've looked at what breastfeeding actually saves, and what it costs you.
Where to buy
All three are available from Fraupow. Fraupow offers free UK standard delivery on orders over £30.
Gifted: Fraupow sent us products to try. As always, our views are our own. This feature is for general information and isn't medical advice. If feeding hurts, speak to your midwife, health visitor or the NHS.
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