For many expectant mothers, the anticipation for the act of breastfeeding their newborn can be just as strong as their desire to finally see and hold the baby in their arms. Having the ability to provide the only food that a newborn baby will need can be a source of pride for mothers; the knowledge that their own bodies are strong enough and fully equipped to carry a baby throughout the nine months of pregnancy as well as provide the nourishment the baby needs can give any new mum that encouraging rush of fulfilment and happiness. The miracle of life and the continuing cycle of birth and providing care can be awesome to behold and experience.
Of course, along with the intoxicating delight of bringing new life into the world, there are unexpected things that can happen to a mother’s body to accompany the arrival of the young one. Breastfeeding means that the baby will have nourishing milk available to it whenever it needs to feed, but new and experienced mums alike are highly likely to experience breast milk leakage—the uncontrollable flow of breast milk when the baby is not nursing. This may not seem like much of a problem to a person who has yet to experience having a baby, but once the experience actually sets in (the soaked shirts throughout the day, the wet blankets throughout the night), mothers will realise that they will need something to help them manage this condition. The best solution yet, many have discovered, is the use of high quality absorbent breast pads.
These specially designed pads can be placed inside the bra while a mother is not nursing her child. There is a “letdown reflex” that occurs in breastfeeding women; this refers to the reflex that releases milk from the mother’s breasts that can be triggered by a variety of things or events–hearing the sound of a baby crying, thinking about or even just looking at the baby, or when the breasts become uncomfortably full of milk from going through prolonged periods without nursing.
The reflex may be unnoticeable at first, and some women do not even experience this during their nursing phases at all. For those who do, however, the experience can range from slightly inconvenient to embarrassing; having to change shirts repeatedly at home can be troublesome, and one would imagine that going back to work and needing to make an important presentation when wetness and stains begin to appear on one’s power suit can be extremely awkward and unsightly.
There are plenty of brands and makes of breast pads available in the market to suit a mother’s specific needs. Some pads are thin for daytime use while others are thick for heavier leaks during the night. They can come in plain white or more colourful variants to stay discreet underneath clothing. In addition, mothers can choose between disposable and washable breast pads, depending on their preference after having tried both. Some women like the cost efficiency and eco-friendly nature of washable pads while other may prefer the protection and convenience of using and discarding disposable ones. No matter which products they choose, mothers can expect more comfortable and hygienic nursing days with their precious babies thanks to special breast pads that make the experience a whole lot easier to manage.