Breast Leaking (Colostrum) During Pregnancy 2024: Is It Normal?

While you’re pregnant your belly isn’t the only part of your body going through changes. Your breasts will also change in many ways during this amazing process. 

You may notice a milky discharge coming from your nipples during pregnancy while your breasts are actively producing disease-fighting liquid gold, called colostrum^[1]. This will change from your first milk into mature breast milk after giving birth.  

You may be wondering if breasts leaking during pregnancy is normal, what causes this, and if there’s anything you can do about it. Taking a quality prenatal vitamin is one way to give you and your baby the necessary vitamins and minerals to encourage a healthy pregnancy, regardless if you have leaky breasts or not. 

This article will help you learn when you might have leaking breast milk, what causes leaky breasts, and tips on how to endure this change well.

This breast leakage is a liquid called colostrum, the first milk produced by your mammary glands inside your breasts. If you choose to breastfeed, then your baby’s first meal will be colostrum. Colostrum is great for the baby’s growth and digestive system and contains all the nutrients the baby needs for those first few days until your mature milk comes in. 

Even if you don’t choose to breastfeed you may choose to save this liquid for the baby to consume by bottle or spoon since its nutritional value is so high. 

Colostrum is higher in protein than mature milk, making it the perfect food to keep the baby satisfied in the first few days. 

It may not feel like there is enough colostrum to feed the baby, but in those first few days after birth, this small amount of concentrated protein-rich^[2] colostrum will give them all they need.

Colostrum can help boost the baby’s immune system^[3] and prevent infection with maternal antibodies, like Immunoglobulin A (IgA). Colostrum is also rich in magnesium, copper, zinc, and vitamin A. 

Studies show breast milk plays a big part in infant health and development^[4]. Your baby’s gut is sterile, the cleanest of clean until it meets the real world, so being protective and proactive about what goes inside of it is important and not a decision you’ll regret.

So what does colostrum look like? It starts out looking a lot like you would imagine liquid gold to look: thick, yellow, and sticky in consistency. The closer you get to giving birth it may transform into a pale or clear fluid^[5] and then after birth, it will change to a creamy white.

When Do You Experience Breast Leaking in Pregnancy?

From day one of conception your pregnancy hormone levels begins to increase. Early on, these hormones trigger your breasts to start changing. Breast changes can be your first sign that you’re expecting a baby. Changes include your breasts getting bigger, developing stretch marks, veins becoming very visible, the areolae (nipples) getting darker, and your breasts feeling sore. 

One change you can’t see is your breasts have started to develop their milk ducts and glands. These are producing colostrum as early as 12 weeks into pregnancy^[3] and may result in leaky breasts during pregnancy. 

Besides being the perfect nutrition for your baby, your body is producing milk in preparation for your baby’s gut microbiome to develop. The gut microbiome, also called gut flora, is crucial for immune system health and digestion.

Breast leaking does not normally occur during the first trimester, but it is not unheard of. You may notice feeling damp breasts during pregnancy or see wet patches on the outside of your clothes. If you notice yellow-orange color stains on your bra cup or clothing you may be leaking colostrum. 

When you reach the end of your 12th pregnancy week, you begin your second trimester. As your milk glands continue to develop and produce colostrum, leaky breasts during your 2nd trimester of pregnancy may become a regular occurrence. 

Your body is preparing for you to be able to breastfeed and may need to produce breastmilk for an extended period of time. So, it’s even more common to find your breasts leaking during your third trimester of pregnancy. 

Everyone is different, however: you may find that you leak a little, a lot, or none at all. While pregnant you may notice clear liquid coming out of your breasts when they are squeezed, and this is also normal. 

Some may not notice any nipple discharge until the last trimester, and sometimes not even until after the baby’s arrival. Also, if you experience your milk leaking with this pregnancy, that doesn’t mean it will happen with the next. All pregnancies, milk production, and moms are different.

Your body continues to produce breastmilk as colostrum until 2-5 days after your baby is born. When your milk “comes in” (also called milk “letdown”), your breasts will feel a lot fuller and heavier. 

Leaking milk is the result of a complex balance between draining the breasts adequately (via your baby breastfeeding) and how much milk you are making. This leaking may or may not continue throughout your breastfeeding journey. 

For a healthy milk supply after birth, staying hydrated will help keep your supply up while breastfeeding. Drink a glass of water every time you nurse to help meet your goals. 

Some babies may nurse every hour until your milk supply is established. When your baby suckles, this communicates to your body that milk production is needed. The fuller your baby is, the longer they may sleep at night. 

Although it is considered a natural process, learning to breastfeed takes practice, and you should reach out to a lactation consultant for support if you have any doubts or concerns.

Causes of Leaking Milk While Pregnant

Leaking breast milk while pregnant has a few different causes. The hormones estrogen, progesterone, prolactin, and oxytocin all have a role to play to produce milk. 

Estrogen and progesterone levels rise and help prepare your breasts for milk production by growing your milk ducts. Milk release is kept at bay until these two hormone levels drop after the baby and placenta are delivered. Prolactin is the main hormone responsible for producing milk, although the hormone oxytocin stimulates the expression of the milk from the ducts. 

During pregnancy, hormones can go up and down, and if prolactin levels reach a critical level, this can stimulate the release of colostrum causing a leak. In the beginning, it’s usually just a few drops here and there, but all breasts and bodies are different. 

Breasts leak with certain activities while pregnant like

• Hot showers
• Foreplay and sex
• Exercise 
• Breast stimulation like squeezing or if your nipples rub on your clothing

How to Deal With Breast Leaking During Pregnancy

Some moms-to-be may worry about the embarrassment or inconvenience that comes with the challenge of a breast leak during pregnancy. Below are a few options to help with this change. 

Breast Pads

Pregnant women have the great option of breast pads to help control leaking breasts. Be aware that some cotton-wool or plastic pads sold may irritate your nipples by trapping moisture due to the waterproof material some are made from. 

Thankfully there are many places online to buy a variety of nipple pads, including handmade, machine-washable, silky, and organic cotton pads. Make sure to regularly change your nursing pads, especially when they are wet. 

Save Your Milk!

If your breasts leak colostrum frequently, you can also buy milk savers. You place these inserts inside of your bra against your breast and these will collect fluid for you during the day or night. Then you can pour it right into breast milk freezer bags or ice trays. 

Moms-to-be will freeze this colostrum to store it and have it ready for use when the baby arrives.

Breast milk and colostrum can also be useful^[6] for baby rashes, sore nipples, boo-boos, you name it! 

Even though it’s considered safe for most pregnancies, speak with your midwife or doctor before hand-expressing colostrum during pregnancy to harvest it. 

Clothing Options

As your breasts continue to grow it’s important to invest in cotton maternity bras made for pregnant women that provide comfort and extra support. This type of bra will be soft and should not have a hard wire made into the bra. 

Many of these are also made for breastfeeding and pumping so they will have snaps that will release the cup of the bra for easy access. This comes in handy for changing out pads for leaking breasts. 

These types of bras will help prevent you from experiencing a clogged milk duct and soreness. They will be less likely to restrict lymphatic drainage as can happen with a hard-wired bra. A well-fitting bra can also help prevent sagging breasts and help them keep their shape. 

In your final weeks, it’s good to prepare ahead by owning a bra even bigger than the one you wear while you’re pregnant since when your milk supply comes in your breasts will likely get even larger. Sleep bras are available for purchase to help keep you comfortable at night, too. 

A breast leak during pregnancy can be easily camouflaged with dark or patterned clothing. You can also carry an extra bra or shirt with you out and about in case of leaking. 

Breast Care 

Beware that soap dries out the natural oils needed to lubricate your nipples, and drying out this skin can cause extra irritation. Washing with water can be a gentle cleanser for your milk makers. Remember to let your breasts air-dry a few times a day to help keep excessive moisture at bay since moisture exposure can lead to a fungal rash. 

The Bottom Line

During pregnancy, your breast leaking clear or yellow fluid is completely normal and is no cause for worry. Seeing colostrum is not a sign of labor coming soon but a sign that your body is being proactive to have food ready for your baby. 

Whether your breasts do or do not leak colostrum during pregnancy has no relationship with your having too little or too much milk after the baby arrives. 

Your little one will help your breasts regulate their supply as you establish breastfeeding over the first few weeks by how often and how much they eat. Remember, humans have evolved by perfecting this mother and child partnership.

Reach out to your medical professional if you experience any blood in your colostrum or if something doesn’t feel right about your leaking breasts. 

---