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Is It Normal For My Boobs To Leak During Postpartum Sex?

Breastfeeding is an amazing experience, but some things about it — like engorgement — are painful. And some things — like leaking breasts — are just plain weird. If you've ever been out to dinner and noticed an unexpected milk stain on your top, you know what I mean. But why does it seem that everything from your partner's touch to hearing your baby cry turns you into a milk-making machine? If your boobs leak even when baby is nowhere in sight, you may want to know, is it normal for my boobs to leak during sex after having a baby?

Leaking breasts can be totally embarrassing, but it is actually a normal part of lactation, and a way of ensuring that everything is in working order. As Baby Center mentioned, leaking is your body's way relieving the fullness in your breasts and preventing engorgement. But as helpful as leaking can be, it can happen at the most inconvenient times — like in the middle of sex with your partner. In the first couple of months after your baby is born, you may want to seriously consider keeping a towel handy near your bed, as it is fairly common for a new mom's breasts to leak or even spray milk during sex postpartum.

It all has to do with the hormone Oxytocin. The same hormone that is released during an orgasm is responsible for letdown, as Baby Center mentioned. And in case you were wondering, you don't necessarily have to have an orgasm to experience a spray your precious liquid gold. As IBCLC Deborah Dominici tells Romper, "breasts will leak during foreplay as well if they are stimulated."

Spraying milk isn't harmful, but it might cause your partner to freak out a little — at least the first time. You may not be able to stop the spray, but there are a few things you can do to keep it under control. As Today's Parent mentioned, feeding your baby or expressing some milk before you have sex can help keep your breasts from leaking while you're getting it on. You can also place nursing pads inside of your bra to keep the leaking to a minimum, as VeryWell suggested.