PLEASE HELP!! do leaking breasts = preterm labor?

Question

im 28 weeks pregnant now and have been getting heavy discharge from my breasts my midwife told me that its colostrum and it can mean that i will go into labor early has anyone else heard of this? im on preg sites all the time and have read about 5 pregnancy books and havent heard of this anywhere im really worried about this any advice would be greatly appreciated.

i know midwives are the professionals and they should know but ive never heard of this.

Answer 1

It's completely normal. It's one of those things pregnant women don't share with everyone, so nobody ever knows it's normal until it happens to them and they go running to their midwife or doctor. I started leaking around 28 weeks with both of my pregnancies.

Answer 2

It is colostrum and I would guess what she meant was that it means that your body has a lot of oxytocin which CAN but not always WILL cause early labor. Oxytocin is the hormone that makes labor happen and causes the milk to let down. She probably wants you to take it easy until you cross the 36week mark and be extra cautious and aware of any signs of labor but it wasn't a prophesy. It is really common to leak, some women start to leak as early as the end of the first trimester. Doctors, midwives and book editors tend to avoid mentioning it so they don't start a panic. Most doctors and midwives make note of it though and watch for early labor. Your midwife most likely thinks of you as intelligent and rational so she thought you could handle the information. She is right, it is a biological fact but it is not a sign of preterm labor. Most babies born early had moms who were already leaking, but less than half of moms that leak early go into preterm labor.

Answer 3

Hi
I've just discussed this with my wife who's laying on the bed while I type (she's 30 weeks).
You've been given bum info. She's leaking a bit and is not worried in the slightest. If the discharge was more, then that would not be a problem either.
All pregnancies are different. Breast leakage is totally normal. We are on number 3 child and all pregnancies have been totally different.
Bottom Line: You may go into labour tomorrow, on time or late. It will have nothing to do with this discharge.
Good Luck

Answer 4

Well, I am 29 weeks pregnant and I started to leak milk about three weeks ago. I have never heard about heavy leaking meaning you're about to go into labor, but if that is true, once an baby has reached 27 weeks gestation, the chances for survival are very good. I hope everything turns out ok.

Answer 5

I'd get a second opion from your doctor or another midwive.

Mine leaked colostrum too around 30 weeks but I went full term and gave birth at 39 weeks.

For me, it was annoying because I got my shirts wet and I had to express the milk to avoid the leaks and had to wear pads

Answer 6

You will leak a little bit the further along in your pregnancy you get, but if the discharge is too heavy, it might be a good idea to go in for a prenatal checkup. Also, you might try checking on www.webmd.com. They might possibly have something on there that will help you out.

Answer 7

I think you need a new mid-wife I started leaking at about 18 weeks and carried my to term.

Answer 8

it is a common thing i was about 30 weeks pregnant when i started to discharge and my son was 7 days late. so don't worry it can happen. hope this helps

Answer 9

i've been leaking for weeks. i've read that it's completely normal.don't stress it, if you were to go into pre-term labor then there's not a whole lot that you can do to make it not happen.