Q: How do they work?
A: LilyPadz's Unique Design works on the age-old principle that pressure on the nipple (like a finger) temporarily stops breast milk leakage, LilyPadz keep that pressure constant, even in the absence of a bra. So instead of absorbing your milk, LilyPadz prevents you from leaking altogether! LilyPadz are so thin you no longer have to worry about them showing through your shirt or bra. You can even wear them swimming! They can be used and re-used as much as you like.
Q: How do you use them?
A: LilyPadz nursing pads are easy to use. Simply remove the LilyPadz from the hard plastic shell. Place the LilyPadz over your nipple with the self-adhesive side toward your skin. Press the center of the LilyPadz onto the nipple and smooth out over your breast. Just lift off the LilyPadz to nurse your baby and then re-apply after feeding.
Q: How many times can they be used?
A: Unlike other nursing pads,LilyPadz can be rinsed and reused over and over and should last at least two months with normal use and proper care. Just wash with mild soap (soaps like Dove and Softsoap are not recommended) and water, rinse, and air-dry before re-applying. Since LilyPadz dry almost instantly, you have no downtime in the laundry like other reusable nursing pads. (It's recommended that you wash LilyPadz at least once a day or whenever they become soiled.) You can even sterilize your LilyPadz if desired. Just place in boiling water for 1-3 minutes (boiling longer may affect the tackiness).
Q: How many should I buy?
A: Most women have found that they like to have two pairs of LilyPadz one to use and one spare pair.
Q: How do LilyPadz work?
A: LilyPadz® apply a gentle pressure on the nipple to stop breast milk leakage while they are properly in place. Nursing moms have used their fingers for years to apply this pressure during letdown. LilyPadz® utilize this principle...hands free.
Q: How do LilyPadz stay in place?
A: LilyPadz® have a unique and tacky lining so they adhere gently to your skin without the use of any adhesives.
Q: Will LilyPadz lining wear out?
A: Unlike adhesives that wash away, the tacky lining of LilyPadz® is renewed with washing. Simply hand wash with a good oil cutting soap. Dish wash and clarifying shampoo make good choices and soaps like Dove and Softsoap are not recommended. Using hot water and rubbing the lathered tacky surface helps to dislodge milk fats that can build up on the lining. Be sure to rinse well, shake off the excess water, and dry for a few minutes. One pair should last up to two months.
Q: How long will LilyPadz last?
A: With proper use and care one pair should last up to two months. However, some women have used one pair for over 6 months.
Q: How many pairs will I need?
A: Because LilyPadz® are not absorbent and work to prevent the leak, there are never saturated pads to exchange. And unlike other reusables, there is no downtime in the laundry either. Washing takes only a few minutes per day and that one pair of LilyPadz® is ready to go again – that’s why we call them continuously usable instead of reusable! So one pair is enough to last most moms for months, although some like the peace of mind of having a spare.
Q: What if I perspire under my LilyPadz?
A: LilyPadz® are composed of gas permeable silicone – allowing them to breathe. Although LilyPadz® should not cause you to perspire, should you work up a sweat you will perspire under your LilyPadz® as well. The build up of sweat can dislodge your LilyPadz® so we recommend that they be worn with support in these situations. And any moisture under your LilyPadz® should be dabbed up as soon as possible to maintain good tissue health.
Q: LilyPadz look like plastic, are they comfortable?
A: Because LilyPadz® are made of thin, soft, flexible and breathable silicone they are like a second skin. They protect the nipple from excess moisture, rubbing and sticking as is commonly experienced with cotton pads. Most moms claim they forget they are wearing them.
Q: I am allergic to latex; will I have an allergic reaction to LilyPadz?
LilyPadz® Unlike latex, silicone is a material that is not associated with any allergic reactions. Wash well before use and always be sure to rinse well to avoid soap residues. Some women experience a mild irritation when first using LilyPadz®, but this disappears with repeated use.
Q: What are LilyPadz made of?
A: LilyPadz® are manufactured from silicone rubber compounds, the same materials used in baby bottle nipples. The silicone material on the inside surface is so soft that it has a tacky feel.
Q: Can I sterilize my LilyPadz?
A: Yes, LilyPadz® can be sterilized by placing them in boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes. We have found that boiling can reduce the overall life of the LilyPadz lining, so we recommend doing so only when needed.
Q: Are LilyPadz safe?
A: Yes, LilyPadz® are made of pure silicone, a material that shows no allergic reactions. LilyPadz® have not shown to increase the incidence of mastitis or other complications associated with lactating women.
Q: Will LilyPadz affect my milk supply?
A: No, milk supply adjusts continuously based on the supply and demand established by both you and your child. So as long as you are feeding or expressing milk regularly, this balance will not be disturbed.
Can LilyPadz be used with lanolin?
A: Yes, lanolin can be used safely with LilyPadz®, although most moms find less of a need for it with LilyPadz®. LilyPadz helps to maintain proper moisture balance in the breast tissue, neither bathing it in milk nor allowing it to dry out and chafe the way cotton pads can. LilyPadz® also protect against rubbing and won’t stick to colostrum or healing fluids the way cotton pads do. So all in all you should be less likely to become injured. Because lanolin is oily by nature it may interfere with LilyPadz® ability to adhere to you, so we recommend applying only to the nipple and areola (leaving the edges to still adhere) and wearing them with good support to avoid slippage. The lanolin will wash away with soap and water, renewing the lining for your next use.
Q: Can LilyPadz be used overnight?
Yes, this has been proven to be one of the most popular advantages to LilyPadz®. Because of their self-adhesive lining they can be used without your bra - a sleep luxury for any nursing mother.
Q: Will LilyPadz show under my clothing?
A: No, LilyPadz® go unnoticed under almost any choice of clothing.
Can I swim with my LilyPadz?
A: Yes…LilyPadz® must be applied when dry and to dry skin but once they are in place water does not penetrate them and cause them to fall off. So your LilyPadz® are effective as you go from dry to wet to dry again and again.
Q: I don't plan on nursing: can I use LilyPadz as my milk dries up?
A: Yes, LilyPadz® can be worn continuously without feeding or expressing milk. You may experience some discomfort initially as with any weaning situation, but this zero demand triggers your body to regulate its milk supply down and eventually dry up.
Q: My lilypadz are leaking, am I doing something wrong?
A: Because all nursing mothers have different levels of let down there is some variability in the function of LilyPadz. In most cases women have had fantastic results and rave about LilyPadz because they are so liberating. There has been, however, a very small population, that experiences let-down with either more pressure or volume, who have in turn experienced either leakage or a "bubble" formation. Please don't feel discouraged as there are a number of factors to look at in getting them to work properly for you. So if you'll bear with me, here goes...
- LilyPadz, as you know, work based on pressure. Essentially, the pressure maintained by your LilyPadz must be greater than the pressure behind the let-down in order to suppress the leak completely. Application comes in here...to maximize the pressure.
- Again, as you already know, the pressure that LilyPadz maintain is established during application. Mom applies the pressure and LilyPadz simply maintain it. Although you may be applying them properly I'd like to quickly review. In a nut shell, the nipple is compressed through your LilyPadz (in-side-out) and once the LilyPadz edges are smoothed out the tacky inner lining holds that pressure constant even in the absence of a bra. Many of my users with complaints have found that the initial flipping inside-out step leads to much greater success. Gentle massaging while pressing the nipple may also help to achieve a smooth application without airspaces. It may be that you are leaking more heavily than average. Heavier leakage and the associated leakage problems are often isolated and situation dependent. Early on, milk is in abundance as is the case with missed feedings also, resulting in this need for greater pressure to stop the leak. This increased pressure becomes generally unnecessary as milk supply equilibrates with time. After three months of nursing my milk finally began to calm down! A snug undergarment or even pressure from your forearm on the opposite breast when feeding will often do the trick until you equilibrate.
Q: I have a very large bust size, will these pads still work for me?
A: LilyPadz are now available in size large for cup sizes DD and larger!
