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About Engorgement
Causes and solutions
to this breastfeeding problem.
Why do my breasts
hurt so much?
During the days
that your milk comes in (usually starting three or four days after
the birth), it's as if your body is throwing a dinner party for baby,
and just to be sure she doesn't go hungry, is making enough for three!
All that extra milk filling your breasts makes them feel full, even
rock-hard. It's normal and fortunately, temporary.
This makes me
scared to breastfeed!
Avoiding breastfeeding
is the worst thing you can do. Nursing drains milk from your breasts,
giving them relief. It also signals to your body exactly how much
milk your baby actually needs, so your body adjusts the supply accordingly.
If you skip feedings because you're afraid it will hurt, in the short
term your breasts will just well up more, and in the long term you
could hurt your milk production.
How can I find
relief?
By nursing more!
Or, if your baby can't help you out enough, pump your breasts until
they feel better. You can also use a cool compress, which reduces
swelling, or take a warm shower, which can trigger letdown and let
you wash away some extra milk.
How long will
this last?
Typically engorgement
only lasts a week or so, so hang in there. By about six weeks, your
breasts may no longer even feel full when it's time for a nursing
session. Don't worry--the kind of fullness you feel in the beginning
doesn't last, and your body is still making plenty of milk even if
it doesn't feel that way.
7 Means of Relief
It should only last for the first week or so, but engorgement can
be painful for some women. A few tried-and-true remedies:
1. Nurse! It
drains milk from your breasts and sets your milk production on the
right schedule. You should breastfeed a newborn about every two hours
around the clock, but sometimes infants need more frequent feedings.
(And sometimes they'll sleep for a four-hour stretch, which you can
allow at night but should never allow during the day. Wake your baby
up and feed him, for his sake and the sake of your swelling breasts!)
2. Take a warm
shower. This triggers letdown and releases some of the extra milk
your body is making. Of course, washing your milk down the drain may
seem like a bit of a waste, which is why you can...
3. Pump. Drain
a half-ounce before a feeding, and it will be easier for your baby
to latch on. Then after your baby is finished, you can pump extra
breast milk and store it in the freezer.
4. Keep nursing
pads in the freezer. When you put them in your bra, the coolness will
work as a compress to gently relieve swelling until your next feeding.
5. Wear wireless
bras. An underwire will increase breast discomfort if you're engorged.
Soft cotton nursing bras or ones made of stretchy material are better
bets for now and for as long as you're breastfeeding.
6. Try putting
cold cabbage leaves in your bra. This simple remedy really works!
Because cabbage has such a high water content, it stays cool between
nursing sessions and makes a great cool compress. Just keep a head
of cabbage in your fridge or freezer, and after feeding, pull off
two leaves--they're conveniently breast-shaped! Wear them in front
of or behind nursing pads, whichever works better.
7. Lie on your
tummy. For some women, lying down on their engorged breasts is too
painful. But for others, the light pressure eases soreness.
Your
should know:
The
information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes
only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical
advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose
or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your
pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any
questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's
condition.
Rebornne Baby. American Baby
