Breast engorgement is when your breasts overfill with milk, and as a result become swollen, hard and painful. While engorged breasts may be uncomfortable, they can be a sign your body is working properly. After all, blood and fluid is rushing to your breasts to prepare them for making milk, not to mention the increase in milk itself. Plus, your body is still figuring out how much milk baby needs and may produce more than necessary.
Some women may notice a little fullness during this time, while for others the engorgement can be more significant. Another possible cause of early breast engorgement: Dehydration and IV fluids that were administered during delivery can lead to fluid retention, Facelli says, making it harder for the lymphatic system to work efficiently.
As baby gets older, other possible causes come into play. You may also experience breast engorgement if your child has trouble breastfeeding or suddenly nurses less, either due to illness or the introduction of solid foods; or if you abruptly stop breastfeeding. Common breast engorgement symptoms include:. If your breasts are firm and feel like they might eject milk at the lightest touch or without being touched at all , breast engorgement may be the culprit.
A buildup of milk in the breast can cause the nipples to flatten out and the areola to become hard, making it difficult for baby to latch properly. This spot may feel like a bruise. You should feel relief as soon as your breasts are emptied of milk. During those first few days while experiencing engorgement post-birth, your breasts should feel more comfortable immediately after a feeding, and the swelling should subside within a couple days.
Trying a few different relief options—with feeding baby being the first line of defense—can help your body feel better. You may think pumping will relieve breast engorgement, and it will—in the short term. But in the long term, pumping only encourages your body to produce more milk, exacerbating the issue.
Instead, put baby to the breast as often as possible. Warming your breasts right before a feeding can help soften your breasts and encourage letdown.
Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take. Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor, midwife, or nurse call line if:. Author: Healthwise Staff. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
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Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Your Care Instructions Breast engorgement is the painful overfilling of the breasts that can occur during breastfeeding. How can you care for yourself at home? If your doctor or midwife gave you medicine, take it exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor, midwife, or nurse call line if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.
Take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen Tylenol , ibuprofen Advil, Motrin , or naproxen Aleve. If not, contact an LLL Leader for further suggestions. These are not difficult problems to solve, especially if treated promptly.
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. This information is available to buy in printed format from our shop. Minimizing early engorgement Treat engorgement to… When to treat engorgement After the first few weeks Causes of engorgement Treating engorgment Be sure your baby is sucking effectively Reverse pressure softening Keep comfortable Watch out for signs of mastitis Minimizing early engorgement New mothers vary in how engorged their breasts become in the weeks after birth; some experience little engorgement, others describe their breasts as feeling like watermelons!
Try these suggestions Breastfeed your baby frequently from birth: at least 8—12 times in 24 hours. Keeping your baby close makes it easier to nurse every hour or two. If your baby is sleepy , perhaps from a medicated birth, you may need to wake him and encourage him to nurse. Aim to be comfortable while breastfeeding, and learn how to get your baby latched on well. Your milk can be given to your baby until he is able to nurse. Treat engorgement to… Make breastfeeding easier Even if you feel as though you have lots of milk, engorgement can make it harder for your baby to latch on to your breast and feed well.
When to treat Take action to relieve engorgement if your breasts feel firm, hard, shiny or lumpy. Engorgement after the first weeks Treat as outlined below while working out the cause so you can prevent it happening again. Common causes of engorgement are: A missed feed or expressing session. This can easily happen during holidays and festivities or when visitors arrive. Feeding a baby on a schedule Recent research has revealed that mothers vary in how much milk their breasts can store without becoming uncomfortable.
Mothers following routines often suffer from engorgement, mastitis and low milk production because their breasts are not drained often enough. Expressing milk. However, making more milk than your baby needs can increase your risk of engorgement and mastitis, especially if you go for several hours without feeding or expressing.
A baby who is unable or unwilling to nurse well for any reason Expressing milk frequently until your baby can nurse well will help you maintain milk production and avoid blocked ducts or mastitis. Weaning from the breast too quickly If you experience engorgement during weaning , you may need to slow down the process.
This will give your breasts time to adjust to the reduced demand for milk. If breastfeeding more often is not an option, try expressing just enough milk to relieve the fullness by hand or pump. Let your baby finish on the first breast before switching to the second Avoid using bottles or dummies.
If a supplement is needed try using a spoon, flexible feeding cup or syringe. Between feeds, apply ice for 15—20 minutes at a time between feeds to reduce swelling.
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