Breast engorgement

Source: Breast engorgement: cause, treatment and prevention

Breast engorgement is a condition in which new mother’s breast is painfully overfull of breast milk. 

It happens when nursing mother's milk first “comes in”(right after birth, which usually occur in day 2 to 5 after birth delivery. Most breastfeeding mothersl will experience breast fullness during this period.

Breast engorgement can also occur when your baby suddenly breastfeeds less than usual due to various reason.

Common symptoms of breast engorgement:

1. Swollen and painful breasts. 
2. Flattened nipples.
3. Slightly swollen and tender lymph nodes in your armpits. 

Treatment of breast engorgement

Before nursing, you can take a hot shower or soak in a warm bath. Heat can improve circulation and help the milk let-down. Warm compresses or a heating pad can also be used to achieve the same effect. 

Furthermore, you should use pump to express a small amount of breast milk from both breasts before you allow your baby to latch onto the breasts. This will soften the breast and makes it easy for your baby to latch on. 

Lastly, you can also massage your breasts. Gentle breast massage improve circulation. 

How to prevent breast engorgement

First and foremost, do not skip feeding. Instead, you should try to nurse frequently and practice breastfeeding on demand which mean you may need to nurse your newborn about 8 to 12 times in a day in the first two months after birth.

During breastfeeding, you should completely empty one breast before you switch to other side. Your baby will ‘signal’ you when to switch side.

(a)    Your baby's sucking slows down a lot or stops for a minute.

(b)    You can no longer hear your baby swallowing.

Lastly, you can wear a supportive bra. But make sure it does not have under-wire and don’t bind your breasts as it can lead to plugged ducts.

Should I call doctor?

In most cases, breast engorgement can be treated at home without any medicine. Nursing mothers must take action immediately to relieve the engorgement..

If you experience fever associated with breast engorgement, you may visit the doctor as it can be a sign of infection.