Engorged Breasts
Within the initial two to three days after you have given birth, you may discover that your breasts feel swollen, tender, throbbing, lumpy, and overly full. Sometimes, the swelling will carry on all the way to your armpit, and you may run a low fever as well.
The Causes
Within 72 hours of giving birth, an abundance of milk will come in or become available to your baby. As this happens, more blood will stream to your breasts and some of the surrounding tissue will enlarge. The outcome is full, swollen, engorged breasts.
Not every postpartum mom experienced true engorgement. Some women’s breasts become only slightly full, whilst others find their breasts have become amazingly hard. Some women will hardly notice the pain, as they are involved in other pursuits prep the first few days.
Treating It
Keep in mind, engorgement is a positive sign that you are forming milk to feed to your baby. Until you produce the right amount:
1. Dress in a supportive nursing bra, even at night - making sure it isn’t too tight.
2. Breast feed many times, every 2 - 3 hours if you can. Try to get the first side of your breasts as squashable as possible. If your neonate seems satisfied with just one breast, you can offer the other at the following feeding.
3. Avoid letting your infant latch on and suck when the areola is very firm. To limit the possibility of nipple damage, you can use a pump while your areola softens up.
4. Avoid pumping milk except when you need to soften the areola or when your baby is unable to latch on. Excessive pumping can lead to the over production of milk and prolonged engorgement.
5. To aid soothing of the pain and mitigate swelling, apply chilled packs to your breasts for a short amount of time after you nurse. Crushed ice in a pliable bag will also work.
6. Look in advance. You’ll get past this engorgement in no time and before long be able to enjoy your breast feeding relationship with your new baby.
Engorgement will pass exceptionally quickly. You can expect it to diminish within 24 - 48 hours, as nursing your baby will only help the problem. If you aren’t breast feeding, it will normally get worse before it gets better. As soon as the engorgement has passed, your breasts will be softer and still crammed of milk.
Awaiting this time, you can and should continue to nurse. Unrelieved engorgement can result in a drop in your production of milk, so it’s important to breast feed right from the start. Keep an eye for signs of hunger and feed him when he needs to be fed.
