Breast engorgement is a condition characterized by the accumulation of milk in the breasts, causing pain and enlarged breasts. The accumulated milk undergoes a molecular transformation, becoming more viscous, which hinders its exit, receiving the name of cobbled milk. See how to solve cobbled milk.
Breast engorgement can happen at any stage of breastfeeding, but it happens most often in the first days after the baby is born. This usually happens due to the incorrect technique of breastfeeding, use of supplements or ineffective sucking of the baby.
The treatment is usually done through massages and cold or hot compresses with the aim of relieving the symptoms of breast swelling and promoting fluidity and, consequently, the release of milk.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of breast engorgement are:
- Breasts very full of milk, becoming very hard; Increased volume of the breasts; Presence of red and shiny areas; Nipples are flattened; Discomfort or sensation of pain in the breasts; Milk may leak out of the breasts; There may be fever.
The fact that the nipples are flattened makes it difficult for the baby to take the nipples, thus making breastfeeding difficult. Therefore, it is recommended that before breastfeeding the woman, remove some milk with your hands or with a breast pump before offering the breast to the baby.
Causes of breast engorgement
Breast engorgement is a frequent condition in the initial period of breastfeeding and may happen due to delayed breastfeeding initiation, incorrect technique, ineffective baby sucking, infrequent feedings and use of supplements, as they can increase milk production.
Milk becomes stony because at the beginning of the breastfeeding period, milk production and release is not yet fully regulated, which is called " self-regulation of lactation physiology ". Thus, the excessive production of milk accumulates inside the breast ducts, changing the natural fluidity of the milk, becoming more viscous and making it even more difficult to pass through the milk channels out of the breast.
It is important to detect and treat engorgement quickly so that it does not affect milk production and the situation does not become even more painful for the woman.
What to do
In case of breast engorgement, the woman can adopt some strategies such as:
- Remove excess milk with your hands or with a breast pump until the breast is easier for the baby to catch; Place the baby to breastfeed as soon as he is able to properly bite the breast, that is, not delay the start of breastfeeding; Breastfeed frequently; Paracetamol or Ibuprofen can be used to decrease breast pain and swelling; Apply cold compresses right after the baby finishes breastfeeding to decrease breast inflammation; Apply warm compresses to the breast to help release milk and increase your fluidity.
In addition, it is recommended to lightly massage the breast to increase the fluidity of the milk and stimulate its ejection. See other homemade options to treat breast engorgement.
How to prevent
Some ways to prevent breast engorgement are:
- Start breastfeeding as soon as possible; Breastfeed whenever the baby wants or at most every 3 hours; Avoid using dietary supplements such as Silymarin, for example, as it increases the production of breast milk.
In addition, make sure that the baby is completely emptying the breast after each feeding. Thus, the risk of breast engorgement becomes minimal and, thus, breastfeeding becomes beneficial for both the woman and the baby. See what the benefits of breastfeeding are.
