How to relieve breast engorgement after childbirth How to relieve breast engorgement pain

Mothers who choose to breastfeed may experience breast engorgement. Breast engorgement can cause discomfort and pain to mothers. Some working mothers return to work very soon after giving birth, and these mothers are more likely to experience breast engorgement. Today, let's talk about how to relieve breast engorgement after giving birth.

What to do if your breasts swell during lactation

If you don't take good care of your breasts during breastfeeding and your breasts swell, what can you do to relieve the pain of breast swell? What are the methods?

1. Proper massage

Many families now attach great importance to breastfeeding. For babies, breastfeeding is the best way to feed them. No matter what, they must let their babies eat breast milk. Although many women want to breastfeed, they have insufficient milk due to their own factors. At this time, massage by a lactation consultant can generally alleviate the problem of insufficient milk. But if it is breast engorgement, can it be relieved by massage? The answer is yes. Through massage by a lactation consultant, the flow of milk can be promoted to relieve the pain of breast engorgement.

2. Hot compress

The reason why expectant mothers have breast swelling is that the father's sucking power is insufficient, and it is also possible that the expectant mother's breast duct is blocked, which makes it difficult for milk to flow out. In order to alleviate and improve the breast swelling caused by this situation, you can soak a soft towel in hot water, wring it out, and then put the hot towel on the breast for hot compress. Hot compress can promote blood circulation in the breast area and also alleviate the problem of breast duct blockage. This method is simple and easy and very convenient.

3. Cold compress can relieve pain

Expectant mothers will feel some tingling when their breasts are engorged. In order to relieve the pain, they can suck out the milk from the breasts and then use cold compresses to relieve the pain.

4. Taking a hot bath can relieve pain

When a pregnant mother's milk is engorged, it is natural that there will be pain. How to relieve the pain? You can take a hot bath to promote the circulation of qi and blood in the body and relieve pain in the breast area. You can also add massage while bathing, which is also very effective.

5. Use a breast pump to express milk

When the expectant mother has enough milk, the problem of breast engorgement will also occur. At this time, the excess milk can be sucked out by a breast pump, which will not be so uncomfortable. When using a breast pump, it is best for the expectant mother to do it herself so that she can control the strength.

Causes of breast engorgement

1. Increased blood and water

The term "milk engorgement" means that the breasts swell due to the excess blood and water. After giving birth, the prolactin content in the mother's body will increase significantly to stimulate the body to produce milk, so the breast and other tissues will begin to swell. Generally, the blood and water content is the highest three or four days after giving birth.

2. Too long intervals between feedings

If the mother does not express her milk in time after the baby is born, or if there are too many gaps between feedings, it can also cause breast engorgement.

3. Too much milk

Sometimes, even though the mother has breastfed in time, her breasts still swell. This is because the mother's own milk secretion is too much. Excessive milk secretion is blocked in the breasts, and it is difficult for the baby to eat it all at once, and the breasts become hard and swollen. Some mothers will switch to feeding with milk powder because it is too painful, but this will only aggravate the discomfort of breast swell.

How to prevent mastitis during lactation

1. Timely and correct treatment of breast engorgement: After delivery, 30g of orange seeds can be used, decocted in water and taken orally. Generally, 2-3 doses can prevent milk stagnation. Primary breast engorgement can be relieved by letting the baby suck frequently. Secondary breast engorgement can be relieved by the above mentioned methods.

2. Drain the stagnant milk and unclog the mammary ducts: There are many ways to drain the milk, such as manual milking, milking with a breast pump (or breast pump), acupuncture and long-term massage to drain the milk, etc. But no matter which method is adopted, try to drain the stagnant milk and unclog the mammary ducts.

3. Insist on breastfeeding and do not stop breastfeeding: If acute mastitis can be treated as soon as possible, the blocked mammary ducts can be unblocked and the accumulated milk can be discharged, and the condition will improve quickly. Therefore, before mastitis forms an abscess, the baby should be allowed to suck more, and frequent sucking can help to discharge milk and dredge the mammary ducts. In addition, the baby should be allowed to suck the affected breast first. Because the baby is hungry, the initial sucking force is relatively large. Therefore, when mothers with mastitis are breastfeeding, they should let the baby suck the affected breast first, and try to let the baby suck empty before switching to the other side, which will help to dredge the blocked mammary ducts.

4. Timely treatment of nipple cracks: When nipples are cracked, bacteria will invade through the cracks and cause mastitis. On the other hand, nipple cracks cause pain, affecting normal breastfeeding and causing milk stasis, which becomes a culture medium for bacteria and causes mastitis.

5. Pay attention to nipple cleanliness: In the late pregnancy, use warm water to gently clean or scrub the nipples. After delivery, clean the nipples before and after each breastfeeding, and keep the area clean and dry.