How to relieve the unbearable pain of breast swelling? Why does breast swelling occur after childbirth?

How to relieve the unbearable pain of breast swelling? Why does breast swelling occur after childbirth?

Many mothers will experience breast engorgement and pain after giving birth. At this time, mothers can massage themselves, which will help unblock the mammary glands, or use a breast pump to suck out the milk, which will also relieve pain. Hot and cold compresses can also promote mammary circulation. If it doesn't work, mothers should see a doctor.

How to relieve the unbearable pain of breast engorgement

1. Massage

Proper massage can also effectively relieve breast swelling. You can do it yourself. After all, you know your body best and it is easy to control the strength of the massage. After washing your hands, hold the entire breast, and evenly and gently massage and squeeze from the breast to the nipple. This can help dredge the milk ducts and reduce and eliminate skin edema. If you find that a certain part of the breast is particularly painful during the massage, you can squeeze it a little harder to discharge the accumulated milk to prevent the milk ducts from being blocked and causing mastitis.

2. Use a breast pump

If the baby cannot use sucking to help the mother empty the breast for some reason, then a breast pump should be selected. When choosing a breast pump, it is important to note that its suction must be moderate and the nipples should not feel painful when using it. It is recommended to choose a breast pump with the function of adjusting the suction intensity, and the pressure and speed of the breast pump can be adjusted in time according to the actual situation. However, when using a breast pump, you must pay attention to hygiene, especially for new mothers with damaged skin in the areola area, to avoid bacterial invasion and infection. New mothers with conditions such as chapped nipples must take timely cleaning measures at this time, and can also apply breast milk evenly after each feeding, which can also effectively relieve the chapped condition.

3. Cold compress vs. hot compress

Hot compress can make the milk blockage in the mammary glands unblocked and improve breast circulation. Before breastfeeding, you can use a hot and wet towel to warm the breast for a few minutes, and then use gentle massage and patting to soften the breast and areola and reduce the feeling of milk swelling. When breastfeeding, you should feed the breast that feels more swollen first.

If the pain from breast swelling is very severe, cold compress can be used to relieve pain. Apply a soft towel dipped in cold water to the breast, or use a cold water bag for cold compress, which can help reduce breast congestion and relieve swelling pain. Remember to squeeze out the milk before applying cold compress.

4. See a doctor

If the swelling does not go away and the pain continues, ask your doctor to prescribe pain medication.

Why does breast engorgement occur after childbirth?

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 treat breast lumps

1. Hot compress

You can first apply a hot towel for 5-10 minutes. It is not advisable to apply it for too long or too short a time. Then let the baby or use a breast pump to express the milk.

2. Pay attention to daily conditioning

Go to a Chinese medicine store and get some deer antler powder and mix it with boiled water, and your mammary ducts will be unobstructed.

Use cold potatoes

Bao Ma can put potatoes in the refrigerator for two or three hours, then take them out and slice them and apply them on the breasts to relieve breast swelling. So, why can cold compress potatoes relieve breast swelling? The principle is this: Chinese medicine believes that potatoes are "neutral, sweet, non-toxic, can strengthen the spleen and stomach", can reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and have significant effects. Applying potato slices when breasts are swelling can effectively prevent breast inflammation and qualitative changes. Therefore, applying potato slices when breasts are swelling has an anti-inflammatory effect, which can then relieve breast swelling. It is worth mentioning that after cutting the potatoes, Bao Ma cannot wash them with water, because the potato juice is the "medicine lead", and it will lose its effect if washed away.

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