Engorgement

[leahbacon1]

I am a new Mom...just 10 days old...and suffered from engorgement 3 days in.  At the recommendation of my Nurse, she suggested that I pump out both breasts at every feeding - but only for 2 days.  While I found temporary relief, now that I have stopped, the engorgement has returned and is twice as bad.  Any ideas on how to help the situation?

[Diana1981]

My dr told me to pump after every feed since its important for avoiding mastitis, and remember that your milk supply will even out once your LO is bigger and will only feed what he really needs.

[leahbacon1]

I tried doing that for 48 hours at the Nurse's suggestion...when I stopped, the engorgement was twice as bad as the first time.  I was thinking that pumping would only increase the supply...no?

[Diana1981]

True, but if you dont pump it can get really bad and the milk supply will even out once your baby is bigger. you will only be producing what your baby needs.

[jana224]

My L and D nurse told me to stay away from the breast pump until my milk supply was firmly established and baby was feeding well -- her recommendation was 3-4 weeks.  She said that pumping only tells your body to make more milk, so it will worsen engorgement if you are making more milk than the baby needs.  She did say that if my DD wasn't nursing well that I could pump to relieve myself and maintain my milk supply, but that if my DD was nursing at least every 2 hours, that pumping would only worsen my situation.  On the first few days when I was really engorged I hand expressed in the shower or put cold wet cloths on my breasts.

Good luck! I hate that rock-hard-breast feeling!

[EllenS]

Never had this problem myself, as I tend more toward low supply, but have heard around here that Hand expressing helps as pp mentioned, and is less likely to increase supply like pumping will. Using compresses, taking a mild analgesic like ibuprofen or tylenol, or even some recommend putting cold cabbage leaves in your bra.

kellymom.com is a great resource for all types of bf issues, I"m sure there's advice on there.

[Antoinesmom]

first hugs, I'm right there with you. I'm right in my engorgement with my one week old daughter.

Here is my list of things to relieve the discomfort.

take a warm shower and massage your breast which will express some milk but not too much because as many said it will tell your body to keep making lots of milk. Just enough to relieve a bit of the pressure.

Rasberry tea helps too.

Cold leaves of cabage helps relieve the discomfort.

For soar nipples, cooled tea bags on the nipples.

BFing every 2 hours

Marty