is pumping making engorgement worse?

[sophiems]

My lo is 1.5 weeks.  He's doing well, although very sleepy.  Went from 2 to 2.5 to 3 hour nursing routine and my milk is finally completely in and I'm really engorged.  I've had to pump a bit off the top before he nurses just so he can latch on and not spit and sputter through the let down, then also have to pump a bit from the other side so I can make it to the next feed. 
So is this making my engorgement worse?  I've also been putting cold comresses on between feeds.  I'm just in pain, these footballs on my chest aren't so fun!   
Sophie

[RachelC]

Gentle {{{hugs}}} Sophie

Just be sure that you are pumping the bare minimum to relieve discomfort and/or to allow Caeden to latch.  Your body will adjust soon... it's still early   

[sophiems]

thanks for the ever so gentle hugs    Man these things are killing me!  It's what I thought, I just wanted to make sure I'm not increasing my supply and thus making it all worse.  Thanks!

[SiestaNoMore]

Offering more Hugs! Agree with RachelC! Your body will adjust before you know it!

I remember expressing well over 9 oz of BF from just one side as I was so engorged. Yup - don't be like me and do that!

[Mydreamcametrue]

CONGRATS Sophie!  I don't have much advice, but I saw this post and saw you had your new baby!   3 boys!!!

I miss our birth club.

CONGRATS! 

[CharlotteandCharlie]

This may be sensative ground but with dd2 I was engorged for a long time and had a touch of mastitis. What I did was put cabbage leaves in my nursing bra.  Its an old home remedy but be careful with it.  The leaves shouldn't touch your nipples and be very cautious of using them.  So I've heard.  They can work too good in cutting down the supply. 

If I'm totally off my rocker    someone please let me know.  If all else fails the cold leaves right out of the fridge feel great on your sore breasts.

[Mydreamcametrue]

I have heard that also.  I can dry you up also though, that is what tons of my friends used to finally dry them up.

I used to put a bag of frozen beans on mine when they were engorged. 

Sophie:  I only breastfeed for about 1 month with Tyler.  Well he never took to the breast, so I pumped.  I was so engorged at one point and my breast were really red and swollen.  Pumping very very often helped SO much.  I had to do that anyhow to keep up my supply, but within about 3 days of pumping in my case every hour (in your case just in between feeds) did help a huge amount with being engorged.