Hi! Congratulations on your new little girl!!! So sorry that you're going through this right now
Engorgement can be SO, SO, SO painful. I understand why you don't want to pump at the risk of increasing your supply - keep in mind though that (as a last resort) if you just pump off an oz to make yourself more comfortable you shouldn't see a huge impact on your overall supply. Plus, if you are so engorged that it makes it difficult for your dd to latch, a quick pump will make it easier for her to latch on and take a full feed.
At this early, early stage you can and should nurse on demand. Here are some tips from kellymom.com, a fantastic online breastfeeding resource:
How to prevent or minimize engorgement
* Nurse early and often - at least 10 times per 24 hours. Don’t skip feedings (even at night).
* Nurse on baby's cues ("on demand"). If baby is very sleepy: wake baby to nurse every 2-3 hours, allowing one longer stretch of 4-5 hours at night.
* Allow baby to finish the first breast before offering the other side. Switch sides when baby pulls off or falls asleep. Don't limit baby's time at the breast.
* Ensure correct latch and positioning so that baby is nursing well and sufficiently softening the breasts.
* If baby is not nursing well, express your milk regularly and frequently to maintain milk supply and minimize engorgement.
Tips for treating engorgement
Before nursing
* Gentle breast massage from the chest wall toward the nipple area before nursing.
* Cool compresses for up to 20 minutes before nursing.
* Moist warmth for a few minutes before nursing may help the milk begin to flow (but will not help with the edema/swelling of engorgement). Some suggest standing in a warm shower right before nursing (with shower hitting back rather than breasts) and hand expressing some milk, or immersing the breasts in a bowl or sink filled with warm water. Avoid using warmth for more than a few minutes as the warmth can increase swelling and inflammation.
* If baby is having difficulty latching due to engorgement, the following things can soften the areola to aid latching:
o Reverse pressure softening (directions in the link)
o Hand expression
o If the above two things are not effective, try pumping for a few minutes with a hand, electric (low setting) or "juice-jar" breast pump.
While nursing
* Gentle breast compressions and massage during the nursing session can reduce engorgement.
* After nursing for a few minutes to soften the breast, it may be possible to obtain a better latch by removing baby from the breast and re-latching.
Between feedings
* If your breast is uncomfortably full at the end of a feeding or between feedings, then express milk to comfort so that the breasts do not become overfull.
o Hand expression may be most helpful (though obviously second to breastfeeding) as this drains the milk ducts better.
o Mom might also use a hand pump or a quality electric pump on a low setting for no more than 10 minutes (engorged breast tissue is more susceptible to damage). A "juice-jar" pump may also be used.
o Massaging the breast (from the chest wall toward the nipple area) is helpful prior to and during milk expression.
o It's not good to let the breasts get too full, but you also don't want to overdo the pumping, as too much pumping will encourage overproduction. If you do need to express milk for comfort, your need to express will likely decrease gradually over time; if it does not, then try gradually decreasing the amount you express.
* Use cold compresses (ice packs over a layer of cloth) between feedings; 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off; repeat as needed.
* Cabbage leaf compresses can also be helpful.
* Many moms are most comfortable wearing a well fitting, supportive bra. Avoid tight/ill-fitting bras, as they can lead to plugged ducts and mastitis.
* Talk to your health care provider about using a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen (approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics for use in breastfeeding mothers) to relieve pain and inflammation.
AVOID:
* Excess stimulation (for example, don’t direct a shower spray directly on the breasts).
* Application of heat to the breasts between feedings. This can increase swelling and inflammation. If you must use heat to help with milk flow, limit to a few minutes only.
* Restricting fluids. This does not reduce engorgement. Drink to thirst.
Other treatments for engorgement
Cabbage
Applying cabbage leaf compresses to the breast can be helpful for moderate to severe engorgement. There is little research on this treatment thus far, but there is some evidence that cabbage may work more quickly than ice packs or other treatments, and moms tend to prefer cabbage to ice packs.
What are cabbage compresses used for?
* Engorgement.
* Extreme cases of oversupply, when the usual measures for decreasing supply (adjusting nursing pattern, nursing "uphill," etc.) are not working
* During weaning, to reduce mom's discomfort and decrease milk supply.
* Sprains or broken bones, to reduce swelling.
To use cabbage leaves:
* Green cabbage leaves may be used chilled or at room temperature.
* Wash cabbage leaves and apply to breasts between feedings.
* For engorgement or oversupply: Limit use as cabbage can decrease milk supply. Leave on for 20 minutes, no more than 3 times per day; discontinue use after engorgement/oversupply subsides.
(Here's the link if you want to read the full article:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/engorgement.html)
I hope that something in here is helpful!
