help - getting engorged

[fidelma]

Hi - hoping someone can advise me. I suffered very badly from engorgement with ds#1 and can feel it creeping up on me again. ds is 4 days old and feeds every 2 hours or so, but only for 10 mins, followed by a short sleep then can usually be persuaded to have another 10 mins on same side. However she is by  no means empying breast and it's getting harder and harder for her to latch on.
So do I just let nature takes its course and carry on like this, or should I pump to empty both breasts and start afresh?
any tips v welcome
many thanks
Fidelma

[Samuel's mum]

I wouldn't recommend you do a full pump as you may stimulate excess milk rather than relieve the situation and encourage overproduction. You could however pump a little bit before a feed (or hand express) to take down some of the engorgement to allow her to get a better latch. You could also compress/flatten the breast slightly to let her get a better latch (put your thumb above the top edge of the areola and the rest of your fingers below at the bottom edge. Squeeze the breast slightly so it is a flatter shape. Let her latch on - hopefully more deeply and then slowly remove your fingers.)
HTH

look at this link for more info:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/engorgement.html#tips

[JacobMarksMummy]

First of all congrats on your little girl!

Second of all definatly dont do a full pump! As sams mum says just get rid of enough so your not in pain and so LO can get a better latch. Have you tried those gel filled pads, I found them a godsend when DS was born. Hope it gets better soon 

[daisymelan]

CONGRATS!  Four days and on the computer already....  a girl after my own heart!

I agree with the other posters.

I also found it helpful to take a bath with warm water and manually express a little just to make you comfortable.  I also used ice packs for a bit, but I was only engorged for about 12 horus.  I think I tripled in cup size just to dwindle back down to the same.  I looked very funny with square breasts... Sorry, got off topic.

HTH

[fidelma]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I had forgotten all about expressing a bit before a feed to soften the areola, but it seems to have worked a treat. I'm so glad I didn't let it get as bad as with ds, where even the lactation consultant couldn't get a drop out with a hospital grade pump!!!

[Samuel's mum]