engorgement?

Question

any tips on relieving engorged breasts?

Answer 1

First and most important of all, nurse frequently. This is important both to deal with the engorgement *and* to get your body adjusted to the needs of your body. This adjustment is important so that you aren't overproducing for months.

If you are nursing at least once every 2 hours (timed from the beginning of one feeding to the beginning of another) and still engorged, try cold compresses between feedings. Cold stops milk flow, so you can use it when you are not nursing. Hot wet compresses right before nursing will also help because it gets the milk to flow.

If this *still* isn't working, then try cabbage leaves. Place raw green cabbage on your breasts but *not* on the nipples. You can use them at room temperature or straight from the fridge, whichever feels better to you. It is not a good idea to use them for more than 2 hours *total* per day as cabbage can dry up your milk entirely (it's used in some hospitals for women who don't want to nurse). Discard the leaves when they are wilted. You may not want to use them when you go out, as you will smell like cooked cabbage. (By the way, cabbage is good for *any* swelling--twisted ankle, for instance.)

Last resort is to pump. If you do, pump only a *small* amount--just until you are feeling more comfortable. If you pump a lot, you will encourage more milk production and make things even worse.

Answer 2

That depends. Are you breastfeeding? If so, make sure you are nursing often enough. Every 2-3 hours. If you are still engorged, you may also pump and freeze some of the excess. You can take warm showers, use warm compresses and express as often as necessary to get relief.

However, if you are NOT breastfeeding and not planning on breastfeeding, ignore all of the above, instead....
Use cold compresses. Frozen gel packs work great or (not the ones that get ice hard, but stay soft) or even frozen bags of vegetables. Place on breasts on top of a towel for 20 minutes every 1-2 hours to relieve pain. NEVER use heat or warm showers, as it causes the milk to flow and you don't want this.When you do shower, make sure not to stand so the warm water flows on your breasts for long periods of time.
Take tylenol for pain. Wear a bra(the size you were before pregnancy, not the size you are now) 24 hours a day until engorgement swelling goes down. You will probably need nursing pads because you will still leak quite heavily at times.
If you notice any redness or have a fever call the Dr. back as soon as possible.
Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Flashbacks!!!! It's a horrible thing for a woman.I read every woman has to go through engorgement before the breast dry out.So if you wish to continue breast feeding,engorgement is a sign that you need to feed.Although it is hard to do while breasts are sore,take a hot shower and hand express some milk.This will make it easy for your baby to latch on easily and give you revief.








































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Answer 4

If they are engorged then I assume you are NOT breastfeeding? In that case what you need to do is wrap them up really really really tight...with a sports bra or ace bandages...I actually used those belly bands that the doctors use to keep the fetal monitors in place....
you have to keep them wrapped up and do NOT let milk come out..every time you release some milk your body will make more and the cycle will never end
avoid warm water becasue it will cause them to leak also
I followed this advice and after about 2 and half weeks I had to take off the tight strap thing it was killin gme while I was sleeping milk leaked everywhere and it was the BEST release ever an th emil did not come back!

Answer 5

I so feel your pain. I had this happen to me with my first child. I did not know you should not pump b/c that was how I was relieving the pain, but that then in turn tells my body I need to produce more milk. OH NO! Finally I wrapped them in ace badages b/c I had a fever in them and could no longer breast feed. I would find relief the safe way by taking a shower and pressing some of the milk out. I am so sorry you are having to go through this it can be very painful it was actually the most painful part after birth for me with child #1. With my second child I never used the pump and we were both very happy! Thanks I hope this helps!

Answer 6

Nurse more often or pump in between feedings. Get some breast shells. They are designed to help relieve engorgement and sore nipples. You can get them at Walmart, Target, or call your local hospital. My hospital gave them to me for free. You can also try taking a warm shower...never helped me though. You can also take some Tylenol to help relieve any pain. Good luck!

Answer 7

There are 2 things that worked for me.

1. Take a very hot shower and then a cold one straight after. While standing in the hot shower try to squeeze some milk out, just enough to make you feel better.

2. Take a cabbage. Separate the leaves and put them in freezer bags and in the freezer. When they are frozen or really cold, put them in your bra. As soon as they are the same temperature as your body remove and put a new one in.

Answer 8

I find that pumping a little bit always helps. If your engored at night time, I personally wear a sports bra to bed, and that helps with pain etc. A warm shower, and hand massaging your breasts is another way to relieve. Good Luck!

Answer 9

yes ma'am, you should pump or express the excess. unless you have just gotten your milk, in which case you just tough it out because if you pump then you will make too much milk in the future because in the beginning your body must establish supply. you make as much as the babe needs. if you pump out the milk then your body will think the baby used it and it will produce too much. if you are already established and are getting engorged you may have a clogged duct, in which case you should get that booby under some hot water and express until it clears, good luck.

Answer 10

I would not do anything that makes the milk come out, this will reinforse the milk to come in again. I would wear a tigher bra, I have also used cabbage in the freezer then put a leaf in your bra. The shape of the cabbage leaf works well in bra and the coolness of it helps with the soreness.