I just had a baby a week ago today and I am bottle feeding. My breasts are very engorged and the only suggestion the dr has for me is to wear a tight fitting bra and to leave them alone. I didn't have to worry about this with my first child, because I breast fed him for a short period of time. Please, anyone with any suggestions, I would really appreciate them.
2006-11-27 14:32:59 · 15 answers · asked by lebowers8099 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I chose not to breastfeed this baby, because I had a horrible time with my first. Plus, it will just be more convenient for me and the sitter when I go back to work in a few weeks.
2006-11-27 14:52:27 · update #1
I stopped breast feeding after my daughter was about 8 weeks, and engorgement is the worst. It takes a while but do the cold compresses, binding (tight sports bras or ace bandages as suggested previously) and cabbage leaves that have been broken, and it will go down slowly. Don't expect results right away like I did. It takes at least a few days or so to start really noticing results. Do not pump or do anything that would make your body produce more milk because then it will just keep coming back. You body needs to realize that it is stopping the milk production and it takes a little time for it to do that.
2006-11-27 16:56:06 · answer #1 · answered by E 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Engorgement has to be one of the most painful things ever! I experienced this after my daughter was born and my doctor didn't have many suggestions either. So, I took matters into my own hands...literally. Massing my breasts for a few minutes (as long as I could stand it) seemed to work really well. A friend suggested I pump, but since my daughter was bottle fed as well, I wanted to dry up. Pumping would just prolong the problem. Also, hot showers seemed to help out a lot as well.
2006-11-27 14:39:02 · answer #2 · answered by Alicia L 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a big ace wrap and bind your chest as tight as you can stand. Also try cold cabbage leaves in your bra. That old wives tale about them helping really does work. I had to do that when I had to stop breast feeding my twins suddenly at 11 months and I was engorged so bad I felt like I was going to die. The wrap holds them close so they dont bounce around AND also helps put pressure on the milk ducts so they dont make as much milk
2006-11-27 14:36:09 · answer #3 · answered by Lori R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cold cabbage leaves in your bra can help with the pain and lower your millk supply. If you are done Breast feeding or had your baby and dont want to breastfeed you can pump a little to ease the pressure but dont pump too much as this will keep your milk supply going. If you are currently pregnant do not use a pump!! pumping during pregnancy can cause your uterus to spasm and cause your baby to come prematurely. There are foods out there you can eat that are used to decrease your milk supply one of which is cabbage. Good luck and best wishes!
2016-03-13 00:00:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried warm clothes and if you have a breast pump you need to express the engorged breast it will hurt but it will eventually break up. the warm clothe will ease some of the pain, if it has been more than three or four days call you doctor
2006-11-27 14:40:42 · answer #5 · answered by mrseellis01@sbcglobal.net 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First suggestion.....give the milk to the baby.
Next suggestion.....cabbage leaves can help with engorgement. Take some ibuprofen. See the link below on engorgement.
ETA:
Just because you had a hard time DOES NOT mean you'd have a hard time with this baby. Each child is different.
2006-11-27 14:48:57 · answer #6 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Do what your doctor told you, if you stimulate your breast, it will only get worse. You can try a warm shower, cold compress, cabbage leaves warmed. Do not pump. It will be over in a couple days. It's none of my business, but why didn't you breast feed your 2nd ?
2006-11-27 14:36:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
oh my...that is the worst.
Get into the hot shower - as hot as you can stand it,
when you get out and they still hurt apply ice compresses.
Make sure you alternate between tylenol and advil so you can get more pain medicine into your system safely.
I don't know if it helps or just made me feel better knowing I was at least trying to do something to alleviate the pain.
I hope someone else has a solution for you! Feel better and congrats on the new baby.
2006-11-27 14:36:47 · answer #8 · answered by SD 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My doctor said to shower with a sports bra on. Sounds crazy, but even if you avoid stimulating your breasts during the day once you get in the shower the warm water helps in the let down of your milk. Make sure the bra is really snug. I bought one a size too small because it grows when wet.
2006-11-27 16:58:56 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ice packs worked brilliantly for me. Uncomfortable, but not as uncomfortable as what engorgement is like..
Try pumping too. Just dont empty them as your body will think it needs to make more!
2006-11-27 14:36:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋