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What Causes Engorged Breasts and How to Manage Engorgement
Breast engorgement is common in the first days after your baby is born and can easily derail your breastfeeding journey if not handled correctly. Unfortunately, well-meaning but ill-informed advice, like pumping too much or giving supplemental feeds, can make the problem worse instead of helping. I don’t want that to happen to you, so let’s dive into what causes it, why it happens, and how you can manage it.
Hormonal Influence on Milk Production
The transition from colostrum to mature milk is driven by hormones, particularly prolactin and oxytocin. Prolactin promotes milk production, while oxytocin triggers the “let-down” reflex, allowing milk to flow. Initially, your body may make more milk than needed because it’s primed by these hormones to meet potential demands. As your baby establishes a feeding pattern, the milk supply will gradually adjust, resulting in fewer bouts of engorgement. Hormonal fluctuations are entirely normal and will stabilize as your body learns to meet your baby’s needs.
Basics of Supply and Demand in Breastfeeding
When it comes to breastfeeding, milk production operates on a simple principle: the more milk is removed, the more milk your body will produce. This means that frequent nursing can help to relieve engorgement and signal your body to adjust the milk supply based on your baby’s actual consumption. In the beginning, it may seem like your breasts are making too much milk, but this is just your body’s way of covering all bases. Over time, your supply will balance out, and you’ll find that engorgement lessens.
Well-Meaning but Misguided Advice
You might hear suggestions from well-meaning friends or family members to pump or offer supplemental feeds during engorgement. Although they mean well, this advice can interrupt the natural process of establishing your milk supply. Pumping too much can signal your body to produce even more milk, leading to ongoing engorgement. Similarly, offering supplemental feeds can reduce your baby’s nursing frequency, which may hinder your body’s ability to accurately gauge and meet your baby’s milk needs. The best approach is to let your baby nurse frequently to establish the right supply and demand balance.
Managing Engorgement: Practical Tips
While engorgement is temporary, it can still be uncomfortable. Here are some tips to help you manage the discomfort:
- Aim to breastfeed your baby often, at least every 2-3 hours. This will help to empty your breasts and reduce swelling.
- Engorged breasts usually coincide with cluster feeding. This is nature’s way of helping you manage and ease the fullness and discomfort of so much milk. So even though it feels relentless and exhausting, follow your baby’s cues knowing that it will settle.
- After nursing, apply a cold cabbage leaf over the breasts and leave them on for about 20 minutes or until they warm up. Cabbage has healing properties that help reduce swelling and discomfort.
- Use Silver Mama nipple cups to ease discomfort. The coolness of the silver is incredibly soothing for full breasts and tender nipples.
- If your baby isn’t nursing enough to relieve the fullness, hand expressing just enough milk to soften the breasts can ease discomfort. However, avoid over-pumping as this can signal your body to produce even more milk.
- Lightly massaging your breasts with soapy hands while in a warm shower can encourage milk flow and relieve pressure.
- A comfortable, well-fitting bra can provide relief without putting too much pressure on your breasts.
Remember: Engorgement is Temporary
The most important thing to remember is that engorgement is temporary. As your body adjusts to your baby’s needs, your breasts will produce the right amount of milk.
Support Makes All the Difference
Engorgement can quickly become more than just an uncomfortable phase if not handled correctly. Without the right management, it can lead to painful blocked ducts, mastitis, or even impact your milk supply, making it harder to continue breastfeeding. That’s why having a healthy support system and access to reliable information is essential for navigating these early challenges.
Our easy-to-use WhatsApp Hotline provides 24/7 expert support from a professional midwife and lactation specialist. Getting help early and often can ensure that you address engorgement promptly, preventing it from escalating into serious issues. With personalized advice at your fingertips anytime, you’ll feel confident knowing you’re taking the right steps to relieve engorgement and keep your breastfeeding journey on track.