Breast engorgement is when the breasts become painfully full of milk. It usually occurs on the 3rd day of the puerperium. The breasts may feel hard and painful.
Are you a new mother? Congratulations! Breastfeeding is one of the most rewarding experiences a woman can have. However, it can also be difficult in the early weeks and months. One common issue that new mothers face is breast engorgement. In this blog post, we will discuss what breast engorgement is, how to deal with it, and when to seek help from a doctor.
What is breast engorgement?
Breast engorgement is when the breasts become painfully full of milk. It usually occurs on the third day of the puerperium. This can also happen a few days after the baby is born, or it may not happen until weeks or even months into breastfeeding. The breasts may feel hard, tight, and painful. They may also look swollen and red.
What causes breast engorgement?
There are a few different things that can cause breast engorgement. One is when the baby isn’t breastfeeding as often as it should. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as the baby not latching on correctly or the mother having an oversupply of milk. Another cause of engorgement is when the mother starts to wean her baby off of breastfeeding. This can be a difficult transition for both the mother and the baby.
What are the symptoms of breast engorgement?
The most common symptom of breast engorgement is pain in both breasts. The breasts may feel very full, hard, and tight. They may also look swollen and red. The mother may also have a fever, chills, or feel general discomfort.
How to Deal with Breast Engorgement?
There are a few things that you can do to help ease the pain of engorgement. First, make sure that you are nursing your baby as often as possible. This will help to remove the excess milk from your breasts. Support your breasts with a binder or brassiere.
You can also try using a cold compress on your breasts to help reduce the swelling or a warm compress to reduce pain. If you are having trouble nursing, you can try pumping your breasts to relieve some of the pressure. If you are still having pain, you can take over-the-counter pain medication to help ease the discomfort.
When should I seek medical help?
If you are experiencing engorgement and are not able to relieve the pain with home treatment, you should seek medical help. Your doctor can prescribe medication to help reduce the swelling. They may also be able to give you a referral to a lactation consultant who can help you with breastfeeding.
Breast engorgement is a common issue that new mothers face, but it doesn’t have to be difficult to deal with. With a little bit of knowledge and some home treatment, you can ease the pain and get back to enjoying this special time with your baby. However, if you are still having pain, please seek medical help from your doctor. They can provide you with the help and support that you need to get through this. Thanks for reading!
We hope you found this blog post helpful.
