Breastfeeding can be a time of great joy, but in the very beginning, women can face several challenges. One of these is what to do when your milk comes in. Here are five things you can do to help alleviate the swelling and pain in your breasts.
- Nurse your baby - It might seem like you just finished nursing the baby, but nurse him again anyway. Babies need to nurse early and often and they are much better at emptying the breast than even the highest grade breast pump. In fact, do not use a breast pump because your breasts are learning your baby's supply and demand and pumping will make your body think there are two babies needing food, causing you to make even more milk.
- Use ice for the swelling - Know that most of the fullness is tissue swelling, not milk. When the milk comes in, the breast is learning a new skill and the blood engorges the tissues, causing that tight extreme fullness. Just as with any other swollen body part, the breasts do well with ice on them. You can put a few wet washcloths in the freezer, laid flat so when you use one on each breast, they will conform to your body. Many people find, however, that using frozen vegetables work even better and last longer. Twenty minutes out of each hour is a good schedule to keep. Ice goes on after a nursing.
- Use wet heat - Right before you breastfeed your baby, it is very helpful to use wet heat. Piping hot wet washcloths are perfect for the job. Some women keep several washcloths in a crock pot filled with water so they do not have to keep running the water in the sink. Heat not only soothes the swollen breasts, but also softens the tissue to prepare for nursing. Breasts can be so swollen the nipples are flat, not allowing the baby to latch on properly, if at all. When the breasts get softer from the wet heat, you can express some milk out, softening the nipple enough for the baby to grasp it correctly. You can put wet heat on any time you do not have the ice on your breasts. One more way to utilize wet heat is to get in the shower and allow the hot water to soothe and press down on your sore breasts. Some women cannot tolerate the drops directly on the breasts themselves, so keep the spray up higher on the chest. Leaning over allows the breasts to leak out, softening the nipple even more when expressing is too painful.
- Use cabbage leaves - Cabbage leaves have a wonderful capacity for relieving engorgement. Some women put them in the freezer to make them very cold, whereas others will put the ice or hot packs on top of the leaves; do whichever feels best to you... it is the cabbage leaves themselves that relieve the engorgement. They also have the capacity for lowering the milk supply, so only use the leaves for 20-30 minutes 2-3 times a day.
- Take an NSAID - With permission from your care provider, take an NSAID such as ibuprofen. This helps to relieve engorgement as well as relieves pain.
- Hang in there! - Engorgement only lasts for a couple three days and if you can do these helpful hints, you will pass through the experience in a much more comfortable way than if you did nothing. The swelling would still go down, but it could take longer. Keep nursing even when you are very full and the supply and demand of your milk supply will quickly regulate itself.
- While breastfeeding has some early obstacles, they can be overcome with information and support. Call your local La Leche League leader or another successfully breastfeeding mother. Ask your family to be patient as you tell them how much it hurts. The answer does not have to be "Give the baby a bottle." Even if you have no one around, keep this article close to you when your milk starts to come in and know that you do have support. Your baby deserves the best and only you can give it to her.
Barbara E. Herrera is a Licensed and Certified Professional Midwife practicing in San Diego, California. As the mother of three children, she has experienced engorgement herself and knows the difference between passive waiting and active management. She votes for doing something to relieve the situation! You can contact her through her website (http://www.NavelgazingMidwife.com)
