Breast Engorgement When Breastfeeding

by LisaC

Breast engorgement is something that about every breastfeeding mother will probably experience normally while nursing her new baby. It’s a common and most natural result of breastfeeding, but be of good cheer because the normal breast engorgement that occurs when the milk supply “comes in” lasts only 48 to 72 hours. Almost every breastfeeding mother encounters this and though mildly uncomfortable it promptly goes away as the milk supply is established.

Let’s deal with this type of breast engorgement first. It is very important of course to breastfeed during this periods while the milk is coming in, though the breasts may be mildly to moderately tender and swollen. In a few cases breast engorgement can make a proper latch on for baby difficult. In those cases massaging the areola can relieve this problem and soften the nipple to allow for a comfortable latch on for both mom and baby. When engorgement of the breast is severe, some mothers report relief from the use of a breast pump prior to feeding for a very short period. The gentle suction can help soften the nipple and allow an easy latch on for baby.

There are however, other times when the breast engorgement can occur for other reasons and these are sometimes much longer lasting and far more uncomfortable if not addressed.

For instance, when a mother is returning to work it is important to schedule regular breast pump sessions during the workday. Even so, some breast engorgement may occur unless the pumping sessions are frequent and of reasonable duration. The type of breast pump used affects the amount of engorgement and how much will willl be left in the mother’s breast and this can affect her milk supply. A hospital grade breast pump can often be the answer for a mother with shorter pumping periods at work who intends to continue breastfeeding. It will help relieve the engorgement in the shortest amount of time possible by pumping both breasts at the same time and ensure an adequate supply of stored milk for her infant.

If however a mother is attempting to wean her baby from the breast upon returning to work then some breast engorgement can definitely occur especially if this weaning is abrupt. It used to be advised to bind the breasts and suffer though it. That’s no longer recommended and can actually lead to mastitis many say. Instead, the breast pump can come in handy here even while attempting to reduce the milk supply. The pumped breast milk need not necessarily be stored and the breast should not be completely emptied but just enough milk expressed to assist in the mom’s comfort while weaning. By not emptying the breast completely the body gets the signal that less milk should be produced and weaning can take place at a comfortable rate for mother with a reduced possibility of mastitis as well.

Sometimes though breast engorgement can occur when the mother or infant become ill and feedings must be interrupted for a time. Again a breast pump can save the day. Mom can pump her breasts completely dry and safeguard the milk supply for infant and then store the milk. This will keep breast engorgement at bay and give a backup stock of breast milk as well.

If breast engorgement occurs when no feedings are missed or no schedules interrupted and there is tenderness or pain in the breast as well then a physician should be consulted as this could signal other issues such as mastitis.

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1 comment

1 Trish { 08.25.09 at 3:00 pm }

Thanks for this article. When I was breastfeeding many years ago, well, many many years ago people did not talk about breast feeding and you did not know what to expect. It is nice now that you can inform mothers so they will know what is happening to their bodies.

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