Breast engorgement is common in the early days of breastfeeding. After delivery, your breasts begin milk production (lactation). Blood will flow to your breasts, and relax, your milk will come in 2-3 days.
When your breasts start lactating, they grow and feel heavier. Engorgement is when the breast tissue overfills with milk. This causes your breasts to feel very full, hard and extremely tender. Engorgement is temporary – but u need to pump the milk out! Otherwise, you may develop a high fever and eventually, mastitis (breast infection).
Your breasts may become engorged and painful owing to overflowing milk production This can appear as early as a few days after delivery.
6 easy steps for engorged breasts
#1 Using warm compress before nursing (to enhance milk flow) and then a cold one after. You may add 2 drops of chamomile to reduce inflammation.
#2 Use cold cabbage or comfrey leaf inside your nursing bra and replace as necessary.
#3 Pump or hand-express your breast milk. This will relieve the pressure.
#4 Massage the breasts during feeding. Try to change the breastfeeding posture so that all ducts get emptied.
#5 The most important thing is to feed your baby fairly frequently and on demand.
#6 If you have severe pain, try paracetamol which is safe for lactation.
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