Engorgement
What is Engorgement?
Three to five days after your baby is born, your breasts may feel hard or swollen. This is called engorgement and it is caused by an increase in fluid build-up in your breasts as your milk begins to transition.1 For some mothers, this may happen as late as 9 to 10 days postpartum. Engorgement can be very painful and cause other issues. It is important to manage any engorgement you experience.
Preventing Engorgement1
- Intravenous (IV) fluids during labor can make engorgement worse. Talk to your doctor about minimizing the use of these during your labor unless medically necessary.
- Keep your baby close by practicing skin-to-skin. When babies feed frequently, moms experience less severe engorgement.
- Overuse of breast pumps can also contribute to engorgement by causing your breasts to make more milk than your baby needs. If breastfeeding is going well, avoid using your breast pump for the first 4-6 weeks.
Relieving Engorgement1
- If your breasts are too hard to latch your baby, hand express some milk just until your breasts are soft enough for your baby to latch.
- Reverse pressure softening uses gentle pressure to temporarily move swelling and allow your baby to latch on to your breast. An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) can demonstrate this technique.
- Avoid using your pump to relieve engorgement. If you choose to use a pump, do not pump for more than 3-5 minutes.
- Consider using ice packs for pain relief. It is recommended to not use warm or hot packs as this could make your engorgement symptoms worse. In addition, wear a supportive bra.
- Lymphatic drainage uses a light, sweeping motion on the skin from the nipple towards the clavicle to encourage fluid drainage.1,2
Figure 1: Lymphatic Drainage Technique1
What is Not Recommended1
- There is no evidence that raw cabbage leaves help engorgement. Raw cabbage can contain Listeria, which can harm your baby. Instead choose ice packs.
- Deep or too firm massage can increase inflammation and damage breast tissue.
What Else Could it Be Besides Engorgement?
Engorgement can sometimes lead to other complications:
- Mastitis: Mastitis normally affects only one breast. You may have a red, hot, or hard spot on your breast that is painful. You may also have a fever, chills, or feel like you are ill. Call your healthcare provider if you think you have mastitis.1
- Ductal narrowing: This is the new term for “plugged ducts”. Inflammation narrows the milk duct, not allowing milk to flow freely through. Ductal narrowing might cause breast tissue to be tender. Aggressive massage or using massagers is not recommended.1
What If I Have Questions?
If you are interested in learning more, these Aeroflow classes expand on some of the topics discussed above:
- Ultimate Breastfeeding Prep
- Birth & Breastfeeding (2-part series)
To register for these classes, log into your portal or click here.
Want More Info?
For a directory of Aeroflow’s other Care Guides offering information on pregnancy, baby care, and more, browse our comprehensive list of titles:
References