Swollen, painful breasts, from which milk does not flow, indicate milk stagnation. These symptoms are accompanied by a hardness and a feeling of warmth in part or all of the breast. This situation causes a lot of anxiety for debuting mothers and requires intervention as soon as possible.
What is the direct cause and how to prevent the secondary occurrence of the problem in the future, you will learn from the following article.
The source of the problem
The effects of incomplete emptying of the breast can affect each woman up to 10 days after giving birth at the latest. This is due to a sudden increase in milk production, an unfavorable way of sucking the breast by a newborn, or stress, fatigue, holding the child in the wrong position. The pressure of the breast resulting from an ill-fitting bra or crushing during sleep may be to blame. The reasons can be sought in the infrequent feeding of the child in a natural way and in the use of modified milk during lactation. Sometimes the problem with stagnation happens to mothers who prematurely decided not to feed the child with their own milk.
When food stagnation occurs, appropriate measures must be taken immediately. Left alone, the problem will most likely develop to such an extent that it will threaten the mother with the development of an abscess, which is indicated by a painful lump. On the other hand, inflammation is indicated by the outflow of vitality, chills, fever, as well as breast redness and palpable thickening. Both in the case of an abscess and inflammation, we should consult a doctor.
It is better to prevent than to treat complications
- If stagnation has already occurred, before putting the baby to the breast, leave a warm hot water bottle, compress or take a warm shower on it.
- Both the baby’s nose and chin should touch the stasis area.
- You will make it easier for your baby to empty the breast without limiting yourself to just one feeding position.
- Feed your baby every 60-90 minutes.
- Unless the baby is unable to latch on to an overly engorged breast, express enough to allow the baby to hold the nipple.
- Stroking from the underside of the breast to the nipple before and during feeding will make it easier for the milk to come out.
- Carry out the first two feedings starting from the breast where the stasis occurred, finish feeding with a healthy breast. On the other hand, in the third feeding, put the baby on the healthy breast at the beginning, and finish feeding on the sick one. Return to alternating feeding with the right and left breast only when the ailment subsides.
- Do not encourage your baby to drink bottled milk as this will negatively affect the suckling technique. During natural feeding, the baby engages up to 10 times more muscles to suck the milk. In addition, taking breaks from breastfeeding will intensify the problem of stagnation.
- White cabbage has an anti-inflammatory and astringent effect, while its juice shrinks and fights bacteria, so compresses with leaves of this vegetable applied after feeding should be repeated up to 4 times a day. Let the leaves cool down in the fridge, take them out a quarter of an hour before feeding, beat them with a pestle until they release their juice. Stick to the breast, avoiding the nipples. Change when the leaves become dry or warm.
- Choose a bra that will provide the necessary comfort.
- Take care of rest and relaxation. Limit your duties as much as possible, use lemon balm tea.