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Imagine your breasts feeling so swollen, you feel like they could explode at any moment. Really, actually explode if you don’t nurse your baby soon. Welcome to the world of engorgement.
If you’re a nursing mom, chances are good you’ve been there. Maybe you’re a new mom and your milk comes in faster than your baby can develop a nursing pattern. Or, you wake up in the middle of the night realizing you’ve missed a feeding (ouch!) when your three-month-old happens to sleep more soundly (surprise!).
We all know the benefits to breastfeeding are well-documented. It provides perfect nutrition for babies, and it’s a wonderful way for moms to bond with their bundles of joy. But breastfeeding is a journey, and sometimes it can be a real trip with speed bumps along the way. Engorgement can cause swelling and pain. Some women experience slight fullness. Others feel like they could cry through every feeding. Babies often have difficulty latching on when they nurse. It’s no wonder moms want to solve the problem quickly. The question becomes “How?”
There are many techniques that help, but the best remedy (and prevention) for engorgement is a hungry baby and frequent feedings. And if you need to miss a feeding, make sure to pump. Many moms are afraid if they pump, they’ll make the problem worse. But expressing a little milk relieves the pressure a bit and makes it easier for babies to nurse. If you pump for relief from engorgement and still have substantial amounts of milk, consider donating your milk through a milk bank such as Helping Hands. Every little bit goes to helping premature babies get the nutrition they need from a 100% human milk diet and donating your extra provides you some relief.
Our Facebook fans shared some of the ways they’ve dealt with the pain from engorgement.
“Massage your breasts while pumping to get the milk out better and more efficiently.”
“I used cold cabbage leaves and a cold compress.”
“Pump some to relieve the pressure but not enough to empty them.”
“I pumped and stored!”