If you've ever felt like your breasts turned into overfilled water balloons overnight, you're not alone. That's breast engorgement, and it's a common pit stop on the breastfeeding journey. An important technique for relief is pumping while having breast engorgement. This article is your friendly guide to understanding what's going on, why it happens, and most importantly, how to handle it like a pro. We'll walk you through everything from recognizing the signs of breast engorgement to pumping comfortably when you're feeling extra full.
What Is Breast Engorgement?
Breast engorgement is the normal stage of discomfort when the breasts fill up with milk to the extent of being very full, firm, and tender. Fullness does not solely pertain to milk but an increase in blood flow and lymph fluids in the breast tissues as the body works on establishing a milk supply for the baby. Although it is usually a sign that your body is preparing to feed your little one, it can also be rather uncomfortable, and knowing how to deal with it is the secret to smoother breastfeeding.
What Are the Symptoms of Breast Engorgement?
When your breasts are engorged, they are extremely full of milk. Symptoms include:
- Your breasts may be very hard to the touch.
- The skin of the breast may appear taut and shiny.
- You have persistent breast pain that renders you uncomfortable to perform daily activities.
- Your breasts may become warm due to the excess milk inside them.
- Your baby may also not be able to latch on properly while feeding because your nipples can become flattened out, and the areola around the nipples may become so firm.
- At times, you will also have a low-grade fever or even feel unwell because of the fullness and tightness of your breasts. This too in turn is also known as 'milk fever' in some instances.
Addressing breast engorgement is key to your comfort and your baby's nourishment; finding the right balance through regular feeding or pumping can ease your discomfort and ensure a healthy breastfeeding experience.
What Are the Causes of Breast Engorgement?
Breast engorgement is your body's overzealous way of ensuring there's plenty of milk for your baby, but sometimes it can feel like too much of a good thing. The condition can stem from:
- Inadequate frequency of breastfeeding or expression wherein the milk isn't being adequately removed and adds to the accumulation inside the ducts.
- Oversupply of milk is when your body, with all the best intentions, makes more milk than your baby actually needs in the first few weeks of feeding.
- A sudden change in the frequency of your baby's feeding may leave the breasts struggling to catch up, which for a week or so can result in an oversupply.
- The awkward pressure on the breast from tight-fitting bras, even sleeping positions prevents the milk from flowing freely and adds to the problem.
To prevent breast engorgement after pumping, try to breastfeed or pump as needed and make small changes to your routine if you notice signs of too much milk buildup. This way, you can maintain a comfortable and healthy breastfeeding experience for yourself and your baby.
How to Pump After Your Breasts Become Engorged
Pumping can relieve engorgement pain as one means of continuing to store milk for later use. Here's a simplified process on how to pump after your breasts have become engorged:
Use a smart breast pump:
After breast engorgement, comfort and control during pumping are crucial. The Momcozy Mobile Flow™ Hands-Free Breast Pump can help with this. The Momcozy app connects to your pump via your phone—a quiet, private way to adjust your pumping settings to the most appropriate suction level for comfortable milk expression without overstimulating milk production. It allows you to track the amount in the app while you are pumping so that you do not pump out too much milk.
Pump just enough to feel better:
If your breasts are too full and it's uncomfortable, pump a little bit to ease the pressure. You don't need to empty them completely every time you pump. Just pump enough so that your breasts aren't feeling too tight. This can help avoid making even more milk when you already have plenty.
Warming up your breasts before pumping:
Before pumping, it is a good idea to stimulate the flow of milk from the breast by lightly warming the breast. This can be accomplished by taking a warm shower or laying a warm, damp cloth over the breasts for a few minutes. The heat feels nice and relaxes the tissues of the breast, allowing the milk ducts to open up and making pumping less stressful and uncomfortable.
Set up a relaxing environment that works for good pumping:
Sit comfortably, maybe on a chair with back support, in a quiet environment where you can be relaxed. Stress inhibits the milk letdown reflex, and, therefore, one is only able to pump optimally when calm. You may play soothing music or take deep breaths to keep you focused and composed. Stimulate milk egress with circular massages:
Help milk egress with circular massages:
Before and during pumping, take a few moments to massage your breasts. Lightly move your hands in a circular pattern from the outer areas toward the nipple. This is not only relaxing, but it also helps move any milk that may be stuck in the ducts toward the nipple and can help alleviate some of the discomfort of fullness from engorgement.
Attach the pump snugly over your nipple:
When you are ready to pump, position the breast shield properly—the funnel-shaped part that fits over your breast-centered over your nipple for a good seal without pinching or pressing too hard, as an improper fit can make pumping less efficient and even cause discomfort.
Express milk until comfort is achieved:
While pumping, you want to take off the pressure of the engorgement, so you want to take off enough milk to feel comfortable again, but don't express your breasts completely empty. If you take off just the right amount of milk, your body gets the message to produce milk more in line with what your baby needs.
Begin with gentle pump settings:
If you're using an electric, start with a lower suction setting and work your way up to one that feels comfortable. A high starting suction is very painful and can even damage sensitive breast tissue; rather, work into it and find a comfortable setting at which the amount of milk is satisfyingly expressed.
Pumping Often, But Not for Long:
If your breasts become too full, it's a good idea to pump more frequently but for shorter times. For example, instead of pumping for a long session, you could try pumping for about 5-10 minutes every 2 hours. This can help keep your milk supply steady and avoid making too much milk, which should help prevent your breasts from getting engorged again.
Fluids and resting will help you recover:
The most important thing is to drink plenty of water to keep yourself well-hydrated, which assists in general health and the production of milk. Resting is vital, but it's difficult with a new baby. When you find a moment, you can sleep, or instead don't be afraid to ask your family or friends to take care of your baby while you rest. Good sleep is important, not only in maintaining your milk supply but also for the healing of your body from giving birth.
How to Relieve Breast Engorgement After Pumping
If you are feeling discomfort from breast engorgement after pumping, here is what you can do immediately after your pumping session to alleviate the discomfort:
- Apply a Cold Compress: After you finish pumping, using a cold compress on your breasts can help reduce swelling and numb the pain. The cold constricts the blood vessels, reducing inflammation and thus relieving it.
- Gentle Massage: In case your engorged breast is still sore after pumping, try massaging your breasts gently. This will help in dislodging the pooled milk, thereby reducing pressure on your breasts. Remember to go with a light touch and work in small, gentle circles while massaging, working your fingers toward the nipple.
- Express Milk Manually: Sometimes a pump might not empty your breasts completely. If you're still engorged after pumping, manually express a small amount of milk. This can help relieve some of the pressure without stimulating more milk production.
- Manual Milk Expression: Often, a pump cannot express your breasts fully. If you are engorged even after pumping, manually express a bit of milk. This relieves some pressure and does not stimulate further production of milk.
- Check the Fit of Your Pump: Make sure your pump flanges fit appropriately. Poorly fitted flanges might not empty your breasts appropriately, thus leaving you engorged despite having pumped.
- Optimize Pump Settings: A very high suction setting of the pump causes soreness and incomplete expression. If after pumping, the breasts feel uncomfortable, then reduce the suction a bit for the next session.
- Switch Up Your Breastfeeding Position Next Time: Changing the position of your baby during breastfeeding, like using the cradle hold in one session and the football hold in another, can help empty all milk ducts. Similarly, when pumping, making sure you're positioned correctly is crucial. The right alignment between your body and the breast pump is essential for fully draining your breasts.
If it persists, or if you are in a whole lot of pain, it is advisable to see a lactation consultant or healthcare professional for further help. They may be able to evaluate the situation and give specific advice that will help alleviate the engorgement.
How to Prevent Breast Engorgement
It's always best to prevent engorgement from setting in to make nursing easier. Here's how you can help to prevent it:
- Breast Feed Frequently: Try to nurse your little one every couple of hours or so. Don't let a sleeping baby remain an obstacle; you may wake up the baby once the need arises.
- Ensure a Good Latch: Latch your baby on well, it is not only good for him, but also allows good milk flow and will help you avoid engorgement.
- Pump Sensibly: If pumping, find a comfortable setting that isn't too strong. You know, it's kinda like that ideal water temperature; you don't want it too hot or too cold, just so that your body can be told not to make too much milk.
- Switch It Up: Switch every time with which breast you start. Think of it as taking turns, giving equal share time to each side.
- Hydrate: Stay hydrated. Water is like grease to the wheel; it keeps all parts running smoothly, including your milk supply.
- Keep to a Schedule: Try to stick to as regular a schedule as possible regarding feeding times or pumping. Consistency is key, like keeping a rhythm so your body knows what's coming.
- Wean Gradually: If you're starting to wean, don't go cold turkey but go slow—the opposite of this causes a traffic jam of milk.
- Find the Right Bra Fit: It is very important to wear a nursing bra that is comfortable yet fits to perfection, as it makes all the difference. Too tight and you could pinch something; too loose and you won't get enough support.
FAQs for Breast Engorgement and Pumping
Q1: What’s the difference between engorgement and mastitis?
Breast engorgement is when the breasts become very swollen and filled with excess milk, which makes them feel hard and tender. Mastitis is a step further — it's an infection in the breast tissue that causes inflammation, pain, and redness, often on one side, along with fever and chills. Although engorgement tends to be quite common and generally self-limiting when moms feed frequently or pump milk out, mastitis requires medical attention and is sometimes treated with antibiotic therapy.
Q2: Is heat or cold better for engorged breasts?
It depends on what you are trying to achieve. Cold compresses for engorged breasts can reduce swelling and result in numbing relief for sharp pains. Heat applied to your breasts prior to breastfeeding or pumping will allow the milk to flow easily and take some of the discomfort away due to engorgement. You may want to apply heat for a few minutes leading up to the expression of milk and cold afterward to comfort the remaining soreness.
Q3: Should I pump to relieve engorgement?
Yes, you may want to use pumping to alleviate the pressure of engorgement, but you should not pump enough to empty the breasts completely, just enough to feel comfortable, because this can stimulate more milk production than is needed. A regulated pumping schedule and feeding on demand are two effective methods of evening out the supply-and-demand cycle of milk production.
Q4: How long does breast engorgement last?
Engorgement tends to peak at approximately the third to fifth postpartum day and resolves within a period of 24 to 48 hours. If managed correctly through frequent feeding or pumping, the discomfort should subside significantly within one week. If the engorgement continues, this could also be an excellent time to visit a healthcare professional.
Q5: How to sleep comfortably with engorged breasts?
For more comfortable sleeping while engorged, lie on your back or even somewhat elevated with pillows to support your arms and chest. A nursing bra or loose tank top with some built-in support can be relieving but not too constricting. Some women find hand expressing or using a pump briefly before bed helps lessen the fullness for more restful sleep.
Q6: What is Day 3 breast engorgement?
"Day 3 engorgement" is the normal increase in milk volume that occurs around the third day postpartum when the body switches to producing more mature milk to meet the growing demands of the baby. The breasts may become quite full, firm, and tender as they adapt to this new level of milk production.
Q7: Should you wear a bra when engorged?
Wearing a supportive bra can help manage engorgement. Look for a soft, non-restrictive nursing bra that offers gentle compression to help soothe your discomfort. Avoid bras with underwires or that are too tight because they may further exacerbate engorgement and also add to plugged ducts. It's about balance—enough support to alleviate discomfort, but not so tight that it obstructs the flow of milk.
Conclusion
If you're dealing with real breast engorgement, it can be uncomfortable, but it's a common part of breastfeeding that many moms face. It's all about finding the right way to make yourself comfortable. Warm cloths and massages can help a lot before pumping. Keep at it; things will get easier as you go along. Each day, with a bit of practice and patience, it'll start to feel more manageable. Hang in there—you're doing great, and this too shall pass.
