Engorgement
What it is? This is what happens when your breasts are full and firm. It’s uncomfortable for sure and you may have difficulty getting baby latched on. It frequently happens in the early days as your milk transitions, or when you’ve gone too long between pumping or feeding. Part of it is fullness from the volume of milk within the breasts, and part of it is inflammation of the breast tissue. Sometimes the breasts will feel lumpy in some spots.
What can you do?
- Start by removing milk regularly, but not excessively. This can look like pumping just enough until your breasts are feeling better.
- If baby is unable to latch due to the fullness, then pump or hand express until they soften and then latch baby. Feed baby at the breast until content. If still feeling full, pump or hand express until the breasts are softer and feeling better.
- Ice packs to the breasts can help to calm the residual inflammation.
- Use GENTLE massage moving from the nipple to the armpit and collarbone. Avoid deep massage, avoid using your knuckles or fingertips. Instead, use the flat of your hand over your skin, adding some olive oil can help your hands to glide more smoothly.
- Consider homeopathy.
- Then keep the milk moving at a regular pace – enough to keep things feeling good, but not over stimulating. Avoid long periods of time between milk removal.
Plugged Duct or Blocked Duct
What is it? A blocked duct closer to the surface of the breast can be felt as a lump. Usually it is tender. We used to think the milk flow was blocked by a thick plug of milk and needed to be pulled/sucked out. This is because the most common bacteria that causes mastitis can also cause the milk to clump/coagulate. (If you see thick strings in your milk, this can be an early sign of mastitis!) What really is happening is inflammation in the breast tissue. The inflamed tissue then pushes in on the milk ducts, causing them to be more narrow.
What can you do?
- Because the main problem is inflammation, apply a cool compress.
- Consider taking an over the counter anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or turmeric
- Then keep the milk moving regularly, making sure the breasts are feeling relieved. It’s important not to overstimulate the breasts, though, as this can cause more inflammation. 8-10 times in a 24 hour period is a good goal for milk removal. This means either a full feeding at the breast or a pumping session.
- Use *gentle* breast movement. Follow along with Maya Bolman’s technique for “breast gymnastics.”
- Consider homeopathic remedies.
How Can Magnolia Lactation Help?
If you’re experiencing breast discomfort, engorgement, blocked ducts, and mastitis your IBCLC can help you figure out why. If you’re mostly feeding baby at the breast, we will assess the latch as well as baby’s ability to remove milk well. If you are mostly pumping, we will go over your pumping routine, check out your pump, and make sure the flanges are fitting well.
In the moment of engorgement, we’ll show you therapeutic breast movement to improve circulation and encourage lymphatic flow. Therapeutic breast massage is a very gentle technique we can use to promote relief during engorgement.
Certain diet changes and supplements can help with breast health as well! We’ll figure out the best plan for your particular needs.
Warning Signs
If you’re seeing thick/stringy milk, talk to your CNM or OB as this can be a sign of early mastitis. If you’re experiencing fever or flu-like symptoms call your CNM, OB, or primary care provider.
Amanda is an RN, IBCLC (lactation consultant) who helps breastfeeding families in person in the greater Baton Rouge area and virtually for all locations.
All information on this website is intended for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Magnolia Lactation Consulting encourages all families to have close communication with the medical providers of their choice.