How to Prevent Breast Engorgement

Breast engorgement is a common condition during the first few weeks following childbirth. Engorgement occurs as a mother's body adjusts to the changes she experiences when she begins lactating. The symptoms of painful fullness are caused by an increase in milk volume, failure to empty the breast by nursing or expressing milk, congestion of lymph and blood vessels, and tissue swelling. Engorgement can affect the amount of milk the baby consumes and the mother produces. Severe or prolonged engorgement can be prevented by frequent nursing, proper latch and breast massage.

Instructions

1

Check for proper latch when nursing. Place the nipple fully in the baby's mouth. The baby's mouth should be wide open and take in the entire nipple and part of the surrounding areola for proper latch. If the baby is only grasping the tip with her mouth she will not be able to take in much milk.

2

Express a little milk either manually or with a pump before nursing. Breast fullness can flatten the nipple and make it difficult to latch on properly. Alleviating some of the fullness softens the nipple and makes it easier for the baby to latch on.

3

Empty the breast as much as possible while nursing or pumping. Gently massage the breast, moving from the base outward toward the nipple, to assist milk flow from the milk ducts.

4

Breastfeed or pump frequently eight to 12 times in each 24-hour time period. More frequent nursing or milk expression in the first three to five days postpartum helps to remove colostrum from the breasts so the breasts are not overfull when the milk comes in.

5

Pump or express milk if a feeding is missed. If the baby sleeps through a feeding or is fed with a bottle, the breasts will become engorged as they continue to produce milk. Empty the breasts at regular, frequent intervals.

6

Wake newborns during the night to nurse. Mothers of newborns need their sleep, but sleeping through the night results in engorgement in the morning.

7

Wean the baby gradually. The body needs time to decrease milk production in response to the decrease in demand for milk. The milk supply will gradually decrease as the baby gains more of his calories and fluids from other sources.