How to Avoid Engorgement After Childbirth

Bringing a life, a new little bundle of joy, into this world can be an exciting time, but physical discomfort is part of childbirth, and can continue to affect you afterward. One discomfort you might experience is breast engorgement, or swelling of the breasts from the pressure of milk production. Engorgement can be painful and can even make breast-feeding difficult for your baby, who might have a difficult time latching on to an engorged breast. There are steps you can take to relieve and avoid engorgement.

Instructions

1

Breast-feed your baby often. If your baby is emptying your milk supply every couple of hours, your breasts cannot become engorged. Feed your baby from both breasts to relieve pressure equally.

2

Massage your breasts lightly as you breast-feed to help stimulate the flow of milk. This will help your baby get more milk per feeding and will relieve extra pressure.

3

Use a pump or manually express milk if you can't breast-feed at regular intervals throughout the day. This is a possible solution for working mothers or for mothers who can't breast-feed regularly for other reasons. Drain each breast with a pump or manually to relieve pressure and prevent engorgement.

4

Take hot showers to reduce swelling and relieve pressure. The heat will facilitate letdown and make it easier for your baby to get milk from your breasts. Warm, moist towels can also help.

5

Reduce the number of times you breast-feed per day as you wean. Do this over a period of several weeks. Your breasts will gradually respond by reducing milk production.

6

Avoid pumping or expressing if you don't plan on breast-feeding. Pumping or expressing encourages milk production. Instead, use cold compresses on your breasts to reduce swelling or inflammation and wear a supportive bra. Your milk supply will dry up if it is not being used, and engorgement will cease to be a problem.