Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 523 Location: La Porte, TX
What to Do About Engorgement? Posted: 12-19-07 20:19pm
So...my milk has finally fully come in,
and I can't believe how huge and hard
& painful my boobs have gotten. I am
breastfeeding, so I don't want to dry up
my milk; however, I seem to be making more
milk than she can eat (she's a tiny baby,
was only 5 lb. 12 oz. at her hospital
release). Her latch is good; she's getting
plenty of poopy & wet diapers. She
eats frequently during the day but doesn't
tend to eat long (maybe 15, 20 minutes or
so, sometimes less). After midnight, she
usually wakes about 2 times to nurse. It
is not enough to relieve the pain at all.
I do have a breastpump...will using that
help? If so, when is the best time to pump
& how much should I pump? (Also, how
frequently should I pump?) I have heard
not to pump too much as it only encourages
more milk to come in, but is it OK to pump
a little to relieve the pressure? Are
there any other tips BTDT moms can give
me?
Also, how long does engorgement usually
last?
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young Girl
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 13932 Location: everythings better in, texas USA
Posted: 12-19-07 20:52pm
put cabbage leaves in your bra
this will help tremendously
mine lasted abut a week
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young Girl
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 13932 Location: everythings better in, texas USA
Posted: 12-19-07 20:55pm
oh and you can pump and freeze the milk
too!
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mominashoe
Supporter
Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 1560 Location: , USA
Thanks: 13
Thanked:3
Posted: 12-20-07 00:45am
You can let some run off in the shower and
otherwise, but what you've heard is true:
supply and demand is the rule here, so if
you don't want to make more, don't pump
it.
You can try ice packs at your milk glands,
which is at the top near your arm pits.
This will help slow things down a little.
Sometimes it's just a matter of time
before your body realizes, whoa, this is
way too much.
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number game
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 1212 Location: Charlotte, NC,
Posted: 12-26-07 18:04pm
You can always pump only AFTER nursing to
completly empty your breast. I know this
response is a little late and your breast
are probably fine now. So how's
breastfeeding going for you now?
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sillyakchick
Supporter
Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 2689
Thanks: 4
Thanked:0
Posted: 12-31-07 09:36am
I pumped an ounce or two at each feeding
and froze it for my return to work. By
now the engorgement should be dissipating,
I hope. It takes a little while for you
and your infant to get into the right
supply and demand rhythm. (Isn't it weird
to have boobs that big???? Yikes!)
Hmm goodluck with the breastfeeding, seems
I'm not making enough for my son so he is
on formula now. I was thinking of pumping
my breasts to see if that would help me
make more milk?
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