Engorgement is an uncomfortable swelling of the breasts, typically associated with the onset of postpartum milk production. Lactating women can become engorged at any point during the breastfeeding experience, especially during weaning and when the baby begins to sleep longer stretches at night. It is a misconception that engorgement only happens to women who choose not to breastfeed in the immediate postpartum. One of the most common concerns of new mothers is that they feel like their milk has "come in" (increased), but "aren't engorged yet." Breast fullness and engorgement are not the same thing. It's actually a good sign to feel full; engorgement is not.
Engorgement is when your breasts have not relieved themselves of the milk. Symptoms include:
- Onset of swelling between 2 and 10 days
- Rock-hard breasts
- Very warm, painful, tender breasts that have red spots or streaks on them
- Body temperature over 101 F
- Very taut areolar tissue (the area surrounding the nipple), where the baby has trouble latching-on because she keeps slipping off
- Difficulty pumping any milk out of the breasts
VIDEO: Breastfeeding Problems - How to Relieve Common Breastfeeding Problems
To alleviate engorgement, heed the following advice:
- Breastfeed frequently: Every 2 to 3 hours from the beginning of a feed
- Massage, combing from the armpit (the axilla) down toward the nipple
- Use cold packs on the breasts. No heat! We have to think of engorgement the same way that we think of a swollen ankle. We would never put heat on it because it would swell even more. Use ice packs, frozen vegetable bags or cabbage leaves.
- If necessary, after massaging and using ice packs, use a breast pump (if the baby is not able to be fed) to relieve your breasts.
Engorgement can take a while to relieve. It is important to keep in mind that softer, smaller breasts (after the swelling has relieved) does not mean lost milk supply. It just means that your body has adjusted to the feeding patterns of the baby and that the milk is flowing more efficiently.
