Breast Engorgement: You CAN Make The Pain Go Away
What is breast engorgement: They grew during pregnancy, but your milk came in just when you thought they couldn’t get any bigger. About three days after giving birth, your breasts will become rock hard as your milk supply ratchets up — so much so that even putting on a bra can hurt. These are the symptoms of breast engorgement. Around two-thirds of all women experience breast engorgement during those initial days postpartum. This tends to be more of an issue for first-time moms than seasoned ones, possibly because your breasts have been there, done that before, and are better prepared.
Breast engorgement vs. mastitis: Mastitis occurs mainly because of milk stasis, and that can be for many reasons. Unlike engorgement, mastitis can also occur from nipple pain and damage, leaving an opening for bacteria to enter and progress into a mastitis infection. In contrast, engorgement is never an infection despite the potential for mild fever. Mastitis can also cause a change in how the milk tastes, which does not occur in engorgement, and may be a flavour deterrent for the baby due to an increase in saltiness. Another similarity to note is that you may notice your breasts feeling painful, swollen and firm, with the addition of having dry or flaky raised skin with localized redness that feels hot and warm. However, all of these symptoms are much more severe with mastitis.
How to treat breast engorgement: The good news is that breast engorgement only lasts 24 to 48 hours as you and the baby get into a breastfeeding groove. The worst pain should subside within a couple of days and be virtually gone within a few weeks of breastfeeding. Until then, ease discomfort by nursing frequently, using a warm compress before feeding and a cold compress after, massaging your breasts while feeding, hand expression, switching up positions and wearing a well-fitting nursing bra.
