Engorgement / breast pumping advice

[voxnihili]

Hi

My baby is a few days old but had significant problems feeding so is currently bottle fed with formula. We have been referred for support establishing breastfeeding although I would be happy with bottle feeding expressed milk as baby takes a bottle well.

My breasts are extremely uncomfortable as barely any of the milk is being removed. I have a pumping schedule to try to build up supply but I’m lucky if I get 10 ml total after 10 minutes on each breast (using an electric pump). My breasts are getting fuller and fuller and I’m in quite a lot of discomfort. I was a 30E before pregnancy - not sure what size they have currently swelled to.

Does anyone have any tips for trying to reduce the discomfort or for pumping?

Thanks

My midwife advised me to get in the bath, put hot flannels on my breasts and try and get rid of some milk that way using m hands to express milk; my baby couldn't latch properly in the first few as I was too engorged and feeding as painful, this did the job for me.

Have you tried hand expressing? If a pump isn’t working for you, you might find that doing it by hand brings more success - you can target the areas that feel most swollen and engorged. You might find that after taking the edge off, so to speak, the pump is then more effective on a slightly softer breast. Have a google or check on YouTube for a video showing how to hand express. It is really quite simple. Also, start off with a warm compress on your breasts, which can help get the milk flowing, and have baby close by when you express, as this will stimulate the hormones required for the milk to flow. Congratulations by the way, and good luck!

Expressing in the bath or shower is a good way to relieve engorgement.

A warm compress (soaked sanitary towel or nappy works well) and hand expressing.

https://www.laleche.org.uk/hand-expression-of-breastmilk/