Help - milk has come in will pumping make it worse

[meepmoop]

Hi!

My milk came in yesterday and my breasts are so full and tender.

DD is doing her best but isn't able to fully drain the breasts. I've been swapping sides etc.

If I use my pump to empty them and relieve them will I make it worse by stimulating more supply?

I'm worried I'll get mastitis, I've tried hand expressing but it's not making much difference either

Thank you

It should settle down in the next 24 hours. Don’t pump if you can - your breasts make the amount of milk you need do keep feeding and they will regulate themselves.

It may cause over supply if you fully drain them with a pump. Could you just pump a couple of ounces from each to get some relief if they are engorged and uncomfortable?

Can you get her checked for a tongue tie and get some help with her latch if she's not draining the milk properly.
A gentle hand express to just take the worst of it off but I really suggest getting some support.
Having a warm bath used to help me leak a bit. Also fed in the bath as it made us both relaxed.

Thanks everyone, I will leave the pump alone and keep trying to skim a bit off the top manually.

I haven't had any pain from her feeding but I'll get her latch looked at to see if it'll make a difference.

I feel like I've got literal boulders strapped to me.

It will settle. Mine were like cauliflowers for the first few days but it didn't last long. Best tip I was given was to compress the nipple very slightly as she's latching so that she can get more of it in her mouth - helped with my DS's latch no end!

(Also, congratulations!!!)

Get your tits in the sink.
Literally.
Full up the sink with hot water and sink them. It'll ease the tightness but doesn't stimulate them.

Not wanting to rain on anyone's parade but it may not settle. I was engorged for six months with my first. Felt like, as you say, literal boulders strapped to my chest. IMPRESSIVELY uncomfortable. Draining will indeed make it worse, but a little bit of pump to take the edge off can go a long way. I found the most effective relief was, as PP said, fill the sink with warm (not hot) water and dangle your breasts in there. It'll look ridiculous but it works a treat.

If it helps to know, I didn't get mastitis once with my first, not even with all that engorgement. I did however get it three times with my second with no engorgement problems at all!

Do what you need to feel comfortable, and don't be afraid to hand express a bit before baby latches to help them get a better latch. It can be a challenge for your baby to latch if you're too engorged.