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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Please can anyone help with breast engorgement im in so much pain :(

35 replies

user1469032438 · 19/09/2023 18:14

Gave birth Saturday night, came home at about 4pm today and my milk also came in today

My breasts are killing, they are so hard and full even walking hurts them, I am breast feeding but baby is small (5lb6 when we were released today) so his latch isn't great which has made my nipples sore. I had an over supply when I had DD 6 years ago but I never remember them hurting like this, I just used to pump the excess.

I pumped when I got home and got about an oz off each breast and they felt better although still sore for all of about 20 minutes now they are hard killing again and I'm scared keeping pumping will lead to over supply and make it worse :(

My midwife should come out tomorrow and I'm hoping she can help but does anyone have anything that might in the mean time please?

OP posts:

OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 19/09/2023 20:45

I love there are academic studies on the use of cabbage leaves! They worked for me.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27820535/

The effectiveness of cabbage leaf application (treatment) on pain and hardness in breast engorgement and its effect on the duration of breastfeeding - PubMed

Overall results showed that cabbage leaf treatment used on women with breast engorgement did reduce pain, the hardness of the engorged breasts and increased the duration of breast feeding.The current available evidence suggests that cabbage leaf treatm...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27820535/

OneMoreCookieMonster · 19/09/2023 21:09

Munchyseeds2 · 19/09/2023 20:14

Why not??
It's what I was told to do - worked really well whilst things settled down

Show quote history

Sorry meant to write more but was feeding baby and hit send instead of exit.

It can definitely help with mastitis, over production and encouragement. But, it isn't recommend to use cabbage leaves unless mastitis is present or until after 4 wks. By 4wks, your milk supply should be regulated enough to use cabbage leaves.

When milk first comes in it can be painful. I was recommended by lac cons to drink a shit tonne of water to get things flowing and reduce pp swelling and the hand express only (pump after 4wks) to have a hot bath, use hot or cold flannels and offer breast between feeds to take the edge off. I was also recommended paracetamol to help manage the pain.

I have seen several consultants, midwives etc regarding breastfeeding as I have had issues and mastitis (mastitis was recently) over 2 babies now.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 19/09/2023 21:12

Shower on really hot and really powerful and a massage to help them soften (lressure from outside to inside) always helped me (and helped when I had a blockage)

TheLightProgramme · 19/09/2023 21:16

Nipple shields to help a small baby latch

Pump a little to relieve pressure

TimetoPour · 19/09/2023 21:21

Warm shower and massage any lumps.

Also pump from one whilst feeding off other side. I found pumping alone was awful and I got no relief. Pumping whilst feeding meant you got the let down.

LuubyLuu · 19/09/2023 21:21

I had this way worse with number 2 and 3 baby, it was SO painful, 20 years on I can so vividly remember the pain, and not relieved at all by the tiny amounts my babies were feeding at that stage (I had never been able to pump either).
The good thing is that it's only temporary, I think mine was awful for 4/5 days then calmed down. I ended up taking anti-inflammatories as I couldn't sleep.

HRTQueen · 19/09/2023 21:23

You poor thing it will get better soon

I found a warm bath, ds was constantly feeding so I think that helped

and after a few days I used cabbage leaves and they really worked have no idea why they worked and I didn’t care at that point they just did (amazed me how women found this out in the first place)

BadHairBae · 19/09/2023 21:26

Make sure you're regularly massaging the area between the breast and armpit. Most common place to get a blocked duct. Massage down towards the nipple and it should relieve some tension. Only express small amounts to relieve pressure.

I absolutely sympathise with you, OP. I had a blocked duct once and I had flu like symptoms appear rapidly. It's awful but it will pass. Just follow advice from PP and keep the area around the breasts moving with compression and massage.

abbs1 · 19/09/2023 21:29

My midwife told me to massage the heck out of them rubbing with my fist from breast tissue to nipple all the way round and then rolling my fists into each breast on the tissue to help relax it. It hurt to begin with but the the relief was nearly instant as the milk came out and it felt a 1000 times better. My boobs were like rocks and baby couldn't latch. It was the only thing that worked for me.

JustMarriedBecca · 19/09/2023 21:31

I had over supply second time around. He'd be feeding from one and the other would literally be shooting 10 feet across the room and hitting the curtains. Glamour. Even when it calmed down I had to have bath sheets (the massive big towels) to one side and they would be DRENCHED. In the end I just got a cup for it and froze and used in baby food.
Hot baths with boobs fully submerged and facing downwards i.e. bottom in the air. Better than showers for me.
But I'd refrain from pumping this early. Hand expressing, warm flannels and lots of baths.

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