Help-engorged boobs can't release milk

[dooscooby]

Im in a real mess. My boobs don't seem to be releasing enough milk, either to baby naturally on one side, through nipple shield on other (inverted nipple) or with expressing. I've tried hot flannels, cabbage leaf, expressing (seems to work sometimes and not at all others), massage etc but my boobs are horrifically engorged and sooo painful now I can't sleep and can barely stop crying.

What the hell should I do? Had to give baby formula tonight to make sure she's ok, but thinking I might need to give up as this is so unsustainable. But how can I release the pressure, if I express they fill up straight away. I feel like I'm in a real tangle here & have made a complete mess of things

I'm sure someone with experience will be along shortly , I can't express for toffee, but have you tried a warm/hot shower? I have heard that may help.

Oh dear. I have no expertise but can you try a different pump? I found the Medela Swing I had with DC1 absolutely rubbish but the Avent electric one I've got this time around is brilliant.

how old is baby?
why do you think baby isn't getting enough?

i think you need to see someone, and i'd advise giving a breastfeeding helpline a call now, i think the LLL one is open 24 hours... will find the number

www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/index.html

Kellymom site about breastfeeding problems, maybe something helpful on there?
Have you tried the NCT breastfeeding helpline? Found them very helpful when I had mastitis.

0845 120 2918

Oh poor you. I didn't want to leave this without posting, this web link particularly further down is really helpful. I found it through the kellymom website as recommended. Can you ring La leche or another bf counsellor?

oh poor you, I have had engorged boobs and its no fun at all. You can get through it though, I know its horrid at the time, but the turnaround back to normal boobs can be really fast too. I am now back in normal size bra's again and its only a little while since I thought my boobs looked like Bodecea's breast plate and that I would never wear clothes again, let alone bras.

Have you tried brushing a comb while you are expressing/feeding/in the shower? it helps get all the lumps and bumps out and is a lot easier and more thorough than massaging. I am no expert, but the way I saw it was once your thick gooey colostrum has been properly squeezed through the ducts, everything should pump through a bit more efficiently.

What are you using to express? Can you try a pump if you are not using one, or a different one if you are? You do need to express/feed A LOT to remove the excess milk. Store it if you can and you will have the added advantage of being able to get someone else to offer a bottle in a few days when all is well again and you could do with the break. Dont worry about the "more I express, the more I seem to make" thing, you do need to remove as much as you can, things will settle down.

The other thing that I cant stress enough, is that while you are pumping/feeding you need to RELAX. Remember that your let down of milk works because of a sophisticated hormonal production system that can easily be thrown off by stress hormones. Try and get some privacy/candle light/music/deep breathing whatever helps and think about how cute and gorgeous your baby is too. Look at some photos/videos of them while you are expressing.

Hope you feel better soon. xxx

There are also come tips here on the kellymom website to help ease the pain and discomfort. No doubt more helpful people will be along soon.

You haven't made a mess of things though. Tomorrow is a new day. Try and speak to someone at La Leche, as I saw on the first weblink they seem to have a number of items to help people with inverted nipples. I know we're not meant to offer ((hugs)) but I am sending you one lovely and a as it can be a real rough ride when you're first trying to establish breast feeding and sleep with a newborn x

x posts with many of you Typing slow.

Hi there,
I found that the only thing that worked for me was to run a hot bath - as hot as I could bear, submerge my boobs. I found that the milk flowed freely into the water when applying just gentle pressure. Was my lifesaver in the early days.
Good luck.

Hi there
Just wanted to quickly say thanks for being a lifeline over the past few days. The tips and tricks and support that you've posted have been amazing. I'm still having real trouble but mws have been visiting daily & things might be easing a little. I also switched from an expensive electric pump to a cheap hand one which seems to suit me much better.

Ended up at the docs yest on rec from mw. Doc sent us to a&e cos I've got a history of breast cysts that might be causing additional probs/discomfort/concern. Anyway, after taking lots of advice from various specialists we decided a night in a&e wasn't what we all needed. Off to a support group today too...just having to fend off the visitors quite strongly in the meantime.

Still unclear whether bf will work out for us, but atleast I'm giving our best shot and am feeling a bit happier/more positive about the whole thing
Thanks to you all x

am glad you're feeling a bit happier and that you're getting support from midwives etc

i hope the support group helps too.

do be blunt with visitors. or stay upstairs with baby, in bed, getting lots of skin to skin and encouraging her to feed and get your husband/partner to just tell people that you're resting and to come back after Christmas!

Glad to hear you're getting a handle on it. The first few weeks are the worst - I can completely understand why women give up. Sometimes you have to be quite bloody-minded to continue!

Agree with thisisyesterday with regard to visitors. In the first couple of weeks I only had people over if I felt comfortable getting my boobs out in front of them, so family and very close friends.

Yes, tell everyone to go away! Let them know that you have problems with your milk coming in and the doctor has said you should spend as much time as possible with your clothes off (that should scare them away ) Tell them to phone in a week to arrange visits.

We have a lovely no visitors day today. Still not latched her on right boob at all, but managed to feed her all day and most of night in left boob, plus expressed the most out of right I could. Boobs are finally not feeling like lumpy concrete but I'm still a bit worried I'll never be able to latch her in the right. Not sure whether to try the nipple shield again or whether that might cause probs with flow again. I didn't try latching her on the right at all yesterday as I find it a bit upsetting when it doesn't work and so I wanted a more relaxed/confident day.

Thanks for your help-bloody mindedness is definitely required isn't it!

That's great. Sounds really promising about your left boob. I would talk to a La Leche breastfeeding counsellor Tel. 0845 120 2918 before the Christmas break as they may have some ideas with regards to your inverted nipple, other then a nipple shield iyswim.