Advice Please!!!!

[sunita123]

Went into Boots yesterday and saw Gel packs that are supposed to ease Engorgemnet and Mastitis.
They didn't have these when I was BFing DS. I had a terrible time with him but want to try for longer this time.
Are they any good?
My second one is due 19/07 should I buy one now or wait until LO is born?

Lavender wheat bags (heat in microwave) are good too. My sister with 5 day old baby is currently usning one for engorgement type lumps. Wheat bags can also be used as hot water bottle type of thing for you and children (when older) for aches and sprains etc. I microwaved damp flannels too. There's no doubt that these gel packs would work, but there are alternatives that will work just as well and can be used for other uses later on. My midwife with dd3 showed me how to hand express tiny ammounts of milk which was just enough to ease the engorgement and get dd3 latched on. Felt a bit squeemish about doing this at first but it worked and I got used to it!

anyone else?

My midwife told me that one of the key ways of avoiding engorgement lumps, mastitis etc was not to wear a bra in bed. She said the seams on bras no matter how smooth did breasts no good at all. I have no idea whether it is true but all I can say is that I breastfed for nine months without a hitch. I might just have been very lucky of course.
When my milk came in after the 5th day, my husband popped out and bought two half pound bags of frozen peas. Cheaper than gel packs – you just have to remember not to eat them!

I bought them but never needed to use them :)
They say cabbage leaves work miracles. - Again, probably wouldn't want to eat them afterwards!!!

Bump

Sunita Like Emmylou, I found hot damp cloths worked or I'd hop into the shower and let the hot water spray onto my chest for a good five mins. This really worked.

Never used the gel packs, but can 2nd the cabbage leaves, they were wonderful

PMSL at cabbage leaves. I tried these with DS2. You pop them in the freezer and then shove them in your bra. Very soothing. Only that it took DH and I a whole afternoon, after cleaning the bin, the kitchen, the loo, before realising where the awful whiff was coming from!