Ouch -- massively engorged on one side. What to do?

[MegBusset]

DS2 (7 weeks) has just come out of a few days' growth spurt where he was feeding loads. One boob has become more engorged than the other (like porn star proportions) to the point where DS2 now doesn't want to feed from it and gets stressed and frustrated (as well as a face covered in milk) if I put him on there. (If I put him on the other side first then he will feed a little from the engorged side afterwards, but not enough to relieve the pressure.)

The boob is now getting quite sore and lumpy and I don't want to end up with mastitis. Not sure what I should be doing -- should I express from that side (think I could feed half the county) or will that just make matters worse? Any other ideas?

express until you feel more comfertable then hopefully he will feed from that side again

When I was engorged on one side and DD was refusing to drink from the solid rock I just expressed for a couple of minutes prior to her feeding to soften it up so she could lacth.

Seemed to work.

Hope someone more knowledgeable will be along in a mo

sorry my spelling is bad tonight headache

Do express if he can't feed from it. Could you have a blocked duct?

If you leave the milk to stagnate then you could end up with mastitis. If you relieve the engorgement, then he should find it easier to feed, then it should all balance out.

I had real problems with this and found the NCT breastfeeding counsellors really helpful. Have heard that LLL are just as good.

HTH

express for comfort otherwise you can get mastitis. it should subside after a few days.

express off enough at start of feeds to keep him from getting sprayed.

search archives for block feeding

Thanks, I did express earlier and he fed off it better -- but after that feed it just became even more engorged (that's why I worried about expressing making the problem worse).

look at block feeding

He probably won't feed now til about midnight/1am, can I express now or should I wait til just before I feed him?

LOL, I've just searched on 'block feeding' and found a response on one thread from me -- I had forgotten that I had this problem with DS1, too!

He has been mostly feeding from only one boob per feed anyway, so I will try that. Presumably I start with the engorged boob first?

xpress for comfort now. feed from other side. do that for next 2 feeds. ie feed from same side. call helpline in the AM to discuss block feeding technique if unsure.

sorry to step in express now but also express from the other side other wise the engorged breast will start to produce more milk than the other side and you may end up like i did with one perminantly a lot bigger than the other and i got mastitus because my son would no longer feed from the engorged side. x

Thanks everyone, I have expressed (what a relief) and will do the night feeds from the other side then.

Oh, just another thought. He has had a lot of dark green poo in the last few days. I hadn't thought much about it but wonder if it could be related?

yes it can be

I called the La Leche League helpline when I was engorged. They were really helpful, I recommend calling them.

LLL breastfeeding helpline - 0845 120 2918

You do need to make sure you are expressing or feeding on the engorged side unfortunately. You need to look out for a red line or rash - if you see this this could be mastitis and you need to get to the Dr. I found having a hot bath and gently expressing helped, but this might have been because I had a blocked duct.

The traditional remedy is cabbage leaves in your bra. I haven't tried it for BFing but used it on a very sore throat years ago and it did give me some relief, so I reckon definitely worth a try to relieve the pain. If you have a choice, from memory I think it's organic white cabbage they use in herbal medicine?