Milk come in and I in PAIN...is this normal?

[Summerhols]

Hi - my DD is only 4 days old. We have been really fortunate as she has fed really well and I think her latch has been good as I have not had much pain.

However yesterday/over night my milk has come in and I feel like my boobs are going to explode and feeding has gone from being OK to agony. Just in the space of 8 hours. She struggles to latch on and when she does it is constant pain, which means I tense up, probably upsetting her.

Is this normal and will it last (please God no!)? Is there anything that I can do the reduce the pain both when feeding and when not feeding? My DH thinks I should express some milk to take the pressure down, but I wonder wont this just tell my body to increase the supply?

Anyone with suggestions or just reassurance much appreciated.

it is normal and will pass. if not within the next few days and if you get a fever call gp asap.
what helps is expressing a bit first, so that the boob is not as hard and then let baby latch on. it is easier for her when the boob is softer.

I remember my milk coming in being sore... you really go from one day to the next up about 3 sizes - or I did anyway.

It might be hard for your DD to latch on as well with your boobs being harder and bigger - so you could get a warm flannel and hand express just a little to help her latch on. It should calm down in a few days.

Congratulations on your DD.

Sorry for quick post, just taking dd to pre-school.

Expressing a tiny amount will make it easier to feed. Just enough so that your DD can latch on properly. Someone likened it to eating soup off a ball otherwise.

Any expressed milk can be kept in fridge/ freezer until needed.

Poor boobs! I remember my cannon balls well! Ouch.
You could try just a bit of gentle hand expressing, maybe in the shower when boobs are warm, and a bit of massage, rather than the full expressing machine business.
I remember when one of mine used to latch on it would make my toes curl but it was only a few days.
If it lasts I would say it is worth getting someone to check your latch again.
Well done so far and good luck, it really does get easier, promise!

cross post crazy! At least we've all got the same advice!

my milk comming in was agony this time too. I was in tears with the pain at one point.

expresssing a little helps, but when I was too tender to do it I alternated between hot and cold flannels on my boobs whilst sitting in the bath. Gently massage them to make sure you don't get blocked ducts and maybe take some painkillers if it is really bad.

It will pass, and stopping feeding will only make it worse, so don't even consider it!

Its normal and it will quickly pass.

Expressing a little will take the pressure off, and make it easier for her to latch on - I wouldn't worry too much about it affecting the supply.

See here for some good tips regarding engorgement.

I remember being completely unprepared for the agony of my milk coming in (the possible side effects were never mentioned by the midwife on the hospital bfeeding course surprisingly enough). I remember saying to my DH that if this was how bfeeding was going to be I didn't think I could do it!!

Haha... just typing that message has made my right boob leak - my breasts are obviously very suggestible

It is so normal - but sooo painful. It does pass. The worst thing is that is makes it difficult to feed the baby. Your tense - she's hungry. Nightmare. It does end after a few days, but I've had three babies, and its happened to me all three times, and I can honestly say its the worst point of the post birth period. All above is good advice and will help, but it does sort itself out.

Very best wishes - hang in there.

Thanks for all your responses, after a very stressful feed this lunch I called a BF counsellor who gave me the exact same advice as you have all.

Like koeda says - no one mentioned this to me, including the 4 MWs who have done visits and asked me about how BF is going! It seems strange that they don't say 'oh and by the way on day 4 this might happen....'

But as I am quickly finding this baby business is a lot of live and learn! Which is hard when so sleep deprived

OK I am off to find some flannels while I dream of my 34B breasts that I once had....

Hello Summer hols - any better today?

Summerhols send dh out for a head of white cabbage, put it in the fridge and when it's cold enough place a leaf into each side of your bra, it will be a great help.

Don't worry, engorgement is a tough patch but it doesn't last long if you feed lots. It's one of these things you just have to get through and the more you feed the faster you will get through it. I only had it for a couple of days with my 1st, but a week with my 2nd. So to stay nice and relaxed I always spent the first 5 mins of each feed alone, and I deep breathed until ds was settled onto the latch. Get through this and it'll be easypeasy, breastfeeding isn't as hard as it's made out to be at all.

Best of luck and congrats on your DD