Breasts so painful and engorged, they're making me weep?

[BlueIsYou]

I'm 21+4 weeks pregnant. I have had milk start to come out wish a little pressure at about 17 weeks.

For the last week and a half they have been rock solid, itchy and painful to the touch. The only relief I get is expressing the milk (by hand). I get about 4/5 ounces by doing this, within 20 minutes or so.

I know I really shouldn't be doing this and I have only done it a handful of times. Like today for an important event. The relief afterwards is so good that I feel on cloud 9!

But, I know I can definitely not keep expressing as it can cause premature labour.

Has anyone else experienced/experiencing this?

I know painful breasts are a part of pregnancy but they're actually so painful I want to weep and surely expressing at this stage shouldn't be the only relief?

Is it possible my milk supply is too much?

I'm not seeing midwife again until 28 weeks and they're a nightmare to get hold of

Where did you hear about premature labour? I've never heard that, plus am not finding anything by googling, plus have read about (and done) BFing of a baby while pregnant with the next.

Whilst in the bath (best ) or shower put a hot flannel on your boobs.

Just express enough to make you comfortable. If you express a lot you might cause your supply to increase which will just make things worse. Chilled cabbage leaves are suppose to help as well but I haven't tried it myself.

I wonder if you could have mastitis?? I've heard it is rare but possible to get in pregnancy.

I had mastitis shortly after DS was born and my breasts were hot and itchy. I developed flu-like symptoms, so look out for aches and fever.

If you can't get hold of a midwife maybe you could see your GP? I'd go for a female GP as in my experience they're more knowledgable about pregnancy and baby related issues.

Thank you for the replies.

I've heard quite a lot about nipple stimulation bringing on possible early labour if done too much, I.e expressing milk.

I have tried lots to soothe them and nothing is happening

Is this your first baby op?

Yes, first baby to come this far

Are you otherwise we'll? No temperature or hot patches on your breast?

I feel very achy and tired. But that's it

go and see your midwife. This is not normal in pregnancy, and I would strongly suggest you get this checked out

In the mean time, try warm flannels and cold cabbage leaves (the big, really dark ones ideally, kept in the fridge).

Maybe I did it wrong, but I wouldn't have described hand expressing as nipple stimulation.

Call your mw. With my second baby I had a period of breast tenderness and engorgement at around 17-19 weeks but it went away and I never expressed more than a drop or two of milk-4/5 oz of milk is a lot to express at this stage.

I'm currently breastfeeding and (very) pregnant, DS feeds maybe 4 times a day. My midwife has said this is absolutely fine and did not raise any concerns about premature labour. However, you are in pain and suffering so definitely need to get it checked out.

And keep an eye out for fever/red patches on breasts. Achy and tired, engorged and sore to touch is exactly how mastitis started for me.

Chilled cabbage leaves..
And get checked out. The aches don't sound quite right but may be nothing.

You should be able to express just a small amount to relieve the pressure but you don't need to remove all the milk, it will get reabsorbed. Do as much as you need to feel comfortable. You could freeze the milk if you want to, it keeps for six months.

I don't think it's hugely dangerous to express during pregnancy as some people are still breastfeeding their last child when pregnant with their next. Ask your midwife, but unless you're at high risk for premature labour I wouldnt worry.

I agree get checked for mastitis just in case. You don't want to end up with abscesses.

Get checked out to be safe.

I called midwife who's said to me 1. Don't express as it can induce early labour and 2. Painful breasts are completely normal so don't worry

Make an appointment with the doctor

That doesn't sound that helpful

I was told expressing can bring on labour too. I had GD and so was given an expressing kit to harvest colostrum but told not to do it before 36 weeks due to the risk of early labour. It was in an information leaflet so must be standard advice. I did it religiously and DS spat the sodding stuff out

Sorry, that wasn't very useful to you OP but wanted you to know that you're not being told something really out there.

Flava I was told by a midwife! And have had lots of Mummy page groups informing me it's true

Sorry your DS didn't appreciate your hard work. Typical!