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How To Prevent Breast Engorgement

Modified on September 4, 2022 at 3:00 PM

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Breast engorgement occurs when excess milk accumulates in a woman’s breast. Along with a high temperature, it can cause discomfort and soreness in the breasts.

It might also happen if the amount of breastfeeding sessions or pumping is altered, such as when a baby misses a scheduled feeding. Because the body interprets engorgement as a signal that it may not need to produce additional milk, milk output may also decline.

In addition to telling you how to prevent breast engorgement, this article will also tell you why your breasts engorge and how long the breast engorgement can last.

Here are some methods you can use to prevent your breast from getting engorged:

Remain Consistent With Breastfeeding

Until six months, infants who only take breast milk should be fed every two to four hours on average.

No matter how often you nurse, your body will keep producing milk. Be consistent in breastfeeding your baby at least once every one to three hours. It helps to prevent your breast from getting engorged.

Reduce Your Breast Milk Supply by Using Ice Cubes

Ice cubes and cold compress with cabbage leaves can assist you in reducing milk production in addition to relaxing and cooling irritated breast tissues.

You can also use tea to reduce breast milk and help with engorged breasts. Both Pink Stork and Earth Mama make teas to help reduce breast milk supply!

Extract Some Breast Milk

You can pump a little or extract some breast milk if you want to release a little discomfort. Nevertheless, avoid over-extracting or pumping your breast. Your body may attempt to compensate for the breast milk you removed by producing extra milk, which can bring back the problem you’re trying to solve.

Wean Gradually

It is advisable to cease breastfeeding slowly for many weeks. Quitting abruptly may cause engorgement and be upsetting to the infant. Wean your child gradually to give your body time to adapt to the change in breast milk production.

You can delay breast milk secretion if you choose not to breastfeed again. Your body will realize that it’s unnecessary to produce more breast milk, and the flow will gradually stop. Doing this the right way will also reduce your engorged breasts.

Note: Refrain from pumping or extracting excess breast milk. Doing that will make your body produce milk which can make your pain last longer.

How You Can Relieve An Engorged Breast

Engorgement happens to many women who nurse or breastfeed their babies occasionally. Here are some ways you can relieve yourself from the discomfort and heaviness of swollen breasts:

  • Allow your baby suck the swollen breast first.
  • Massage the engorged breast while breastfeeding to enhance milk flow.
  • Have a warm bath or lay a warm towel on the affected breast before breastfeeding.
  • Breastfeed your infant frequently, especially when they can suck your breast between eight to twelve times daily.
  • Extracting or pumping a small amount of breast milk from the breast when you are not breastfeeding your baby to minimize swelling.
  • Use an ice compress in between feeding sessions to ease breast soreness.
  • By using a comfortable and correctly sized bra.

It’s not rare that women feel the need to get a breast lift or augmentation after breastfeeding and have questions regarding how much they should wait after they’re done with breastfeeding or if engorgement will be an issue. If you’re one of these women, it is best to seek the opinion of a professional like the experienced cosmetic surgeons at Shens Clinic, who can be found at Winsland House 1, #09-08, 3 Killiney Road, Singapore, Singapore 239519 or over the phone by calling +65 6904 4488.

Why Do My Breasts Engorge?

Your breast will engorge when there is a buildup of fluid inside your breast. Things like early milk supply can fill the breast to the point that it prevents fluids from draining. When this happens, your breast will get sore and swell up.

What Is The Duration Of Breast Engorgement?

How long breast engorgement lasts is relative. It can go as quickly as when your breast releases milk, either by breastfeeding or using a breast pump. Most breast engorgement will go away after twelve to twenty-four hours.

If you decide not to breastfeed again, slowly reduce the quantity of breastmilk you pump daily. It will signal the body to create less of it. The time it takes to stop totally can range from a couple of days to a few weeks.

How Can I Avoid Breast Engorgement At Night?

If your breasts swell up while your baby is sleeping, massage or manually extract some breast milk to relieve the discomfort. Remember to keep an eye on the time while you do that to avoid pumping more than required.

Do I Need To Pump To Get Rid Of Breast Engorgement?

Engorged breasts shouldn’t get worse after pumping; on the contrary, they can get better. Your breast may get too stiff for your infant to grip if it is engorged. To make it simpler for your baby to latch on to your breast, you can relax the areola and stretch the nipple by milking it a bit before your baby starts sucking.

How Does It Feel To Have Engorged Breasts?

Breasts that are engorged may be uncomfortable, heavy, and rigid. The areola may become quite stiff, and the nipples may deflate, making the infant not suck breast effectively.

You shouldn’t feel bad when your breast gets engorged; it’s normal and happens to most breastfeeding mothers.

Contact Your Physician When:

  • You have breast milk discoloration.
  • Get ill with a fever while breastfeeding.
  • The pain from the engorged breast becomes unbearable.
  • The breast engorgement refuses to go within two to three days.

FAQs

How Do I Sleep If My Breasts Are Swollen?

When your breasts are engorged, you may find it hard to sleep. Before retiring to bed, you can attempt extracting some breast milk to ease the soreness in your breasts. Also, you can press ice cubes on the engorged breasts to reduce puffiness and soreness.

In addition, you can sleep with pillows raised off the bed to relieve some tension on your breasts. Avoid lying on your stomach.

Can I Feed My Baby If My Breasts Are Engorged?

If your breasts are engorged, you can still feed your baby till they are satisfied. Doing this will reduce the heaviness of the breast.

However, if the engorgement does not subside after nursing, you can manually pump or extract some breast milk until you feel at ease.

In Summary

Feeding your infant constantly, manually extracting breast milk with a breast pump, or weaning consistently are some of the best ways to prevent breast engorgement.

If you want to discontinue breastfeeding, slowly reduce the frequency of breastfeeding or the quantity of breast milk your baby takes to avoid your breast getting engorged.

Related posts:

Can Formula Ever Really Replace Breast Milk?Can Formula Ever Really Replace Breast Milk? Necrotizing Enterocolitis: The Risks Of Using Formula For Premature BabiesNecrotizing Enterocolitis: The Risks Of Using Formula For Premature Babies What to Expect the First 6 Months After Having a BabyWhat to Expect the First 6 Months After Having a Baby

Posted By The Fashionable Housewife
on September 3, 2022 at 10:48 PM
Filed Under: Breastfeeding
Tagged With: breast engorgement, breast milk, breast milk supply, Breastfeeding

About The Fashionable Housewife

Sarah-Jean Ballard is the Editor in Chief of The Fashionable Housewife blog and Founder of Fashionable Media. Married to a sexy Molecular Biologist, housewife, mom to 5, homeschooler, Certified Personal Nutritionist and entrepreneur who's mission is to help moms just like you look and feel GREAT! Other interests include dancing, yoga, positive intactivism, natural birth and breastfeeding support, babywearing, paleo & gluten-free cooking, and promoting an overall healthy lifestyle to all.

Disclaimer

The Fashionable Housewife is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for blogs and websites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We also participate in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission on purchases made through our links. There is no extra cost to you! For more info, please see our Disclosure & Privacy Policy.

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Sarah-Jean Ballard

Hi! I’m Sarah-Jean. I’m a Christian, the wife of a handsome Molecular Biologist, and the homeschooling mother of 5 beautiful kids!

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𝕊𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕙 | Fashionable Homemaker & Mom of 5
Looking at pictures of my last birth makes me grie Looking at pictures of my last birth makes me grieve my baby in Heaven that I just lost a few weeks ago. 

Knowing all the firsts we won’t be getting. All the newborn snuggles, that new baby smell, the joy of breastfeeding, it’s all gone. Slipped through my fingers in a moment, for no reason. 

No one thinks it will ever happen to them. Nothing prepares you for the loss of your child and no one can fully understand and appreciate the intense level of grief and pain until it happens to you. And if you do not understand this kind of grief, consider yourself very, very blessed and fortunate. 

Sometimes being open to life, also means being open to loss. 💔

#miscarriage #miscarriagesupport #miscarriageawareness #lossmom
READ this post before you LIKE it. 💔💔💔 A READ this post before you LIKE it. 💔💔💔

A few weeks ago, we were planning to announce that baby #6 would be joining our crew in January 2023, but instead we've been processing the death of our beloved child... 

At our 20 week anatomy scan, when we were joyfully expecting to see what our little babe looked like, we were met the words that will haunt us forever - "We can't find a heartbeat."

Two days later, we found ourselves in a foreign environment, after 5 beautiful homebirths, naturally delivering our stillborn son in a hospital. 

Dylan Marinus Ballard was born on August 31st, (our first son's birthday) at 6:43pm and weighing only 7.5 oz. 

Tearfully and filled with grief beyond words, we had to say hello and goodbye at the same time. Our beautiful son. 

Seeing his face, holding his tiny body, and admiring his little toes that looked just like daddy's was just a glimpse into the miracle of life that God allows us to partake in. When you fully realize the sanctity of human life, it makes it even harder to say goodbye. Not being able to take my baby home with me was the most gut wrenching, heartbreaking pain imaginable. It is a pain unlike all others that only mothers who have lost a child can even begin to understand. 

The hardest part of losing a child, is living everyday afterwards. It's such a devastating loss, a loss so unimaginable, that you have no idea how you will get through each day or survive the grief that is in your heart. No matter what age a child is, a parent's heart is forever tied to that child and there's nothing that will break that tie, including the passing of time. That's the beauty of unconditional love. 

Our only consolation is knowing that our little saint is in the loving arms of Jesus now. We look forward to meeting him in Heaven someday.

📷 birth photography by Melissa Lee Photography

#griefjourney #griefandloss #miscarriage #miscarriageawareness #griefawareness #griefislove #itsokaynottobeokay #largefamily #largefamilymom #bigfamily #bigfamilylife #lossmom #pregnancyloss #momlife #pregnancylossawareness #stillbirth #stillborn #stillbornstillloved #stillbornawareness #babyloss #miscarriagemomma #bereavedparents #lossmoms
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We love that Wildgrain is passionate about delivering slow-fermented sourdough bread‘s, fresh pasta, and artisan pastries directly to your door and I love that they are local to me! 

WANT TO TRY IT?! The first 50 people to use my coupon code and link can get $30 off their first box PLUS free croissants in every box! 

Use coupon code FASHIONABLEWIFE to snag this deal QUICK! 💃🏼

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Get 10% off the new Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan using my link! 🛒

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Looking at pictures of my last birth makes me grie Looking at pictures of my last birth makes me grieve my baby in Heaven that I just lost a few weeks ago. 

Knowing all the firsts we won’t be getting. All the newborn snuggles, that new baby smell, the joy of breastfeeding, it’s all gone. Slipped through my fingers in a moment, for no reason. 

No one thinks it will ever happen to them. Nothing prepares you for the loss of your child and no one can fully understand and appreciate the intense level of grief and pain until it happens to you. And if you do not understand this kind of grief, consider yourself very, very blessed and fortunate. 

Sometimes being open to life, also means being open to loss. 💔

#miscarriage #miscarriagesupport #miscarriageawareness #lossmom
READ this post before you LIKE it. 💔💔💔 A READ this post before you LIKE it. 💔💔💔

A few weeks ago, we were planning to announce that baby #6 would be joining our crew in January 2023, but instead we've been processing the death of our beloved child... 

At our 20 week anatomy scan, when we were joyfully expecting to see what our little babe looked like, we were met the words that will haunt us forever - "We can't find a heartbeat."

Two days later, we found ourselves in a foreign environment, after 5 beautiful homebirths, naturally delivering our stillborn son in a hospital. 

Dylan Marinus Ballard was born on August 31st, (our first son's birthday) at 6:43pm and weighing only 7.5 oz. 

Tearfully and filled with grief beyond words, we had to say hello and goodbye at the same time. Our beautiful son. 

Seeing his face, holding his tiny body, and admiring his little toes that looked just like daddy's was just a glimpse into the miracle of life that God allows us to partake in. When you fully realize the sanctity of human life, it makes it even harder to say goodbye. Not being able to take my baby home with me was the most gut wrenching, heartbreaking pain imaginable. It is a pain unlike all others that only mothers who have lost a child can even begin to understand. 

The hardest part of losing a child, is living everyday afterwards. It's such a devastating loss, a loss so unimaginable, that you have no idea how you will get through each day or survive the grief that is in your heart. No matter what age a child is, a parent's heart is forever tied to that child and there's nothing that will break that tie, including the passing of time. That's the beauty of unconditional love. 

Our only consolation is knowing that our little saint is in the loving arms of Jesus now. We look forward to meeting him in Heaven someday.

📷 birth photography by Melissa Lee Photography

#griefjourney #griefandloss #miscarriage #miscarriageawareness #griefawareness #griefislove #itsokaynottobeokay #largefamily #largefamilymom #bigfamily #bigfamilylife #lossmom #pregnancyloss #momlife #pregnancylossawareness #stillbirth #stillborn #stillbornstillloved #stillbornawareness #babyloss #miscarriagemomma #bereavedparents #lossmoms
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What are your favorite fall comfort foods???

#momlife #homemaker #octobervibes #feelslikefall
Need an easy solution for dinner but don’t want Need an easy solution for dinner but don’t want fast food? @wildgrainbox delivers bake-from-frozen breads, pastries, and fresh pasta right to your door!

Clean ingredients, real sourdough, artisanal pastries, hand cut fresh pasta, eco friendly shipping, and they support small bakeries! 👩🏼‍🍳

Every item is freezer to table in 25 minutes or less so you can enjoy homemade quality food, FAST. I whipped up a loaf of sourdough bread and delicious pasta with marinara sauce in under 30 minutes for me and my husband to enjoy a little date night at home. It was like going to a fancy Italian restaurant, but we go to eat in our pajamas!

We love that Wildgrain is passionate about delivering slow-fermented sourdough bread‘s, fresh pasta, and artisan pastries directly to your door and I love that they are local to me! 

WANT TO TRY IT?! The first 50 people to use my coupon code and link can get $30 off their first box PLUS free croissants in every box! 

Use coupon code FASHIONABLEWIFE to snag this deal QUICK! 💃🏼

LlNK in bio and in stories! 🛒

#momlife #homemaker #mywildgrain #datenightideas
Introducing Caraway’s most requested products, t Introducing Caraway’s most requested products, the NEW Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan!!! 

By popular demand, they now have miniature versions of their two best-selling À La Carte pieces, now in compact and cute sizes!! 

These are designed for cooking smaller portions and are a perfect complement to your current Caraway cookware collection. 

🥳Get 10% off the new Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan using my link in my bio! 🥳

#momlife #homemaker #homelifestyle #kitcheninspo
What better way to welcome fall than with @caraway What better way to welcome fall than with @caraway_home latest products, the Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan!!! 

By popular demand, they now have miniature versions of their two best-selling À La Carte pieces, now in compact & cute sizes. These are designed for cooking smaller portions and make the perfect complement to your current Caraway collection. 

Get 10% off the new Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan using my link! 🛒

⁣LlNK is in my bio and stories! 💃🏼 Or use code FASHIONABLEWIFE-MINI22 
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
#cottageliving #decor #decoration #farmhouselove #hgtv #homedesign #interior #interiordecor #interiorstyling #kitchendesign #kitchendiner #kitcheninspo #kitchenremodel #kitchenrenovation #kitchensofinstagram #magnoliahome #modernfarmhouse #modernfarmhousestyle #neutralabodes #neutraldecor #neutralhome #neutralkitchen #neutralstyle #neutraltones #newbuild #newbuildhome #newbuildjourney #quartzworktops #shakerkitchen #whitekitchen
Can you imagine a more beautiful thing?! I can’t Can you imagine a more beautiful thing?! I can’t! 🤣

My son is loving our @treasuresfromjennifer calendar and keeping track of the days now. He keeps telling me how many days it is until the first day of fall rather than asking me 900 times “when is it going to be fall, mama?!” 😜

Do you have a calendar or weather board in your home for your children? 

#homeschoolmom #homeschoolroom #homeschoollife #homeschoollookslikethis
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