For new mothers who are experiencing
breast engorgement, remedies are available to help relieve the discomfort. Treatment should involve frequent breastfeeding with complete emptying of the breasts at each feeding. Massage may also help the baby to latch on by softening the breast.
If you are not breastfeeding, you should not pump (or express) a large amount of milk from your breasts. The more breast milk you express, the more your body will think you need to produce, so it will continue to make more. The idea is to express just enough to relieve the pressure and make it more comfortable for you, but also an amount small enough that your body gets the message to stop producing.
Breast engorgement can cause discomfort or pain. To relieve this, you can take
acetaminophen (
Tylenol®) or
ibuprofen (Advil
®,
Motrin®). Both medicines appear to be safe while breastfeeding and could be a useful remedy for breast engorgement.
(Click Breast Engorgement Treatment to learn more about the remedies for this condition, including more suggestions on how to express breast milk and minimize pain or swelling.)
HealthSavvy Sign In
|