What can I do for engorgement?

Breast engorgement can happen when the breasts become overly full which causes swelling, firmness, and pain during breastfeeding. It commonly happens in the first few days after birth when milk production increases, but it can also happen later if milk is not removed regularly (for example, missed feeds, sudden weaning, or baby not latching well). Through recent research we now know a major contributing factor to engorgement is lymph flow! Lymph (a fluid that flows through your body and clears waste ) plays a major role in breast engorgement because engorgement is not only about too much milk, it also involves swelling from extra fluid and reduced lymph drainage in the breast tissue.

Here’s the basic idea

- Our breasts contain (magic powers) and milk ducts, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels.

- Milk flows down through our ducts and out of the breast through the nipple

- Lymph should flow up and out of the breast towards the arm pit to be redistributed to nearby lymph nodes

- Sometimes we can cause a “traffic jam” in the breast and come to a stand still - where nothing is moving, this is what engorgement is.

- If swelling becomes significant, the lymph vessels can’t drain fluid efficiently and the breasts can not release milk.

- Fluid then builds up in the tissue around the milk glands and ducts, causing firmness, swelling, and pressure.

That’s why some treatments focus on reducing swelling, not just removing milk. An incredible RN/IBCLC Maya Bolman developed a technique called breast gymnastics to help encourage lymph to flow up and out of the breast so milk can flow down and out. If you’re having severe engorgement try this technique asap!

Other things that help engorgement :

- Breastfeed frequently (and effectively) on demand

- Make sure the baby has a good latch

- Hand express or pump ONLY to comfort as needed

- Apply cold packs to reduce swelling

- Wear a supportive but not tight bra

- Gentle breast massage while feeding or pumping