Breaking of mammary glands

Breaking of the mammary glands occurs as a result of a painful overflow of the breast with milk. This happens when the child uses less milk than the mother's glands produce.

That's why often mothers stop breastfeeding ahead of time.

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Causes of the engorgement of mammary glands

Breaking of mammary glands happens:

• when milk comes in the first days after delivery;
• if there is a violation of normal breastfeeding and there is no possibility to express milk or use a breast pump;
• with a sharp cessation of breastfeeding;
• during the introduction of solid foods, the child uses less breast milk, as well as in the absence of the child's appetite or disease.

Thoracic glands begin to produce milk on day 2-5 after childbirth. During his arrival, the chest becomes heavy and the temperature rises. Sometimes the glands slightly increase in volume, and in some cases become painful.

Filling the breast with milk right after delivery is considered the norm. Breasts increase the production of milk, and the child has not yet established a feeding regimen. Filling of breast milk occurs due to excess milk, as well as blood and fluid. The body uses excess fluid to produce more milk to feed the baby.

If you do not start breastfeeding immediately after birth, for a few days you will experience mild engorgement of the mammary glands. Over time, this will pass, unless, of course, milk production is not stimulated. Overcrowded mammary glands easily become rude and become very painful.

Causes of breast engorgement:

• the baby is not fed immediately after birth;
• irregular feeding;
• the child uses a small amount of breast milk, because it is fed with dry milk mixtures or gives additional water.

Strong engorgement of the mammary glands leads to the fact that the child can not correctly grasp the breast. As a result:

• the child does not take enough milk;
• the mammary glands are not completely emptied;
• Nipples become painful and crack, as the child tries to grab a full chest. If you feed less often due to painful nipples, the rattling progresses.

If you ignore this problem, ripping leads to blockage of the milk ducts and infection - mastitis.

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Symptoms of the engorgement of mammary glands

Symptoms of engorgement of the mammary glands begin to appear when a lot of milk is produced, and its small amount is used. The following symptoms are observed:

• Tumescence hardness and tenderness of the mammary glands. When heavily engorged, the glands enlarge, become firm, hot and bumpy when touched.
• The dark area around the nipples (areola) becomes very hard.
• It is difficult for a child to grab flat, firm nipples and consume enough milk.
• If the child can not get enough milk, he will suckle the breast more diligently and you will have to feed it more often.
• Your nipples can be injured during the baby's attempts to grab the breast and get enough milk.
• Temperature increase.
• A slight increase in lymph nodes in the armpits.

Complications and consequences

If you breastfeed and do not feel relief (breast engorgement does not go away), the risk of complications increases:

• blockage of milk ducts
• infection of mammary glands - mastitis.

Ask your doctor for help if:

• increased pain in one area of the mammary glands;
• redness of one area of the chest or the appearance of red bands;
• outflow of pus from the nipples or other area of the breast;
• a rise in temperature of 38.5 degrees or higher.

Immediately contact your doctor if:

• enlargement of lymph nodes in the neck or armpits;
• high temperature.

Call your doctor at any time of the day if there is a cracking and bleeding of the nipples after treatment at home.

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Diagnostics of the engorgement of mammary glands

The doctor will determine the engorgement of the mammary glands on symptoms after physical examination. Diagnosis is not used to determine the engorgement of the mammary glands.

If the doctor suspects infection of the mammary glands (mastitis). You will be given a course of antibiotics. Sometimes a special analysis of breast milk is done to identify a bacterial infection.

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Treatment of the engorgement of mammary glands

After childbirth and during the period of breastfeeding, breast engorgement often occurs. But you can take preventive measures and try to get rid of this problem at home. To go to the doctor should only in case of symptoms of infection (mastitis), in which the course of antibiotics is prescribed.

If you are not going to breastfeed, remember that there are no safe medications for "drying" and preventing the production of milk.

A few days after the mammary glands began to produce milk, the body must determine the amount necessary for feeding the baby. Usually, relief occurs within 12-24 hours (or 1-5 days if you do not breast-feed). As a rule, the symptoms of engorgement should disappear after a few days. If this does not happen, or your glands do not become soft after feeding, you need to start a course of therapy.

For relief of pain and swelling remove ibuprofen, apply a cold compress or ice, put on a supporting bra for nursing moms, which does not greatly compress the chest. To soften the chest before feeding, apply a warm compress, massage lightly, discard some milk with your hands or with the help of a breast pump. If the child refuses to feed due to illness, express the milk and store it in the refrigerator for later use.

If after feeding you still have pain, apply a cold compress. If you do not breastfeed, you can not stimulate the nipples and apply warm compresses. Instead, apply cold compresses, take anti-inflammatory and pain medications, and wear a special supporting bra.

Treatment at home breast engorgement

In order to prevent severe engorgement of the mammary glands:

• Begin to breastfeed immediately after childbirth and then try to feed often. Offer your baby a chest every hour or two when you are not sleeping. This is the best way to prevent severe engorgement of the mammary glands.
• Feed the baby when he or she wants, or at least every 2 hours.
• Make sure that the chest is soft and the baby grabs it correctly. If the breast is firm and full of milk, first disclose some milk with your hands or with the help of a breast pump, and only then put the baby to the chest.
• The breast should remain empty after each feeding.
• The child should suck the first breast, at least 15 minutes or longer, before taking on another. You will understand for yourself that you need to change your breasts, as sucking becomes less intense.
• If the child does not consume all milk, it is necessary to express the remainder with your hands or with the help of a breast pump and store in a refrigerator for further use. This is especially important in the first stage of breastfeeding.
• Breaking of the mammary glands, which occurs immediately after childbirth, will take place in the process of establishing a feeding regime, when the baby will be regularly applied to the breast and suck for a longer time.
• Periodically change the position of the baby during feeding.
• Make sure that the baby is correctly attached to the chest. If the nipples become flat, lightly massage them and the areola of the breast. Take the thumb with the thumb from above and the rest from below, so that it is easier for the child to grab the chest.
• If you have any questions about breastfeeding, discuss them with a lactation specialist.

If feeding is proceeding normally, take the following measures to avoid overburdening in the future:

With a strong filling of the breast with milk, take a warm shower, the flow of water on the chest will provoke a reflex reflex, resulting in nipples and areola will become softer. Remove the excess milk and remove the tension in the chest, using a few hands or using a breast pump.

If milk does not arrive, put a warm wet towel over your chest before feeding.

• Every time feeding is not possible, express milk every 3-4 hours.
• When you and your baby are ready to stop breastfeeding, do this gradually over several weeks. First, skip the most unsuitable time for you to feed. Wait until the milk quantity decreases. Then skip another one and so on. This way of giving up breastfeeding is the best way for you and your child. Thoracic glands can gradually adapt to a decrease in lactation, and the baby will adjust to new foods.

How to ease the symptoms of breast engorgement?

If you need to feed the baby, but this is not possible due to severe engorgement of the mammary glands, use the following recommendations:

• In order to avoid damage to the nipples, you need to soften them, as well as the area of the areola. After such a procedure, it will be easier for the child to grab the breast.
• If the milk flows out arbitrarily, apply a warm compress before feeding for a few minutes.
• Massage the milk by hand or with a breast pump. Try not to damage the muscle tissue of the mammary glands. It is best to use an automatic breast pump.
• Easy massage contributes to the outflow of milk.
• Feed your baby more often or express milk if the baby refuses to feed. This will remove the engorgement of the mammary glands. Expressed milk can be frozen in special containers and used during the next feeding.

After feeding, you need to remove swelling and pain.

• Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) in addition to non-drug treatment. If you follow strict instructions, ibuprofen is safe during the period of feeding.
• Apply cold compresses, ice or frozen vegetables to your breasts for 15 minutes as needed. To avoid damaging the muscle tissue, do not put ice directly on the skin. Preliminarily, place a thin cloth on the place where ice will be applied.
• Try to attach cabbage leaves. Place them directly in the bra. Change the sheets every two hours. Some breastfeeding moms are good at helping, but there is a slight decrease in milk intake.
• Do not wear compressive bras because they also lower the production of milk by blocking the ducts.

If you feed the child with mixtures and experience pain in the mammary glands, use the following recommendations:

• No need to express milk. It will simply further stimulate milk production and worsen the engorgement of the mammary glands. Express as much milk as necessary to relieve the pain.
• Take ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) along with non-pharmacological therapy.
• Apply compresses, ice or frozen vegetables on the chest for 15 minutes as needed. To avoid damaging the muscle tissue, do not put ice directly on the skin. Preliminarily, place a thin cloth on the place where ice will be applied.
• Try to attach cabbage leaves. Place them directly in the bra. Change the sheets every two hours. Some breastfeeding moms are good at helping, but there is a slight decrease in milk intake.
• Wear a supporting comfortable bra.

Relieving the symptoms of breast engorgement

The goal of self-help in breastfeeding is to increase the outflow of milk (the breast should remain empty after each feeding). Ensure that the child correctly grasps the breast and consumes a sufficient amount of milk. Relief usually occurs within 12-24 hours, and discomfort passes in a few days.

If you do not breastfeed, breast engorgement will occur when milk production ceases. Pain and discomfort take place within 1-5 days. Perhaps to ease the symptoms will need treatment at home.

Prevention

Prevention of breast engorgement involves the expression of milk and prevention of its outflow. In the first two weeks after childbirth, when your body adapts to breastfeeding, make sure that the mammary glands do not overflow.

• Feed your child at will. If the glands are solid, a little discard the milk in order to soften the glands and make them more comfortable for the baby.
• Make sure that the baby is correctly grasping the breast and eating well.
• The child should empty the mammary glands each time during feeding. This contributes to the production of the required amount of milk.

If you have any questions, consult a specialist about breastfeeding.

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