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How to Relieve an Engorged Breast
La Leche League International reports that breast engorgement following childbirth is relatively short-lived, and usually lasts only a day or two for most women. Breast engorgement occurs when the blood vessels in the breast become congested, making it difficult for you to nurse or express your milk. Engorgement generally causes breasts to feel tender and swollen, and may cause some discomfort for the new mother. Fortunately, methods exist that you can employ to reduce the pain and irritation.
Express milk with a breast pump or with your hands to relieve engorgement. For this purpose, an electric pump may work better than a manual pump.
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Massage the breast in a circular motion. Start at the top of the breast and work down toward the nipple. Warm water may make this method more effective.
Take a warm shower before feeding your baby. The heat will increase blood flow to the breast and help your body release milk.
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Wear a nursing bra that is supportive, but not restrictive. Place a cold compress inside the bra between feedings.
Crush cold, dry cabbage leaves and place them over the engorged breast. Leave on the breast for 20 to 30 minutes or until the cabbage wilts, according to the Children's Physician's Network 1.
Nurse your baby as much as possible. If your baby sleeps longer than a few hours at a stretch, wake your baby to nurse. Make sure the baby completely drains one breast before offering the second breast.
Apply manual pressure to breasts while your baby feeds. This should help soften the breast and increase the flow of milk to your baby 1.
Tips
Take ibuprofen to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with engorgement. The Children's Physician Network says that only a small amount of ibuprofen will get into your milk supply.
Make sure your baby latches on completely during feedings. An improper latch can make breastfeeding with an engorged breast even more uncomfortable.
Warnings
Breast engorgement can lead to blocked milk ducts or a breast infection. Call a doctor if your symptoms worsen or persist.
Some women may experience a reduction in milk supply after using cabbage leaves. La Leche League International advises women to stop using cabbage leaves as soon as the swelling goes down.
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References
- National Institutes of Health: Medline Plus: Overcoming Breastfeeding Problems
- Alkabban FM, Ferguson T. Cancer, Breast. [Updated 2019 Jun 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482286/
- Powell RW. Breast Pain. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, editors. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 169. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK277/
- National Breast Cancer Foundation. Breast Pain. nationalbreastcancer.org
- Koo MM, von Wagner C, Abel GA, McPhail S, Rubin GP, Lyratzopoulos G. Typical and atypical presenting symptoms of breast cancer and their associations with diagnostic intervals: Evidence from a national audit of cancer diagnosis. Cancer Epidemiol. 2017;48:140–146. doi:10.1016/j.canep.2017.04.010
- Smith RL, Pruthi S, Fitzpatrick LA. Evaluation and management of breast pain. Mayo Clin Proc. 2004;79(3):353-72.
- Morrow M. The evaluation of common breast problems. Am Fam Physician. 2000;61(8):2371-8, 2385.
- Powell RW. Breast Examination. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, editors. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 176. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK285/
- Lee MD, Michelle, Owen MD, Wendi. My Breast Hurt. Should I be Worried? Society of Breast Imaging. sbi-online.org September 27, 2019
- Molckovsky A, Fitzgerald B, Freedman O, Heisey R, Clemons M. Approach to inflammatory breast cancer. Can Fam Physician. 2009;55(1):25–31.
- InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Pain management in metastatic breast cancer. 2012 Feb 14 [Updated 2016 Apr 7]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361025/
- Rostami R, Mittal S, Rostami P, Tavassoli F, Jabbari B. Brain metastasis in breast cancer: a comprehensive literature review. J Neurooncol. 2016;127(3):407-14.
- Cingam SR, Karanchi H. Cancer, Adrenal Metastasis. [Updated 2019 Jan 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441879/
- Sanguinetti A, Polistena A, Lucchini R, et al. Male breast cancer, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment: Twenty years of experience in our Breast Unit. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2016;20S(Suppl):8–11. doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2016.02.004
- Khattab A, Monga DK. Cancer, Male Breast Cancer. [Updated 2019 Feb 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526036/
- Yıldırım AC, Yıldız P, Yıldız M, Kahramanca Ş, Kargıcı H. Mastalgia-Cancer Relationship: A Prospective Study. J Breast Health. 2015;11(2):88–91. Published 2015 Apr 1. doi:10.5152/tjbh.2015.2492
- Ajmal M, Van Fossen K. Breast Fibroadenoma. [Updated 2018 Dec 13]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535345/
- Crandall CJ, Aragaki AK, Cauley JA, et al. Breast tenderness and breast cancer risk in the estrogen plus progestin and estrogen-alone women's health initiative clinical trials. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. 2012. 132(1):275-85. doi:10.1007/s10549-011-1848-9
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Tips
- Take ibuprofen to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with engorgement. The Children's Physician Network says that only a small amount of ibuprofen will get into your milk supply.
- Make sure your baby latches on completely during feedings. An improper latch can make breastfeeding with an engorged breast even more uncomfortable.
Writer Bio
Tess Miller has been a freelance writer since 2002. Her work has appeared in "The Front Range Review" and "Memoirs INK." She has worked in the nonprofit sector as a grant writer, fundraiser and literacy advocate. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in health and human services from the University of Massachusetts.