Health

Things To Know About Breast Engorgement

Breast engorgement is a condition in which painful swelling occurs in your breast, that happens after childbirth. When you give birth to a child, your body releases hormones that affect your breasts so that they can produce milk and meet the nutritional needs of the baby.

In the first week of delivering a baby, whether you breastfeed them or not, milk will come to your breasts, causing them to become swollen, hard, and tender.

If you are worried about having postpartum breast engorgement, let me tell you that is a normal thing. It literally happens to every woman. You are not alone in it, and it does not happen due to any serious health condition. Instead, having it is pretty normal.

Many women are often concerned about breast engorgement and what causes it. In this article, we will answer both questions, so come with us. If you have a complaint of swollen breasts that are too painful, you must seek professional help. To get an expert opinion, you can visit the Best Gynecologist in Islamabad.

What Is The Cause For Breast Engorgement?

Breast engorgement occurs because the milk supply is increased at the time of childbirth. Ample milk production is good for milk supply, but it can accumulate, causing swelling and engorgement of breasts. If you continue to breastfeed the child, it may recur. The other common reasons for breast engorgement while you breastfeed your child can be:

  • Missing a feeding or a pumping session
  • If your body is creating too much milk according to the need of your baby
  • If you keep switching between formula milk and breastfeeding
  • Nursing a baby who is ill
  • If your child weans too quickly
  • If your child has difficulty in latching and sucking milk
  • Not expressing breastmilk at the initial time
  • If your child is not taking the feed properly and is having a difficulty in latching or sucking
  • Your body is making more milk than your baby needs

What Are The Symptoms Of Breast Engorgement?

The symptoms of breast engorgement may differ from woman to woman. However, the common symptoms of it are:

The breast feels:

  • Swollen
  • Lumpy
  • Hard or tight
  • Heavy or full

The swelling may occur in one or both breasts. Sometimes, with breast engorgement, you may also have a fever- a condition known as milk fever.

If you have this fever, you can still continue to nurse, but you should tell the healthcare provider if your temperature is raised and does not get better with paracetamol.

It is always a good idea to consult with a healthcare provider because sometimes a breast infection, known as mastitis can also cause fever and it needs to be treated soon.

If you want to stop breastfeeding, do not express milk for some days. In this way, your body will understand that you do not need to breastfeed, and milk production will stop. Do not keep expressing milk to get rid of swelling and heaviness, otherwise, it will produce more and more milk.

The Bottom Line

Breast engorgement is a painful swelling of the breasts. It can occur due to milk accumulation after childbirth. It may resolve in a few days after delivery.

If you have a complaint of prolonged swelling and painful breasts, you must consult with a healthcare provider. To get an expert opinion, you can visit the Best Gynecologist in Lahore.

You can practice little tips to prevent breast engorgement in the future. But in the initial days, you can not prevent it from happening. You must consult with a healthcare provider if the complaint remains for a long time.

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