Breast milk is not only the first food for the baby, but also a whole range of incredibly useful trace elements, as well as a combination of mother’s antibodies that help to quickly cope with ailments. In addition, breastfeeding is a very touching moment for a woman and important for the mental and physical development of crumbs. Unfortunately, young mothers often encounter certain difficulties. The most common problem is milk congestion. What to do in this case and how to help yourself?
What did you do wrong?
Lactostasis (the scientific name for milk stagnation) does not just happen. This is usually a signal of a mistake during feeding. The main cause of stagnation is the incomplete emptying of the mammary gland. In the first months of feeding women have excess milk. If a child does not regularly eat up a portion of a tasty treat presented to him, then the leftovers can cause discomfort.
Lactostasis in a nursing mother is often caused by the incorrect attachment of the baby to the chest. The crumb should completely cover the nipple with the mouth, covering with lips and part of the areola. Otherwise, individual segments of the gland are not completely emptied.
Any chest injury or just a tight bra can cause milk stagnation. Choose only the special and most comfortable underwear for nursing mothers.
Symptoms of Lactostasis
- Chest pain. Discomfort can be observed both in the entire gland, and in its individual segment.
- On palpation, hardening or a small pea is felt under the skin. Most often, such surprises are found closer to the armpit or under the chest.
- Sometimes a red spot forms on the skin at the site of stagnation.
- In some cases, there is an increase in temperature, chills, and even cramps. This condition is very dangerous, as it may be a symptom of already infectious mastitis. It is better to immediately consult a doctor.
How to protect yourself?
Nursing mothers often experience stagnation of milk. What to do to minimize the number of their occurrences?
- Make sure that the baby grasps the nipple correctly. This technique is difficult to learn from books, so even in the hospital, ask the midwife to help you establish the process of breastfeeding.
- Do not take long breaks between feedings.
- Do not express milk residues from the breast unnecessarily.
- Examine your chest regularly for lumps and painful areas.
- Periodically change the posture and method of applying the child. Use the out-of-hand feeding method at least once a day.
You have had lactostasis. What to do?
Feeling a hard pea or feeling chest pain, do not panic. Your main assistant in this situation will be your own child. Give him a sore chest on demand. The second breast can be offered less often, periodically expressing it.
Consider another situation: you are far from the child and found stagnation of milk. What to do if there is no opportunity to put the baby to the chest? Use a breast pump or express breasts manually. The first method is preferable, as modern nursing assistants are made taking into account female physiology and absolutely do not injure the breast. In the absence of such a device at hand, you can solve the problem yourself.
- Massage your sore chest with light finger touches. Pay particular attention to areas with a seal.
- You can take a warm shower or apply a heated towel to your chest, which will facilitate the rapid passage of milk.
- With gentle finger movements, squeeze the areola of the nipple by expressing milk. Periodically massage your entire chest. You may need to repeat the procedure several times.
- A compress from an alcoholic solution of chlorophyllipt and camphor oil will help relieve inflammation. Also use a folk remedy by attaching a leaf of white cabbage to a sick chest.
If even in the maternity hospital you are tormented by stagnation of milk, what to do - midwives will tell you. Do not be afraid to seek the help of doctors. Lactostasis is dangerous with subsequent mastitis, so do not delay the treatment.