The phenomenon, accompanied by stagnation of milk, blockage of the milk ducts, is called lactostasis. For many women, an exciting issue is lactostasis, how to treat it and, of course, how to avoid this problem.
Narrow ducts of the mammary glands contribute to the occurrence of lactostasis (this is usually caused by primogenous women), insufficient emptying of the breast with increased milk production, which causes it to clog in one or more milk ducts and leads to pain in the chest. If you lightly press on the chest with your fingers, you can feel some seals. Blockages contribute to the uneven flow of milk from the breast or to its complete cessation. Painful sensations arise when expressing the chest, in which there are similar seals. If lactostasis is found, how to treat it, only the attending physician knows who should be consulted immediately, otherwise mastitis cannot be avoided.
The reasons for the development of lactostasis are many. If the feeds are irregular and rare, or if the mother refuses to breastfeed at all, then milk stagnation immediately forms. A large volume of milk and small gaps in the milk canals also entail the appearance of lactostasis. Existing cracks in the nipples, bruises, injuries of the mammary glands - all this makes feeding difficult and is also a prerequisite for lactostasis. Also, if it is improper to support the breast or squeeze it during feeding, the consequences will not be very pleasant. Close underwear compressing the breasts is not recommended.
Stagnation in the mammary glands is most often observed in women who are primiparous, or in the first months after childbirth. During this period, the child consumes little milk and this affects the lactation process. Inadequate emptying of the breast may be prerequisites for the development of lactostasis.
What is lactostasis, how to treat it, and most importantly - how to prevent it, every nursing mother should know. It is not recommended to express milk after feeding, because there may be an incorrect reaction of the body, which perceives this as a sign that the child is not enough milk. As a result of this, milk will arrive even stronger, and there will be an excess of it, which means that it will need to be pumped constantly throughout the whole day.
It is very important to control the amount of fluid consumed. Excessive consumption can contribute to an abundant rush of milk. During the first week after childbirth, you should limit yourself to one liter of liquid, including the first dish.
It is best to feed the baby at his first request, preferably at least once an hour. This contributes to the gradual elimination of blockage of the mammary gland and the restoration of the free outflow of milk. If pain arises in any one breast, then the baby should be applied to this breast more often. However, it may not be able to cope with the large amount of milk that is in it, and then pumping can not be done. A good assistant in this rather complicated matter can be a breast pump. You need to gently massage the problem breast and use a breast pump to empty it. Then, using a cotton cloth soaked in camphor or petroleum jelly oil, apply a bandage that will serve as a warming compress for the chest. The bandage needs to be fixed well and not removed within seven hours.
Sometimes nursing mothers ask themselves: if lactostasis has formed, how to treat it with folk remedies? There is a proven remedy - cabbage compresses, for which you need to take 1-2 leaves of ordinary white cabbage, knead a little and pierce with a knife or fork, and then attach to the chest (you can additionally grease them with honey). Such a compress should be worn long enough, after it there is no need to wash the breast, it does not spoil the taste and smell of milk and most importantly - it helps to quickly eliminate all manifestations of lactostasis.
In most cases, breast massage for lactostasis is recommended. However, it must be produced very carefully and gently. It is advisable to do this before a warming compress or warm the chest with a warm shower. Circular movements around the seal should be light. Then you need to go to the center of the nipple, in order to soften all the milk ducts, including those where blockages formed. After all the procedures, you need to make a general light stroking of the entire chest.
Strong warming compresses with lactostasis and deep warming of the milk ducts are undesirable, as they can cause a violation of the hormonal regulation of the released milk. And it also contributes to the deterioration of the excretion of milk from the milk ducts.
One must always remember that at the first signs of lactostasis there should be no delay in treatment, otherwise it will result in more serious consequences.