Baby Care Tip #24 – Use a breast pump to relieve breast engorgement

Baby Care Tip #24 – Use a breast pump to relieve breast engorgement
This is a tried and tested remedy to get relief from breast engorgement from an experienced mommy.

An engorgement usually happens if your child isn’t taking a feed properly (due to latching problems), there is a long break between two feeds, especially if your child is napping for long or you are out at work. When your breasts have excess milk, they become hard and tender to touch. It swells and pains. For some women, it could also lead to a low-grade fever. I have experienced all of this.

This is why I feel that having a breast pump really helps. Other natural remedies like using ice-packs, cabbage leavescan provide temporary relief from engorgement. But using a breast pump to remove excess milk is an instant relief. So when you feel engorged, use a breast pump to express milk and store it. Here is what you can do with the expressed milk -

Store it in the refrigerator to preserve its nutrients, preferably in a glass container or BPA free storing bottles. It is advisable to keep them in the refrigerator for up to seven days. If you are not using a bottle, your child can be fed the milk during your absence by a caregiver. Or store it in feeding bottles so you can offer it your baby later. In case you have excess milk stored in your refrigerator, donate them to milk banks.

However, many experts believe that using a breast pump can increase breast milk supplybecause breast milk production works on demand and supply method. The more the baby suckles at the breast, more milk is produced. Using a breast pump mimics the action of a baby’s suckling. But with time, as you start weaning, your breasts will make less milk and episodes of engorgement will subside. So if you are worried that using a breast pump might increase breast milk production and engorgement too, remember that after the initial two months of continuous efforts and help, breastfeeding will become easier.

Image source: Shutterstock

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