Breast Engorgement - HELP!!

I was kinda confused by everyones responses. You said you are NOT breastfeeding. I didnt breastfeed with my children. I always found that you should leave the breasts alone, so that they will dry up. The more you run warm water on them the more you are stimulating them to produce that milk. I was told by professionals not to let the warm water on them, or even touch them for that fact. I completly left them alone and wore a supportive bra for a couple days and I was fine. I hope you are doing okay now, please update us.

If you haven't already I was try to see a lactation consultant. They have lots of tricks and tips. Have you tried pumping a little before you nurse?

I had trouble with that with both my older boys... my milk didnt come in until they were almost two weeks old! (go figure). The only thing that helped was to massage and let some milk flow... just a little. Then my body only produced "what I used" and I tapered off till the engorgement was manageable. Took a week or two, but I felt much better, and thankfully I was home anyway with my little ones, so it wasn't at all inconvenient to do. Good Luck!

I copied this from a site. It worked for my sister.

"If it is too painful to nurse, express milk by hand while in a warm shower or tub or hang your breast over the sink and run water over it, as you gently massage toward the nipple.

Do not wear tight fitting clothes or nipple shields across the breast.

Warm, moist heat applied with a compress or hot water bottle will help unplug the ducts and ease swelling. Herbs that work well in a breast compress are anti-inflammatory and reduce swelling (comfrey, chamomile, calendula, lavender), increase lymph circulation and drainage (cleavers, burdock root, yarrow), and draw out infection (slippery elm, marshmallow root). Mullein leaf relieves pain. Pour boiling water over the herbs and steep 10-15 minutes. When cool enough to touch, apply herbs as a poultice, or dip a cotton cloth in the warm infusion, wring it out and wrap around the breast and under the armpit. Keep the poultice on until it cools. Reapply throughout the day. If infection is present, a clean poultice or cloth should be used every time.

Try a grated potato or cabbage leaves on an engorged breast to draw out inflammation. It can be mixed with hot water or applied cold, whichever feels better.

A home remedy that has been used successfully to unplug ducts is to drink a small amount of undiluted apple cider vinegar."

If u still have it try to pump i no that u said that ur not feedin but u might have to releast that milk that is there already but try doin it once and then put the other stuff on them and see if that will help out a little ... Good luck

J. Marie

When I had my second child, I too suffered from breast engorgement. The only thing that worked (and it was painful) was my doctor's suggestion to have my son's father give my breasts some squeezing. It forced the breasts to drain and within a few weeks, my breasts went down to a normal size.
So, my advice to you S. is to try the same thing I did. To this day, I wish there had been a pill that was made for it. :-(

I nursed both my daughters, but my mom bottle fed all 5 of us. Of course I was a child when she mentioned this, but I couldv'e sworn she said they gave her a shot to stop the production because she wasn't going to breast feed...maybe this was discontinued after the 80s, or I misunderstood but I would ask my DR if I was experiencing this much pain.

take a hot shower let the water hit your brest it will make the pian go away it might take a few times. I delt with it too the mistake the nuse told me was just to take medicin

Hi S.-
You may want to try hand expressing A LITTLE milk every few hours - actually expressing just a little makes your body produce less. Good luck!

Hi stacy. My name is H.. I am new to this sight, my sister signed me up, with the free tree planting. anyway. I can sympathize with you about your pain. I'm sure you have tried everything, and maybe it is starting to subside by now. Why aren't you breastfeeding if you don't mind me asking? Because I know the only thing that worked for me, was to basically milk myself. I know it sounds strange and believe me it feels even stranger. But the milk needs to be released. I would sit over a big bowl or dish of some kind, and massage my breasts much like a breast exam. I would hold my breast with one hand while gently smoothing it downwards towards the nipple,basically following the milk glands in a clockwise manner. I hope this helps. I'm really going to freak you out now. I drank my breast milk . It is so full of vitamins and protein and antibodies everything a new mom needs as well as a new baby. No judgements. I didn't mean it that way. Just remember we produce liquid gold with our bodies and it shouldn't be squandered. Good luck! and Congratulations on your new little one. Write back if you like. peace, H.