My daughter is a month old now and I am having trouble with some bad engorgement problems right now. At night, she is still eating every 3-4 hours. I have been waking up with my breasts rock hard and aching. I have been trying not to pump any of it because i feel that my body will adjust but I dont feel like it will. Now i am starting to get engorged more in the evening and at night. I am sore when i am not engorged and now I dont know what to do.

If we give a bottle, i pump and put it right in the bottle. I dont add anythiong extra or pump more than what i give her. if she isnt done, she gets thebreast. She only gets a bottle once every other day.

I dont want to give myself an infection or clogged ducts. What should I do?

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Co-Host of Born in June 2007

I'd pump *just enough* to relieve the engorgement... pumping that little won't make you make more milk. If it's an option, maybe add a pumping session or 2 per day and freeze. Personally, I make *waaaaaay* than Andrew eats, but I'm freezing the leftovers (I think I need to buy a new freezer!) I don't get engorged because I pump every 3 hours during the day (even at work), but at night I only pump when Andrew wakes up (1-2 times.) I'm hardly ever engorged and I believe my supply is pretty well established now. Good luck Randi!

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Hmmm. Well, it's going to take your body at least 6 weeks or so to figure out what the baby needs. I too had a ton of milk at a month. You will find, if you nurse on demand and don't supplement, your supply will even out in a few weeks.

At her age, nursing every 2-3 hours is normal, around the clock. Drinking plenty of fluids and varying your nursing positions will help prevent clogged ducts. You might also try hand expressing a little bit in a warm shower, just enough to make you comfortable. I've read that some women find that cabbage leaves in the bra help, never tried that one myself!

Remember that the pump will never empty the breasts as much as the baby will. The baby is a lot more efficient. I always noticed that when I'd pump at work, my breasts always seemed to feel full a lot more quickly than when the baby nursed.

Good luck!

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Suzanne

Proud mommy to Katie and Rob

I agree with the pp's. Your body will self-regulate milk production by 6wks, and until then your best bet is to express enough to relieve the discomfort. I would use the hot water on the shower to hand express enough to make it more comfortable. Cabbage leaves can help, but be careful with them because they can decrease the milk supply. http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...gorgement.html has some good info.

Good luck!

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i'd give it another 2 wks or so, there is another growth spurt at around 6 wks old, and usually that is when the baby nurses more frequently again for a couple of days, and also usually when mom's supply slows down to only make what the babe needs.

((hugs))0 sorry you're hurting mama. any chance that you're putting pressure where you shouldn't be? do you sleep on your tummy? what kind of bra are you wearing?

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