Hey everyone. I just had my baby boy four days ago. He was a preeemie but is a good size, 6 lb 9 oz.

He is nursing just great. I hated nursing with my last baby but I am just loving it this time around. Here's my problem:

Part of the reason I hated it last time was because it was so painful. I got super engorged and got mastitis 4 times before I finally started exclusively pumping and then eventually quit the pump.

This time it isn't painful but I am still super engorged. I am so scared of starting the mastitis cycle again. What can I do? Is there a relationship between engorgement and mastitis or are they two totally separate things?

My breasts are really painful but there aren't any red spots yet. They are just huge and hard and have tender, hard spots up toward my armpits.

I've checked out kellymom.com but wanted to get your input too.

TIA!

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Are you nursing completely on demand? Theoretically, you shouldn't become engorged if baby is nursing on demand....Key word is theoretically. SOunds like it could be an issue of oversupply, but having never had that much of one myself, I'll say see kellymom.com re: oversupply and controlling it. I know hot showers where you massage breast and hand express can help relieve the pressure. Congrats on the new baby!!

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Kerri, educated, opinionated, attached, sometimes cloth diapering, formerly breastfeeding, babywearing non-vax'ing, gentle disciplining, future unschooling, semi-crunchy, mostly non-judgemental and totally liberal mama to Kierdan(12/4/04), my sensory guy, and Kyler Jane, my g-tuber (2/1/07) and loving partner to one babywearing, attached fuzzy man with a hint of crunch


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Somone new when the Christmas trees go up

I DEFINITELY have problems with oversupply. I can pump 10+ oz off of each side, easy. Last time was the same way.

4 days postpartum, this is sitll primary engorgement. from the time that mom's milk comes in, to the time that it is resolved is usally 24 hours or less.

the good news for you is that if you keep nursing very frequently, and only pump when you really need to (ie, when you are super full) your supply will adjusted to be only what is needed pretty quickly. pump[ing off 10+ oz after feeding is gonna make your breasts think you are supposed to be feeding twins or triplets instead of a single baby, so you'll want to gradulaly slow down on the pumping- unless you are needding to build up a freezer stash that is.

don't pump less frequently, but do it for shorter periods of time in the beginning. say you have been pumping for 20 minutes every 2-3 hours, try pumping for 15 minutes every 2-3, then try for 15 minutes every 3 hrs, then every 4...

keep on using hot compresses, hot showers, and massage to work out the plugs, also if you are wearing underwire bras, stoip for a little bit until you are sure that they fit perfectly. underwire bras are notorious for putting pressure on milk ducts and causing problems.

congrats on the new baby, and welcome to the bf board

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oh, and be aware that moms wihtout your your oversupply problem frequently think their milk has disappeared at about 6 weeks postpartum because they no longer feel full etc, when in reality that is just a common time for another growth spurt, and usually around the time that mom's body has settled into knowing exactly how much milk is needed.

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Thanks for the help!

I have definitely slowed down on the pumping (I just pump enough to get comfortable once or twice a day). I was wondering if it was just a matter of waiting it out--it sounds like it just might be which is good news.

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you're welcome mama. kudos to you for sticking it out!

oh, and a weight comment. he was a good size (or my guy was just a shrimp, lol-) my ds was a week "late" (well according to one guesstimate) and he was 6-10 at birth, lol.

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No, your guy was normal. I grow big babies. My first was almost 9 lbs at term.

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Cabbage leaves in your bra. Seriously. Put a leaf of clean cabbage in each cup of your bra for about an hour and it will reduce the milk, swelling and engorgement. Don't leave in for too long, because you don't won't to reduce your milk too much.

As crazy as it sounds, it really does work!

http://www.breastfeeding.com/all_abo...gorgement.html

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Nadine,

mommy to Ashleigh (11), Madison (6), Olivia (5) and Samuel born October 9, 2006 weighing 8 lbs, 4 oz.

hehe, my paternal grandmother had eith children, my dad was her second largest- he was 12-4 at birth

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cabbage leaves are great, but i don't recommend them as a "first line of defense"

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