Self-massage techniques for breastfeeding

I believe everyone knows the important role of breast milk for babies. Breast milk is the best food for babies, so we recommend that parents feed their babies with breast milk. However, some mothers are prone to breast engorgement when breastfeeding. The occurrence of breast engorgement will not only bring discomfort to the mother but also affect the feeding of the baby. Below we will introduce to you the self-massage technique for breast milk.

Use a hot towel

When your breasts are swollen, you can apply hot compresses to your breasts to disperse the lumps blocking the mammary glands and promote circulation. Be careful to avoid the skin around the areola and nipple. The temperature of the hot compress should not be too hot to avoid scalding the skin. Wring out the towel and apply it on the breast in a circle with the nipple exposed in the middle. Apply it for a few minutes. When the temperature of the towel drops, soak it in hot water again and wring it out. Repeat this process for about 5 minutes.

massage

After applying hot compress to the breasts to promote blood circulation, you can massage the breasts. There are many ways to massage the breasts. Generally, it is mainly to hold one breast with both hands and massage it in a sitting position, using gravity to promote milk flow. The kneading technique is very important. You must "wrap" the towel with both hands, press the breasts tightly, and do not let the towel rub on the skin.

The direction of force is: squeeze from the bottom of the breast toward the nipple (this is the direction of the milk duct). You need to use force, it will be a little painful, and the force should be applied to the lump under the breast (that is, the accumulated milk), not the surface of the skin.

Breast Pump

Electric breast pump: Generally has three levels of suction: strong, medium and weak. It is driven by a motor, which saves hands effort, but it is relatively noisy and inconvenient to carry.

Manual breast pump: relies on hand pressure to achieve the purpose of milk extraction, it is quiet and easy to carry, but your hands will get tired after a long time.

Special note: The breasts must be completely sucked until they are soft and spongy, which proves that the milk secretion is successful and promotes the next milk secretion.

Chinese medicine for lactation

If the breast engorgement condition has not been completely relieved, you can take Chinese medicine for dispersing the knot and promoting lactation (6 grams of Bupleurum, 12 grams of Angelica, 9 grams of Vaccaria, 9 grams of Lophatherum gracile, and 9 grams of Smilax glabra).

In the above article, we introduced the importance of breast milk to babies. Breast milk is the best food for babies, so it is best for mothers to feed their babies with breast milk. If mothers have breast engorgement, they can use the self-massage method introduced above to unblock milk.