How to prevent breast engorgement at night

Breast engorgement is a common condition during breastfeeding. It is distressing and annoying. It is common for breast milk to swell at night, which can make mothers unable to sleep or eat. So, how to prevent milk from increasing at night? What to do if milk increases at night? Next, let’s take a closer look and learn more about these aspects.

How to prevent breast engorgement at night

First, treat cracked nipples immediately. Cracked nipples are also a common disease. If they are not treated effectively, bacteria and viruses can easily enter the body and cause mastitis. The severe pain caused by cracked nipples will also prevent mothers from breastfeeding.

Second, pay attention to nipple cleaning. In the middle and late stages of pregnancy, mothers should pay attention to breast cleaning. They can use warm water to clean the breasts, and they can also use 75% ethanol to clean the nipples separately. After giving birth, you should also clean your nipples carefully before and after breastfeeding your baby.

Third, suck the breast of the affected limb first. When a baby is hungry, its original sucking force is very strong. Therefore, mothers with mastitis should let the baby suck the breast that is swollen with milk first when breastfeeding, and switch to the other side after sucking it out, which can help relieve the blocked milk ducts.

Fourth, feed according to the needs of maternal and infant products. Many mothers set goals for breastfeeding, which is an unreasonable practice. If you don't breastfeed for a long time, it is easy to cause milk blockage, leading to milk edema and mastitis. Therefore, when breastfeeding, mothers should feed according to their own health conditions and the baby's requirements for breast milk.

Fifth, handle it properly. After the mother gives birth, she can use the method of boiling orange seeds in water to prevent milk swelling. It is relatively simple and only requires 30 grams of orange seeds, taken two to three times. If it is primary milk swelling, it is easier to deal with. Just let the baby drink more breast milk. If it is secondary milk engorgement, the mother can treat herself with heat and massage as mentioned above before breastfeeding, or she can apply ice after breastfeeding.

What to do if milk comes in late

First, apply ice. If the pain of breast engorgement is very severe, you might as well use ice to relieve the pain. Remember to squeeze the milk first and then apply ice.

Second, improve the baby's sucking. Experiments have confirmed that after the baby drinks milk, the prolactin in the mother's blood will double. This is because the baby sucking the nipple can promote the mother's hypothalamus-pituitary gland to secrete lactation hormone, thereby increasing the secretion of milk.

Third, take a shower. When your breasts are swollen and painful, why not take a shower first and wash your whole body warmly? You will feel more comfortable. If you force the baby away from the breast, it is easy to cause nipple injury, so be careful to avoid it.

Fourth, avoid taking medicine. During breastfeeding, you must remind your wife not to take any medicine randomly. Some medicines and foods can affect the metabolism of breast milk, such as anti-thyroid cyst drugs, hawthorn berry, etc. If your wife is sick, it is best for her to take medicine under the doctor's advice.

I understand very well that mothers feel pain when their milk becomes engorged at night, but they still need to stay calm and find ways to deal with the problem. In fact, there are many treatments for milk swelling at night, such as hot compresses, massage, nutritional supplements, and maintaining a stable mentality. Ultimately, mothers still have to take good care of themselves.