What to do if you have milk retention during breastfeeding

As the benefits of breast milk become more and more widely known, people are paying more and more attention to exclusive breastfeeding. The term "milk retention" appears more and more frequently among breastfeeding mothers. What is "milk retention"? As the name suggests, it means that breast milk is detained. In medical terms, it is milk congestion, which is usually accompanied by lumps and pain in the breast. It is extremely detrimental to breastfeeding mothers' milk production. So what should breastfeeding mothers do when they experience milk retention and fever? How could this happen? Moms, come and learn about this.

What to do if you have milk retention and fever during breastfeeding

Milk retention refers to the blockage of the milk ducts of pregnant women, which prevents milk from coming out, leading to a series of symptoms such as breast pain. After giving birth, many mothers often experience milk retention, accounting for as high as 75%. 3-45 days after giving birth is the peak period of milk retention, which greatly affects the health of pregnant women and is not conducive to the healthy growth and development of the baby. Therefore, if a breastfeeding mother develops milk retention fever, she should stop breastfeeding immediately and find a way to drain the milk immediately, such as using a manual breast pump. After that, use a cotton towel to ice compress, eat a light diet, avoid eating high-protein foods such as chicken, fish, eggs, and the like, and avoid eating foods high in fat and protein until the symptoms are completely relieved. If breast milk is stored in the breasts for a long time, it can easily cause various breast diseases.

Why is milk retained during breastfeeding?

1. The mother's qi and blood are weak, and blood and qi are the basis of milk. The mother's qi and blood are weak, which leads to less or unstable milk after giving birth. The milk is not discharged immediately, resulting in milk retention and fever.

2. The mother's depression causes blockage in the milk ducts, which hinders the flow of milk and causes milk retention and fever.

3. Some mothers have too much breast milk and do not empty their breasts immediately after feeding their babies, causing the milk to accumulate in their breasts.

4. The mother herself has breast hypoplasia or breast disease.

5. Improper breast massage.