Why does breast pain occur after weaning?

Mothers should pay attention to their diet when breastfeeding their babies, and under normal circumstances, it is possible to breastfeed babies from six months to two years old. In order to return to work as soon as possible, many women will wean their babies when they are six months to one year old. However, many expectant mothers still have breast engorgement and pain after weaning. Why does breast pain occur after weaning? This has a lot to do with milk stasis after weaning.

Why do breasts become sore after weaning?

After weaning, the baby's sucking is gone and the secreted milk cannot be completely discharged, which leads to milk accumulation in the mammary ducts and the breasts become swollen and painful. This is a normal phenomenon, but mothers must pay attention to correct handling to prevent the occurrence of acute mastitis.

What to do if breast pain occurs after weaning?

1. Express milk by hand or with the help of a breast pump

Breast pain after weaning is mainly caused by milk congestion, so mothers can squeeze out the milk when their breasts are swollen, or use a breast pump to suck out the congested milk until the breasts become soft. Be careful not to empty it, as emptying it can easily stimulate the mammary glands and increase milk secretion.

2. Cold compress

Mothers who experience severe swelling and pain can apply cabbage or potato slices on their breasts, or put Glauber's salt (about 100 grams) in a cloth bag and apply it on the breasts, followed by gentle massage. The bag needs to be replaced in time after it has deliquesced, 3-4 times a day. Cold compress can have a certain analgesic effect, but remember to squeeze out the milk before doing so.

3. Reduce the intake of nutritious soups

Many nutritious soups can promote lactation. Mothers should pay attention to drinking less nutritious soups when weaning to avoid more milk accumulation. Try to eat more light foods.

4. You can take milk-reducing medicine as a last resort

Common milk-suppressing drugs include vitamin B6, ethinyl stilbestrol oral solution, etc. But it should be noted that the medicinal properties of ethinyl estradiol oral solution are strong and you cannot continue breastfeeding after taking it. Generally speaking, it is recommended not to use strong weaning drugs, and if you do take them, you should take them under the guidance of a doctor.

5. Seek help from a lactation consultant

Lactation consultants are professionally trained and mainly use acupoint massage to dredge the meridians. If the mother is really uncomfortable with the bloating and pain, she can also ask the lactation consultant for help. Of course, you must choose a regular and professional lactation consultant, and spend money wisely, right?

6. Weaning through food

The mother can also relieve the breast pain after weaning by eating milk-reducing foods. Here are some milk-reducing soups for you mothers.

Malt water: roast malt 120g, add appropriate amount of brown sugar, put in a pot, add water and boil, remove the residue and drink, 1 dose per day, for 3 consecutive days. Note that it is roasted malt, not burnt malt or raw malt.

Leek juice: Crush the leeks into juice, add a little honey to the juice, and drink it directly.

Tangerine peel and licorice soup: 30 grams of tangerine peel, 15 grams of licorice, decocted in water and taken orally. One dose daily.

Safflower and Angelica Soup: 15 grams each of safflower, angelica, red peony root, and Rhizoma Achyranthis Bidentatae, 60 grams of raw malt, decocted in water and taken once a day.

In addition, bitter gourd, cucumber, green tea, hawthorn, orange, etc., if consumed appropriately, also have a certain effect in reducing milk production.

Now is the golden season for weaning. Mothers should remember to wean gradually so that breast pain will be less severe. Mothers who are suffering from bloating and pain may try the above method.