What should I do if the milk lumps and cannot be kneaded?

What should I do if the milk lumps together and I can’t knead it apart? In life, we always encounter many problems that give us headaches, especially when many new mothers lack experience. Some mothers will find lumps in their breasts when feeding their babies, and milk accumulates inside, which the baby cannot suck out. Many inexperienced mothers are helpless in this situation. Today I will teach you how to deal with this problem.

Breast Milk Stasis This is the first breast "emergency" that most new mothers encounter and experience. It is caused by the inability of milk to be discharged or the poor discharge of milk, resulting in milk accumulation in the breast. During the lactation period, the secretion and filling of milk in the breasts, the swelling, hardness, and even a little pain in the breasts are all normal phenomena. This is because during the nearly one year of lactation, blockage or narrowing of any one or several mammary ducts may lead to milk accumulation in the breasts. There are three levels of breast milk stasis:

1. Normal breast fullness: The breasts only feel swollen, sometimes with dull pain, and feel lumpy when touched. After breastfeeding or breast pumping, the milk is drained and the symptoms disappear. This is normal breast fullness and is not pathological.

2. Breast milk accumulation: If milk continues to accumulate, the breasts will continue to swell, causing the breast skin to become thicker and harder, and the pain to increase. As a result, the nipples may not stand upright, making it difficult for the baby to suck and making it difficult to suck out milk.

3. Milk duct blockage and breast inflammation: When the breast swelling further increases, the breast tissue becomes edematous, the milk ducts become narrow, the milk cannot be discharged, the blood circulation and lymphatic return in the breast are blocked, the breast swells further, the breast skin becomes edematous, shiny and hardened, and then becomes hot and painful. If not treated in time, it will lead to acute mastitis.

Prevention methods include:

1. In the late stages of pregnancy, pregnant women should frequently scrub their nipples and areolas with warm water, especially in the hot summer when they sweat a lot, to keep their nipples clean. This can also increase the nipples' ability to adapt to external stimuli. Those with inverted nipples should also pay attention to pulling the nipples to facilitate the baby's sucking after delivery.

2. Mastering the appropriate breastfeeding time is a necessary condition to completely empty the breasts and maintain lactation. Normal breastfeeding can be resumed 12 hours after delivery, for 4 to 5 minutes each time on the first 2 days, and 10 to 15 minutes each time thereafter. Because a healthy and hungry baby will absorb 2/3 of the milk it needs in the first 5 minutes of breastfeeding, it is necessary to alternate between the two breasts each time you feed, first sucking one side and then the other. If one breast cannot be emptied in one feeding, feed the side that was not emptied last time first the next time. If you still cannot express all the milk, you need to use a breast pump or manual milk expression, and manual milk expression is the best method: pinch the nipple with your index finger and middle finger, and use the second knuckles of the two fingers to push and pull the base of the nipple. The milk can be quickly and painlessly expressed. It should be noted that each breastfeeding must be completed in order to achieve the maximum milk secretion while emptying the milk.

3. Maintaining the correct breastfeeding posture is conducive to adequate breastfeeding for the baby and emptying of the breasts. The mother can adopt the side-lying, semi-sitting and sitting positions, with the principle of full relaxation and comfort of the whole body. She can also change the position of holding the baby at any time during breastfeeding to allow the baby to fully suck the milk.

4. If milk has accumulated in the breasts and it is difficult or impossible to express it out by manual operation or with a breast pump, and if severe breast pain has occurred and the milk cannot be emptied after hot compresses, you should go to the hospital for microwave treatment of the breasts or treatment for mastitis.