What to do if pregnant women have milk accumulation

Sometimes, breast milk will accumulate in breasts of lactating mothers, which will manifest as hard lumps in the breasts and be painful to the touch. If the lumps continue to accumulate and milk remains in the breasts, staphylococci will be produced and cause infection, which may lead to very serious breast disease. The main causes of milk accumulation in pregnant women include too much milk, improper sleeping posture and incorrect use of breast pumps, which are more common among new mothers.

1. Causes of postpartum milk accumulation

1. Too much milk

Symptoms: The entire breast feels like a hard stone and cannot be touched. It will feel better right after feeding the baby, but it won't be long before the secreted milk makes the breast feel like stone again. Breast engorgement is due to the accumulation of blood, fluid, and milk in the breasts, which is caused by improper and infrequent breastfeeding. Effective care usually relieves symptoms within 24 to 48 hours.

2. Incorrect sleeping posture causes breast compression.

Symptoms: Only a small lump is hard, and the rest is soft. Only the lump hurts.

Solution: Let the baby breastfeed several times and the condition will improve.

3. Improper use of a breast pump can also cause milk accumulation.

This phenomenon is very common among new mothers, especially in the three or four weeks after delivery.

2. What to do if milk accumulates after childbirth

1. Preparation.

First prepare a towel and hot water.

2. Apply hot compress.

Soak a towel in hot water, making sure not to hurt the skin. While it is still as hot as possible, use the hot towel to cover the breast with the lump, centering on the lump. Be sure to cover both the lump and the nipple. When covering the breast with a hot towel, gently massage it to soften the lump in the breast.

3. Massage.

After removing the towel, massage the area with the tips of your middle, index and ring fingers, pressing and kneading the swollen area vigorously. The lump may still be hard at this point, but don't worry, just continue.

4. Repeat hot compress and massage.

Soak the towel in hot water, continue to apply hot compress and massage at the same time, repeat the above three steps until you feel the area around the lump soften slightly.

5. Comb.

Apply olive oil or vegetable oil on the breast, and use your fingers to comb along the lump towards the nipple. You can also use a comb, but a comb cannot feel the changes in the lump as clearly as your hands. It is recommended to comb with your hands so that you can better control the strength. Don't be afraid of pain during the combing stage, because this is the key to opening up the mammary glands.

6. Repeat hot compress, massage and combing.

After a few minutes of unblocking, wipe the olive oil off the breast with toilet paper, and then cover it with a hot towel again, accompanied by massage. Hot compress, massage and combing last for half an hour.

7. The baby is sucking milk.

After the last hot compress, wash your nipples and let your baby suck milk. When the baby is sucking milk, press the lump with your hands and rub it hard. After the baby sucks for a while, the blocked mammary gland will gradually become unblocked.