What should I do if my breasts become swollen and painful with lumps during lactation?

During the breastfeeding period, some small problems often occur. Many women will have insufficient milk. At the same time, many mothers will have too much milk and the baby cannot finish it. At this time, you must find a way to squeeze out the milk, such as using a breast pump. Otherwise, it is easy to have milk engorgement, lumps may appear in the breasts, and there will be pain. So what are the ways to solve this problem?

What should I do if my breasts become swollen and painful with lumps during lactation?

In addition to adolescent women who may experience breast lumps, breastfeeding women may also experience breast lumps and pain. Breast swelling, lumps and pain often occur 3 to 7 days after delivery. This is mainly caused by breast lymph retention, venous congestion, interstitial edema and obstruction of mammary ducts. As long as the mother breastfeeds as soon as possible or uses a breast pump to extract the milk, the mammary glands can be unblocked. You can also use hot compresses or massage the lumps before breastfeeding.

Applying hot towels can relieve pain

If there is a lump in the breast and it is painful, you can use a hot towel to apply heat to the lump, which can help clear the mammary gland and relieve pain.

Shower with hot water and massage your breasts

Shower your breasts with hot water, gently massage them, or shake them left and right to help milk flow out and thus help unblock the mammary glands.

Use a breast pump to extract milk

If you have milk lumps, you can buy a breast pump to suck them out. It may be a little painful when sucking, but you can just bear with it. If the milk lumps are not very serious, you can usually use a breast pump to clear them and remove the lumps.

Ask a lactation specialist to dredge the breast

If the breast pump cannot suck out the excess milk, then ask a lactation consultant for help. They have professional techniques and experience to help clear the mammary glands. The effect is very good and can generally eliminate lumps.

Go to the hospital for a checkup

If the lactation consultant cannot solve the problem, then you need to go to the hospital for a detailed examination to see if you have breast disease so that you can detect it early and treat it early.

Feed both breasts evenly when breastfeeding

If you only feed one side during breastfeeding, it is easy for the other side to have excess milk that is not discharged, blocking the mammary gland and causing lumps. Moreover, after weaning, you will find that the milk from the side that is frequently fed is larger, while the milk from the side that is less frequently fed is smaller, so breastfeeding should be balanced.

Use a breast pump to wash out the unfinished milk

If you feed both sides evenly and there is still some milk left, you will need to use a breast pump to suck out the remaining milk. Do not let the remaining milk remain in the breasts, as this will easily cause lumps.