What to do if your breasts hurt after milking?

Milking is something that women who are breastfeeding need to go through. This is to allow their breasts to flow with milk and make it easier for the baby to suck out the milk. Some women experience breast pain after milking. This is a common situation. It may be due to poor nipple development leading to milk congestion or excessive milk causing swelling and pain. So what should you do if your breasts hurt after expressing milk?

1. Causes of breast pain after milking:

The causes of milk stasis include: nipple hypoplasia (too small or inverted) interfering with breastfeeding; too much milk or the baby sucking too little milk, resulting in the milk not being completely emptied; milk duct blockage affecting milk discharge. You can use hot water for hot compresses and local massage. After breastfeeding your baby, you can use a breast pump to help you express milk and try to express as much milk as possible. If the lump does not go away, or if fever or unbearable pain occurs, you need to go to the hospital and receive timely treatment under the guidance of a doctor to avoid mastitis.

Second, treatment method:

1. Choose the right bra

As the breasts become larger, the original bra will restrict the breasts and make people feel uncomfortable. You should choose an appropriate bra according to the size of your breasts to relieve the feeling of distension and pain. Choose a cotton bra that is soft and has no seams near the nipples. It will be more comfortable to wear and relatively breathable.

2. Physical methods

If the pain is severe, you can take the following measures to relieve breast pain:

(1) Hot compress. Use a soft hot towel to warm your breasts, wipe gently, etc. to relieve breast discomfort. It is important to note that the breasts are very fragile during this period, and expectant mothers should be gentle during care to avoid damaging the nipples.

(2) Massage. Gently massaging your breasts with your hands every day can not only relieve discomfort but also promote breast development. However, you should avoid massaging or pulling the nipples with your hands for a long time, especially for pregnant women who have a history of habitual miscarriage or premature birth.

3. Prevention of breast pain

Breast tenderness is one of the physiological phenomena during pregnancy. There is no effective way to prevent it, but breast massage can effectively relieve breast pain. Pregnant women may wish to learn it.

Breast massage:

1. Apply a warm towel to the entire breast. Place one hand horizontally on the other breast, and press the other hand on it. Overlap your hands and push the breast towards the center of the chest to massage.

2. Place the fingers of both hands together and place them diagonally below the breast. Vibrate the entire breast from the base of the breast, and then use both hands to push and massage the breast diagonally upward.

3. Lift the breasts from below and push them upwards with both hands. When massaging, both hands must hold the entire breast, and the movement should be large. It will be effective if you feel the breast lump disappearing from the pectoralis major muscle. However, do not knead it randomly to avoid injuring the breast.