How to improve breast milk hardness

There are mammary glands interconnected in women's breasts, and the main purpose of the mammary glands is to allow women to breastfeed better. During breastfeeding, if the mother does not adopt the correct breastfeeding method, it is very easy for milk to accumulate in the mammary glands and form milk lumps. Once the problem of milk lumps occurs, it will greatly affect the flow of breast milk. The following article will explain to mothers in detail how to clear the milk lumps problem.

Massage after bathing

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.

Suggestion: The best way is to let your baby suck more milk. As the baby sucks milk, the amount of milk will increase, and the swollen milk and lumps will be sucked away by the baby quickly.

Use a hot towel

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.

Recommendation: Before your baby sucks milk or uses a breast pump to express milk, apply a hot towel to the hard areas on your chest.

Using a breast pump

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.

Recommendation: After applying the hot towel and after the baby has finished sucking, if there are still lumps in the chest, use a breast pump to suck out the remaining milk. If all the milk is sucked out, the lumps will naturally disappear.

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.

Recommendation: If the lumps are not gone after a period of time, you will need the help of a lactation consultant to eliminate the lumps. Remember not to massage your breasts without guidance, because incorrect methods or strength will be counterproductive.

Go to the hospital

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.

Recommendation: If the swelling still cannot be relieved and the pain continues, the mother can go to the hospital and ask the doctor to prescribe painkillers.

The above introduces what to do if there are lumps in the breasts after childbirth. Next, let’s learn how to prevent milk engorgement.

How to prevent breast engorgement

1. Timely and correct treatment of breast engorgement:

After delivery, you can take 30g of orange seeds decocted in water. Generally, 2-3 doses can prevent milk stagnation.

2. Discharge the stagnant milk and dredge the mammary ducts:

There are many ways to express milk, such as manual milking, milking with a breast pump (or breast pump), acupuncture and long-term massage to express milk, etc. But no matter which method is adopted, try to discharge the accumulated milk and clear the mammary ducts.

3. Persist in breastfeeding and do not stop breastfeeding:

Breast milk is the best natural nutrition for babies. It is convenient and economical, nutritious and safe, and can enhance the mother-child relationship. The antibodies it contains can improve the baby's disease resistance.

4. First suck the affected breast:

Because the baby is hungry, the initial sucking force is relatively strong. Therefore, when a mother with mastitis is breastfeeding, she should let the baby suck the affected breast first, and try to let the baby suck empty before switching to the other side. This will help to unclog the blocked milk ducts and prevent lumps from forming in the breast.

5. Timely treatment of nipple fissures:

When the nipples become cracked, bacteria can invade through the cracks and cause mastitis.

6. Breastfeeding according to the needs of mother and baby:

If the breasts are swollen or if breastfeeding is not done for a long time, milk will easily accumulate and induce mastitis. Therefore, breastfeeding mothers should breastfeed on demand and empty their breasts at any time.

7. Pay attention to nipple hygiene:

In the late pregnancy, the nipples are often cleaned with warm water or scrubbed with 75% alcohol; after delivery, the nipples should be cleaned before and after each breastfeeding, and the area should be kept clean and dry.