What to do if breasts are swollen and milk is not flowing

Breasts are swollen and produce milk, but the milk is not flowing, which is a problem that many breastfeeding mothers will encounter. Of course, breast engorgement and milk secretion have a relatively large impact on women, so it is necessary to take certain measures to solve this problem in time. Of course, there are many ways to alleviate the problem of breast edema and milk blockage in female friends. Here are some effective methods recommended for you!

1. Let your baby suck milk as soon as possible

Let the baby start sucking as early as possible and start breastfeeding within half an hour after birth, so that more milk will be secreted. Since babies have strong sucking abilities and their little mouths are particularly powerful, breastfeeding can help unclog the mother's milk ducts and allow milk to flow more smoothly. Pay attention to the number of feedings, about once every 2-3 hours, to remove milk, ensure the patency of the mammary ducts, and prevent milk engorgement.

2. Massage in a loving way

After washing your hands, hold the entire breast, apply even force and gently massage and squeeze from all sides of the breast toward the nipple. This can help unclog the milk ducts and reduce and eliminate skin edema. If you find that a certain part of the breast is particularly swollen and painful during the massage, you can squeeze that area with a little force to expel the accumulated milk to prevent the milk duct in this area from being blocked and causing mastitis.

3. Use a breast pump

When choosing a breast pump, you should pay attention to the fact that the suction must be moderate and the nipples should not feel any pain when using it. It is recommended to choose a breast pump with the function of adjusting the milk suction intensity, so that the pressure and speed of the breast pump can be adjusted in time according to the actual situation. However, you must pay attention to hygiene when using a breast pump, especially for new mothers with damaged skin in the areola area, to avoid bacterial invasion and infection.

New mothers who suffer from nipple cracks must take timely cleaning measures at this time. At the same time, they can also apply breast milk evenly after each feeding, which can also effectively relieve the cracks.

4. Choose a wide bra for support

For swollen and sagging breasts, you can use a wide bra made of soft cotton cloth to support them. This will not only improve blood circulation in the breasts and promote lymphatic return, but also help keep the mammary ducts unobstructed, thereby reducing milk accumulation and alleviating breast pain.

5. Cold compress vs. hot compress

Hot compress can make the milk lumps blocking the mammary glands unblocked and improve breast circulation. Before breastfeeding, you can apply a hot, wet towel to your breasts for a few minutes, followed by gentle massage and patting to soften the breasts and areola and reduce the feeling of milk swelling. When breastfeeding, you should feed the breast that feels more swollen first.