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Engorgement in nursing mothers must have been experienced by the mother who had just given birth. What is the cause of this? It may be that this effect late mother breastfeeding.
Engorgement
in nursing mothers have two types, namely :
1. Breast milk is
overfull
The most common
because milk is piled up and made full in the breast. After giving birth, the
pregnancy hormone will decrease and breastfeeding hormones increase, as
colostrum, which went into production. Then, about 60 to 80 hours later, mature
milk starting out, so the amount of milk has increased dramatically in the
breast.
When it
began to rapidly mature milk is produced, this is when the baby should be able
to drink enough breast milk. But in certain circumstances, just a little baby
drinking breast milk, which then makes the milk accumulate and cause
swelling in the breast. Especially if the mother is able to produce enough
milk.
2.
Accumulation of fluid
Other
swelling is due to edema. This may occur in women who have a buildup of fluid
during labor. Some women may experience swelling of the hands and feet after
giving birth, and sometimes also occur in breasts.
Swelling
of this type is not the result of a buildup of breast milk, but because of the
effects of fluid buildup on the part of the body after giving birth.
There are
some things that may happen during labor and birth, for example, labor
induction or epidural caesarean section, which allows the mother to get
intravenous fluids. If induction is done within 12 to 24 hours, maybe the
mother will receive an additional infusion of fluid every 4 to 8 hours. So that
the mother has a buildup of fluid in some parts of the body. But for some women
may experience a buildup of fluid in the breast.
What happens if the mother late breastfeeding?
Actually,
the body has a protein that is able to regulate the milk supply. Protein will
tell the brain if the breast is too full and slows the production of milk.
Similarly, if the mother's breast is empty, this protein will tell the brain to
start producing more milk.
If a
mother does not breastfeed her baby in a long time, or maybe some women choose
to formula feed their babies, then the protein will govern the brain to stop
milk production. At first, the breast will experience swelling, and then tells
the brain mechanism "to stop production," and everything will settle
down, and the milk will disappear.
Therefore,
if you still want to breastfeed their babies even though they take place some
constraints, often mothers should drain the milk, so breast will still continue
producing new breast milk. In addition to reducing the problem of swelling, draining
the milk is also beneficial to help produce new and better breast milk
Advised on
new mothers to initiate breastfeeding, especially in the early weeks of
breastfeeding, at least 8 times every 24 hours or every 3 hours.
Tips
nursing mother overcome breast swelling
1. If the
mother is breast swelling or overfull, mothers can pump breast milk first. It's
beneficial to soften the areola part, so that the baby's mouth can be more
easily adjust to suck milk. In addition, the condition of 'overfull' will also
make it difficult for the baby to suckle.
2. If the
mother wants to breastfeed directly, apply a little milk on the areola to help
soften it. then the mother can initiate breastfeeding. If the baby has been
well fed but still feels swollen breasts, mothers can pump breast milk to
relieve swelling.
3. You do
not have to pump breast milk until they run out. Gentle massage can help the
milk to flow better, and help soften your breasts so do not feel hard and
solid. Do it regularly until you feel comfortable.
4. If the
breast swelling due to fluid retention and not because milk is overfull, this
would require a different treatment. To determine whether the swelling caused
by fluid, you can do the following ways:
Pay
attention when you remove the bra, if there are indentations
Press and
hold down on the side of the breast for 10-20 seconds. If left finger
indentations, the possibility of swelling caused by fluid and not because of
breastfeeding.
To
overcome the problem of this fluid, able to perform the method "Reverse
Pressure Softening". That is by doing a gentle massage using your
fingertips with the movement of pushing out the areola, hold for maybe 30-40
seconds to remove fluid. Then move your finger around the areola and repeat.
After that, you can begin to breastfeed or pump breast milk out.
5. Using
cabbage leaves (cabbage). Cabbage leaves have the ideal shape for breasts,
besides the cabbage leaves have a soothing effect. In conditions where the
breast swell , you can use cabbage leaves to cope.
Way, take
cabbage leaves and place some time in the refrigerator or freezer. Then insert
it into your bra Let stand for 10 minutes to help cool the breast. Remove the
cabbage leaves and clean the breast before feeding.
6.
Alternatively, you can buy a gel pack that can cool or heat the breast. In
conditions where breast milk being produced, then the venous blood flow will
also appear in the breast, so that the effect of the gel can soothe. But if you
do not feel comfortable with this way, you can do the other way.
How long
this swelling problem occurs in breastfeeding mothers?
Every
individual has a milk supply different. Generally, after the first week, the
issue of breast swelling has begun to subside, and began to settle on the size.
And
between 3-9 weeks later, the mother's body begins producing milk with the right
amount for her baby. At this time maybe some women worry about the milk does
not come out well, but this is precisely the right conditions in which the
mother's body has begun to produce milk more efficiently with the right amount
for her baby.
