Engorged Breasts

I'm confused... if you are producing enough milk to cause painful engorgement... then WHY can't you breastfeed? If it's medication related, please personal message me and I can tell you absolutely whether or not the medication is breastfeeding compatible. Most Drs, Peds & Obs will immediately and automatically say it is NOT safe, simply because they are too lazy or ignorant to actually look it up.

I have the Lactation guide IBCLCs and CLCs use for medication knowledge abut breastfeeding compatibility. It's called Medication and Mother's Milk by Dr T Hale, the 2008 Edition

my sisters doctor prescribed her something to help her dry up faster but she also took a ace bandage and wrapped it around her boobs really tight to help. Also if you have a pump and you start pumping some out then you will keep producing milk. I would also try the cabbage leaves like others said.

Ace bandages! Or a really tight sports bra. Sucks for a few days but it'll go away. Warm washcloths can also help the discomfort.

Don't give up on bfing yet! Remember that it is best for baby and you too! I would consult a La Leche League Leader. I'm sure you area has a LLL. They can help you with the engorgement and to get breast feeding going in the right direction.

The best thing for engorgement is breast feeding. Express a little by hand before feeding then nurse baby.

freeze cabbage leaves and tuck them in your bra.

sigh...I love that there are so many people pushing you to Breast feed. Some people can't, deal with it people! I did BF but I am an advocate for choosing what is best for your family!

Anywho, consult your OB for a prescription to dry you out. Other then that, hot compresses and a hot shower will help but really you'll have to wait this one out.
GL and congrats on your baby!!

I have heard that wrapping them very tightly can help make your milk go away faster.
If you do pump, just do enough to relieve the pain because otherwise you will tell your body to continue producing milk.

Putting cabbage leaves in your bra is also supposed to help relieve engorgement.

Congrats on your new baby!

Lactation Consultant.

Your hospital where you delivered should have a lactation group. They'll be able to help with the engorgement to a degree as well as probably give you nipple shields which allow a baby to nurse even with anime-boobs with no nipple left, and too rock hard to latch onto.

The lactation consultants for ME also had me on 800mg ibuprofen & 1000mg tylenol to help with the pain and swelling. They helped take the "eye crossing" worst of it off the pain. As well as nipple shields and helping my baby & myself learn how to use them.

Yes... stand in the shower and express (shower, because engorged breasts can shoot milk over 20 feet), or aim yourself into a bottle to feed your son with.

I feel for you. When my milk came in my breasts each got as large as volleyballs (bigger than my head!) and aside from the excrutiating pain, my baby couldn't eat. I had to wear a parka over my front (parka shell worn backwards, button up shirt left open underneath) because there was no way to get myself into clothing.

Try pumping and try taking a shower and massage your breasts. Look for signs of mastitis. This can be very painful (I had it very very bad). It can make you sick. If you can't get the milk to release and your breasts feel hard, even just in a few places, make an appt with your doctor. He/She will tell you if you have mastitis and can prescribe something to help. Good luck to you!

Why can't you breastfeed?
I also was very engorged until about 10-12 days after delivery. In my case it was all the iv fluids they pumped through me. Because I was so full, my baby couldn't latch properly. My nipples were cracked and bled as a result. I used a nipple shield and voilà, worked like a champ. Go get one, right away!!
And, yes, i would pump out to relieve pressure but only after baby has nursed.
Good luck.

When I stopped nursing my daughter I got extremely engorged!!! What I did was pump just enough to relieve the pressure. Bc if u don't completely empty the breast the milk will stop producing. Hot shower works well too. Bc if the milk is flowing out on it's own and not being sucked out (by baby or pump) it won't reproduce that way either. But I found the pressure relieving pumping to be the most helpful. =) I also heard raw cabbage leave in your bra can help relieve some pressure... But never tried it...

Cold Cabbage leaves.... seriously.

pump and warm compresses. hot shower also helps.

Try a hot shower or hot compress and yes - try to pump! Why can't you breastfeed? Good luck!

They have medication to dry you up if you are certain you can't breastfeed or choose not to.
In the meantime, leave your breasts alone. I know the urge to pump....when my daughter decided she was done nursing I was begging her to please help me out. :)
Get in a nice hot shower and let the water help you squirt some milk out to give you some relief.
Stimulate your breasts as little as possible.
It's really painful for a few days, but if you don't pump or stimulate your breasts, you will dry up.

Best wishes.

Pump a little out, and put cabbage leaves on your breasts. That will help with the engorgement. Hope this helps!

Hi D., Your doctor can give you a pill to dry up your milk, I did that with all 3 of my baby's, I'm large breasted as it is, so the discomfort was a little much. J.

My sister is a lactation consultant. The cabbage leaves really work.buy a cabbage and put a whole leaf in each cup of your bra. Change them regularly-they will wilt. Not only will yourmilk dry up, but you will feel relief.

Sage tea.you can buy it a Whole Foods. Drink at least 4 cups a day. It works wonders. They also sell "no more milk" tea. I have not tried it yet since I am still nursing #2.

Hi D.,
I have four children and had that same problem with my third child. I could not breastfead past two weeks and became so engorged that I could not even bend to pick up my other kids, it hurt so bad. I called my Dr. and she told me to definitely pump whenever it got painful or engorged. I was concerned that I would be pumping all the time but that did not happen. Because my baby was not demanding my breast I was only filling up a couple of times each day and in a matter of days I was almost empty. And what a RELIEF it was when I did that first pump. So, pump away:) and enjoy you new baby, Congratulations!
M.

Yes, pump right away to relieve the engorgement and pain. If you don't pump, your milk supply might go away. I couldn't breastfeed my son when he was first born also because he was taken to the ICU. I was told to pump right away. Ideally, no longer than 24 hours after giving birth. The engorgement will go away after a couple weeks if you pump every 3 or 4 hours everyday.

Good Luck,
M.

Since you have plenty of advice, I'll answer the second half of your question. It will take about a month.

If you're sure you're not going to breastfeed, try taking Sudafed. Something in it dries up your milk supply, which is why you shouldn't take cold medications when you're nursing. Good luck.

Cabbage leaves will help. look it up. Good luck