Engorged - HELP

[mrshall1027]

I just had my son on Friday and I've been pumping since Saturday afternoon. My milk is starting to come in and I'm engorged, but pumping is not relieving it. I never had this issue with my first child so I'm really not sure what I need to be doing. Any tips? I've tried a warm shower and a heating pad with no real relief.

[lildiamondeyes]

Have you tried hand expressing? Just to your comfort level.

[lily]

Are you exclusively pumping or nursing as well?

Unfortunately engorgement is painful. But fortunately it's a self limiting problem- the longer milk remains in the breast the stronger signal it sends to lower production. You can try ice packs too. A disposable diaper filled with warm or cold water makes a nicely moldable hot/cold pack. If you're not taking ibuprofen for other postpartum concerns you can consider it for engorgement pain and inflammation but just keep an eye out for other mastitis symptoms (red streaky breasts, lumps, increase in pain) because the ibuprofen can mask fever.

[pippiann]

I loved these when i was weaning or had clogged ducts!

ETA: I would avoid pumping/hand expressing to avoid if Possible the oversupply continuing.

[Risscaboobs]

Definitely don't pump until your empty or anything! That will create signals to your body that more milk is needed. Just express to relief. It will hopefully sort itself out in a few days.

Are you nursing as well?

[mrshall1027]

Thanks for all the input. With my daughter, I exclusively pumped and this time I'm nursing as well so I'm learning all over again.

It's gotten better since yesterday. I haven't been pumping as often or for as long, and that seems to be helping. Hopefully it'll ask stabilize in a few days.