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First Year > Postpartum Health & Care During your first week after giving birth, whether you're breastfeeding or not, your milk will come in and your breasts will likely swell, harden and become more tender. What you're experiencing is postpartum breast engorgement, and it's perfectly normal. But why does it happen, and what can you do for relief? What is breast engorgement?Breast engorgement occurs when your breasts become overly full with milk and fluids — to the point where they feel firm and uncomfortable. It typically happens three or four days after giving birth, when your breasts start transitioning from producing colostrum (the thick, sticky liquid your body begins making during pregnancy that nourishes your baby in her first few days of life) to transitional and then mature milk. And it occurs whether you’re planning on breastfeeding or not. Breastfeeding moms can become engorged at other times too, often if they suddenly start nursing or pumping less often than usual. What causes breast engorgement?It all starts with a chain reaction that kicks off the moment you deliver the placenta after giving birth to your baby. At that point your levels of the pregnancy hormones estrogen and progesterone drop, and prolactin, the magical hormone that signals your breasts to go into full milk production mode, begins to kick in. Within a few days, all that prolactin stimulates your body to start producing milk. At the same time, blood and other fluids flow to your breasts to help keep things moving. This process creates a feeling of intense fullness, swelling or pressure in the breasts. The good news is that the discomfort tends to dissipate as you nurse. What are the symptoms of breast engorgement?Breast engorgement symptoms are hard to miss — and chances are you’ll know what you’re dealing when it hits. While some women experience more discomfort than others, here’s what you can typically expect:
Breast engorgement vs. mastitisThe risk of mastitis — a painful breast infection caused by a clogged milk duct — is highest during the first six weeks postpartum. So if you’re engorged, you might start to wonder whether you’re dealing with typical discomfort or something more serious. Thankfully, there are signs that make it easy to tell the difference. While both engorgement and mastitis can cause breast pain and swelling, mastitis also brings on flu-like feelings: Think weakness or exhaustion, a fever greater than 101 degrees F, and chills. With mastitis, breastfeeding tends to make the pain worse or create a burning sensation. A breast with mastitis might look red or swollen, and the redness could be in a wedge-shaped pattern. You may also be able to feel a hard or thick lump in your breast — that’s likely the clogged milk duct that caused the mastitis. How long does breast engorgement last after giving birth?If you're breastfeeding, postpartum breast engorgement should diminish within two to three days. After that, it'll take a few weeks for you and your baby to work out a mutual feeding schedule that satisfies her often unpredictable hunger and your breasts' ability to match it. That tingling sensation tells you it's baby's feeding time! If you're not nursing, breast engorgement should subside within a few days. What causes breast engorgement when a baby is not a newborn?Engorgement is most common in the early days after giving birth, but it can potentially happen at any point while you’re breastfeeding. Most often, you’re at risk for getting hit with that overfull feeling when there’s a sudden change to your breastfeeding routine. That can happen when: How can you help your baby latch if you have breast engorgement?Very full, firm breasts can flatten your nipples and make it harder for your newborn (who’s just getting the hang of nursing as it is!) to latch on. Not only does that make it harder for her to get the nourishment she needs — it means you have less of a chance to get that painful pressure released. You can help your new eater get a better grip with reverse pressure softening. This technique helps to shift some of the built-up fluid around your areola and nipple further back into your breast, softening the area where your baby needs to latch. To try reverse pressure softening, gently massage your areola with your fingers for a few minutes before nursing. The pressure will soften up your areola and make your nipple protrude more, making it easier for your little one to get a deep, wide latch. How to relieve and manage breast engorgementEngorgement is temporary, whether you’re planning on breastfeeding or not. The discomfort should ease up within a few days as your body adjusts, but in the meantime, there are ways to ease that gonna-pop feeling. How to manage breast engorgement if you’re breastfeedingHere’s how to manage pain and swelling while encouraging a healthy milk supply for your sweet pea.
How to relieve breast engorgement if you’re not breastfeedingIf you’re planning on feeding your baby formula, the trick is minimizing pain and tenderness while discouraging your body from making more milk.
When to contact your doctor or a lactation consultant about engorgementEngorgement goes away on its own within a few days, and the worst of it only typically lasts for 12 to 24 hours. But it’s worth contacting your doctor or a lactation consultant if:
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