The mother's breasts are swollen but the milk cannot come out

Newborns need to rely on breast milk for nutrition for a long time, but many children cannot get breast milk smoothly. The most typical case is that the breasts are swollen and they cannot get milk even though there is milk. This situation makes parents very worried. They definitely cannot let their children go hungry all the time, so the solution becomes their biggest concern. So, what should a mother do if her breasts are swollen but no milk comes out?

Reasons for postpartum women's milk retention

Some mothers may develop cheese-like "white spots" due to greasy diet and other reasons, which may cause the inside of the mammary duct to be blocked and the milk cannot be discharged normally; some mothers secrete too much milk and the mammary duct cannot be discharged in time; some mothers will develop milk knots when they are in a bad mood or under too much pressure. The underwear is too tight and puts pressure on the breasts. The sling used by the mother to carry the baby is too tight. The mother always presses the breasts with her fingers when breastfeeding. The baby's punches and kicks while feeding can also "kick" the breasts.

What to do if a pregnant woman has difficulty in breastfeeding

1. Gradually reduce the number of breastfeeding times: The best way to reduce milk engorgement is to gradually reduce the number of breastfeeding times. By reducing the number of times gradually, the amount of milk will naturally decrease, thus achieving the effect of weaning. If you wean suddenly, milk engorgement will definitely be very serious.

2. Use a breast pump: When your milk is very swollen, use a breast pump to suck out some of the milk, which will relieve the pain of swollen milk. And you don’t have to worry about not being able to wean your baby after using a breast pump. Because a breast pump does not suck milk thoroughly, milk secretion will gradually decrease.

3. Hot compress: After using a breast pump to express milk, apply a hot towel to the breasts to relieve swelling and pain. In addition, hot compress can make the milk lumps blocking the breast glands unblocked and improve breast circulation. When applying hot compress, be careful to avoid the areola and nipple areas because the skin in these two areas is more tender. The temperature of the hot compress should not be too hot to avoid scalding the skin.

4. Massage: After applying hot compress to the breasts, you can massage the breasts. There are many ways to massage the breasts. Generally, hold one breast with both hands and massage alternately from the bottom of the breast to the nipple. If there is still milk leaking, you can squeeze the milk into a container.

5. Hot bath: If the breasts are still swollen and painful, the mother can take a hot bath and massage the breasts, which will feel more comfortable.