Breast pain after breast pumping

For breastfeeding women, sometimes a breast pump is needed to suck out the milk. If it is not operated properly, it may cause breast pain. There are many reasons for breast pain. It is very likely due to the distension and pain caused by breast blockage, or it may be caused by improper operation of the breast pump. For example, the mammary ducts may stretch excessively and cause pain. Don't worry too much, but don't use excessive force when using a breast pump.

What to do if your breasts are swollen

Breast engorgement occurs when the breasts become full of milk, feel heavy, and are tender. When your breasts swell, they can increase to three times their normal size, which can be extremely uncomfortable, but it also means that you'll soon be able to lactate smoothly. The swelling usually goes away within a few days. If the milk is not drained in time, the swelling will last longer.

Here are some ways to relieve breast swelling:

Your breasts will be sore when you feed your baby, but the more milk your baby gets, the less engorgement your breasts will feel. Therefore, you can increase the frequency of feeding your baby;

Place cabbage or a bowl of grated carrots in the refrigerator, then place the leaves or carrots between your breasts and your bra for 10 to 20 minutes, every 4 hours. This will help drain excess milk from your breasts and reduce swelling. (But don't leave the leaves or carrots on your skin for too long.)

Gently massage your breasts to help the milk flow to the nipples and drain easily;

Carefully check your breasts after each feeding to check for lumps or tender areas. This will help prevent further discomfort and mastitis.

What to do if you have mastitis during lactation

1. The early treatment of mastitis focuses on lactation, seizing the early favorable treatment opportunity and controlling the development of the disease. The treatment with traditional Chinese medicine generally focuses on soothing the liver and clearing heat, promoting lactation and reducing swelling. The method of massage to promote lactation is to use both hands to massage from the base of the breast, slowly squeezing and pushing towards the nipple. The degree of massage force should be based on the patient's tolerance. While massaging, you can gently pinch the nipple several times to expand the milk network in the nipple. This method can promote smooth discharge of milk. Treatment of mastitis during lactation For chronic mastitis with a course of more than 6-10 days, intravenous penicillin-like drugs can be added for systemic anti-inflammatory treatment, which can usually be cured within 1-2 weeks.

2. The focus of mid-term treatment of tumors is to dissipate the tumors and avoid suppuration and infection. Many patients lose the favorable opportunity for early cure and form inflammatory tumors, which is often related to the early use of large doses of antibiotics. Traditional Chinese medicine mainly focuses on soothing the liver and clearing heat, promoting blood circulation, reducing swelling and dispersing nodules. Hot compress can be used as auxiliary treatment, and local hot compress can have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. If the local swelling is obvious, you can use 25% magnesium sulfate hot compress. At the same time, the patient should massage along the base of the breast to the nipple for 8 to 10 minutes every 3 to 4 hours, and try to squeeze out the milk or use a breast pump to express it. In the early stage of mastitis, breastfeeding does not need to be stopped if the symptoms are mild.

3. The condition is more serious in the later stages, and the focus is on draining pus and promoting healing. Patients with mastitis during lactation who develop abscesses undergo surgical incision and drainage, and all are cured within 2 weeks after drainage. To drain the pus, you should go to the hospital for surgical incision and drainage. The incision method and location should be selected based on the location of the abscess and the cosmetic effect. Small abscesses should be flushed using puncture and suction, and medications should continue to be used after surgery to strengthen anti-infection and promote rapid wound healing.

4. In addition, prevention of mastitis during lactation is more important than treatment. Avoiding milk stasis, preventing nipple damage, and keeping nipples clean are the key to preventing acute mastitis during lactation.