When your milk increases, or “comes in” you may experience breast fullness that leads to engorgement. If you do, these are some tips to try:
- Feed your baby frequently to help keep the milk flowing. Less frequent feeds = more engorgement!
- If your baby is having difficulty latching due to the fullness/firmness of the breast, you can hand express or pump for a few minutes prior to latching to soften the areola, which will allow your baby to latch more deeply, more easily.
- If your baby is getting full before you are getting relief, you can also pump “to comfort,” meaning just enough to relieve the pressure, until baby is ready to feed again.
- Warm compresses for a few minutes before a feeding will help get your milk flowing, and cold compresses for a short time (no longer than 10–15 minutes) after a feeding, can help ease swelling.
