Please help with engorgement & pumping issues

One of my breasts has a rock hard area, which I assume is engorgement. I'm currently pumping my milk for my DD. For the past 3 days, I've been using a hot pack before pumping to try to release the milk and this afternoon I pumped for an hour but it is still there. I asked my doc tonight how to help it and told him what I've been doing. He told me that heat would make it worse. He told me to use a cold pack and wear a tight bra. I thought those things would stop my milk production, which I definately do NOT want to do!!! As it is, I'm only getting 1/2 the amount out of that side compared with the other side. I told him that I'm pumping my milk and he said that basically anything I do to relieve the engorgement is going to stop my milk, which I don't really understand.

So, I'm just wondering if anybody has a solution to help relieve the engorgement before it turns into mastitis, without hurting my milk supply.

Also, does anybody know how long it takes for the nipples to get used to the pumping? I was terribly cut up and sore after 5 days in the hospital between trying to nurse and using breast shields that were too small and things are not getting much better. Many times when I pump I'm getting a lot of blood, and my milk looks like strawberry milk. I don't remember it being this bad with DD#1. I'm so sore at this point that I can't even comfortably hold my baby close to me. Please tell me this will get better soon! I desperately want her to get my milk but I don't know how much more of this I can take!

Re: Please help with engorgement & pumping issues

Here's a website that I had in my favorites:
http://www.breastfeeding.com/

There is a section that under breastfeeding that talks about engorgement and how to treat it.

I'm not sure when baby was born but when my milk came in with both kids I was enorged for days and it was very painful. The best that I could do was pump and massage my breast while pumping. It eventually passed.

Re: Please help with engorgement & pumping issues

Could it be that you have a clogged duct? Thats what it sounds like to me. I don't know where your Dr. is getting his information from but DO NOT wear a tight bra or stop putting the heat on. The heat should def. help. I've never heard of putting anything cold on your boobs to help relieve engorgement. I took a BFing class and putting a warm compress is the first thing they told me to do if I get a clogged duct. They also said warm shower, putting them into a bowl of warm water helps.

Re: Please help with engorgement & pumping issues

You a drop of olive oil on each nipple prior to pumping. It will help you SOOOO much! It was a life saver for me.
Also, do not pump on the fastest setting..faster does not = more milk.
If you pump until you are very soft, you will feel better. I also made sure that I pumped often and did not allow myself to get rock hard...sometimes that meant waking up to pump. It is hard but the engorgement is worse. I also did some hand only squeezing to start and take the real pressure off. That often helped pumping for me.
Let me know if you need any help!

Re: Please help with engorgement & pumping issues

Since you said you have a "rock hard area" it sounds like a clogged duct - not engorgement.

I recommend continuing the heat, but add massage directly to the hard area. Kellymom has TONS of info for BFing moms.

You are right, cold compresses and tight bras will absolutely negatively impact your supply.

I always used Lansinoh cream for the sore nipples - it was a lifesaver!

Re: Please help with engorgement & pumping issues

Re: Please help with engorgement & pumping issues

Thank you EVERYBODY for your quick replies. I'm going to try everything, and am def taking off the tight bra, and will continue the heat. Hopefully this will pass soon.

Re: Please help with engorgement & pumping issues

I went from EBFing to exclusively pumping, and I keep getting that hard lump on one side. I think since the pump isn't as effective as the baby, pumpers might be more prone to clogs.

What I do is pump until no more milk comes out, and then pump some more ( about 5 minutes). Then I take a shower and let the water run, as hot as I can stand it, while I massage the lump. Then I hand express the milk out, and the lump usually goes away.

I agree with the PP's..pumping on the lower settings is more effective for me. The faster settings will just aggravate your already sore nipples.

Also, I find I get the lump when I let too much time go in between sessions..so maybe you could increase your sessions.

HTH!

Re: Please help with engorgement & pumping issues

I had pretty bad engorgement when my milk first came in. Heat right before feeding or pumping is helpful, and cool/ice packs (frozen peas work great) between feedings. Red cabbage leaves between feedings is also good for engorgement. If it is only the clogged duct, I would do the heat, but skip the cold and cabbage leaves.

For the heat, warm compresses work, but I found that a hot shower was best. Get the bathroom nice and steamy, and massage your breasts in the shower, especially where they are lumpy. My breasts were so swollen that my nipples were flat, DD couldn't get any milk out, and I had so many lumps that FH could see the lumps from across the room. When I took the hot showers, my milk would really let down and by the end of the shower, milk would be pouring out. And if I pressed on the lumps, I'd get a steady stream of milk shooting out.

If you have any redness by the lumps, or real pain, call your doc to make sure it's not mastitis.

Good luck!

Re: Please help with engorgement & pumping issues

Massage and heat together. If you have shower massage use the hardest setting and then pump after while massaginbg the hard area down. I have even slept with a heating pad on

Oh...and no offense your Dr is an idiot! He gave you the ways to stop milk production

Re: Please help with engorgement & pumping issues

Re: Please help with engorgement & pumping issues

What helped me tremendously was nursing or pumping while on all 4's on the bed, so that your breasts are hanging. That cleared the hard spot within minutes due to the pressure and i've never had a problem since!

Re: Please help with engorgement & pumping issues

All the ladies gave great advice...but I wanted to say Congratulations-- did I miss the post that you had the baby?

Congrats!!