Advice on breasts that are ready to bust

cassieg97 · Apr 11th, 2012, 16:10 PM

Hiya all,

Baby is 5 days old now and breastfeeding mostly every two or so hours, I'm just really uncomfortable. Since yesterday my breasts have been so hard and sore and veins are popping out. Does this calm down soon? Or is there a problem, I don't think I can carry on day in day out with breasts like this while bf its just to much!

Cass

Kirei · Apr 11th, 2012, 16:36 PM

It settled down at about 6 weeks for me xxx

Laurenmomma · Apr 11th, 2012, 17:06 PM

Your milk will have just come in so Ur body needs to sort out how much your baby needs! It's like that for a few weeks but by 6 weeks they feel normal again until feedin time when they blow up again!

Cold green cabbage leaves help so much! Or try hand expressing a bit in the bath just to ease them a bit! I found feeding helped loads x

summer rain · Apr 11th, 2012, 17:24 PM

The really serious about to explode type of engorgement should go in a few days do don't worry, it is then likely you'll still feel full until about 6 weeks but not as uncomfortably so xx

Maxy1 · Apr 11th, 2012, 17:57 PM

Yep what Summer said. You may have more relief by the evenings as well. Have you tried a hot shower when its really bad. You will leak in the shower and the heat will help. Don't express using a pump as this will make the engorgement last longer.

And feed feed feed!!

cassieg97 · Apr 12th, 2012, 04:41 AM

Thanks guys, can't believe how hard and painful they can get. Thought I had a blockage somewhere x

lozza1uk · Apr 12th, 2012, 05:00 AM

Mine were only like this for a couple of days. I massaged them in the shower and hand expressed a small amount off just to soften them a bit. It made latching on less painful and much easier for LO!

Maxy1 · Apr 15th, 2012, 17:08 PM

If you have a blocked duct you will feel this distinctly apart from the 'its going to pop' firmness of the breast. It will feel like a chunk of gravel or rock in the breast, its really really hard and firm and usually odd shaped. Alternatively you won't feel anything but your breast will be so painful that you won't want ANYTHING touching it, ever. Can't hold baby, can't wear heavy clothes etc.

I really hope its just engorgement and not a blocked duct!! Either way though, feed, feed, feed!!

mumnbean · Apr 16th, 2012, 09:00 AM

When I felt like this I tended to express and freeze for relief. I was terrified of getting mastitis! Baby just couldn't seem to feed enough to make me comfortable. I usually expressed for about 8mins both sides every other day.

Apr 11th, 2012, 16:10 PM	#1
cassieg97 Pregnant (Expecting) New BnB member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 2	Advice on breasts that are ready to bust Hiya all, Baby is 5 days old now and breastfeeding mostly every two or so hours, I'm just really uncomfortable. Since yesterday my breasts have been so hard and sore and veins are popping out. Does this calm down soon? Or is there a problem, I don't think I can carry on day in day out with breasts like this while bf its just to much! Cass

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Apr 11th, 2012, 16:36 PM	#2
Kirei Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: England Posts: 976	It settled down at about 6 weeks for me xxx

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Apr 11th, 2012, 17:06 PM	#3
Laurenmomma Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Liverpool Posts: 4,510	Your milk will have just come in so Ur body needs to sort out how much your baby needs! It's like that for a few weeks but by 6 weeks they feel normal again until feedin time when they blow up again! Cold green cabbage leaves help so much! Or try hand expressing a bit in the bath just to ease them a bit! I found feeding helped loads x

Status: Online

Apr 11th, 2012, 17:24 PM	#4
summer rain Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East England Posts: 16,358	The really serious about to explode type of engorgement should go in a few days do don't worry, it is then likely you'll still feel full until about 6 weeks but not as uncomfortably so xx

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Apr 11th, 2012, 17:57 PM	#5
Maxy1 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 666	Yep what Summer said. You may have more relief by the evenings as well. Have you tried a hot shower when its really bad. You will leak in the shower and the heat will help. Don't express using a pump as this will make the engorgement last longer. And feed feed feed!!

Status: Offline

Apr 12th, 2012, 04:41 AM	#6
cassieg97 Pregnant (Expecting) New BnB member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 2	Thanks guys, can't believe how hard and painful they can get. Thought I had a blockage somewhere x

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Apr 12th, 2012, 05:00 AM	#7
lozza1uk Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Cheshire Posts: 2,414	Mine were only like this for a couple of days. I massaged them in the shower and hand expressed a small amount off just to soften them a bit. It made latching on less painful and much easier for LO!

Status: Offline

Apr 15th, 2012, 17:08 PM	#8
Maxy1 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 666	If you have a blocked duct you will feel this distinctly apart from the 'its going to pop' firmness of the breast. It will feel like a chunk of gravel or rock in the breast, its really really hard and firm and usually odd shaped. Alternatively you won't feel anything but your breast will be so painful that you won't want ANYTHING touching it, ever. Can't hold baby, can't wear heavy clothes etc. I really hope its just engorgement and not a blocked duct!! Either way though, feed, feed, feed!!

Status: Offline

Apr 16th, 2012, 09:00 AM	#9
mumnbean Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,353	When I felt like this I tended to express and freeze for relief. I was terrified of getting mastitis! Baby just couldn't seem to feed enough to make me comfortable. I usually expressed for about 8mins both sides every other day.

Status: Offline

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