Questions regarding breast feeding

[Lirpa11]

Hi, I have a few questions regarding breast feeding. Our son is just over 4 weeks old and exclusively breast fed.

1) I have been alternating feeds from one side to the other, but this morning my left breast was so full and hard, while the right was just squishy. I haven't been feeding him more from the left, does this just happen sometimes?

We've had a couple of bad engorgement times since starting this journey so I'm hoping it settles down. Just as I think we are good to go something goes wonky!!

Now one boob is double the size of the other!!

2) sometimes, depending how full my breasts are (particularly the right one), when he suckles and the milk lets down, if he pulls off the boob will be spraying all on its own! I don't mean a leak, I mean a stream of milk spraying in the air. Will this happen for however long I breastfeed? The breast doesn't have to be engorged, just full.

3) how do I know if mastitis is coming in? I worry each time they get engorged as I don't want an infection. How do you know you have a blocked duct?

I'll add any more questions if I think of them!

 

[MoldyVoldy]

Hi, I have a few questions regarding breast feeding. Our son is just over 4 weeks old and exclusively breast fed.

1) I have been alternating feeds from one side to the other, but this morning my left breast was so full and hard, while the right was just squishy. I haven't been feeding him more from the left, does this just happen sometimes?

We've had a couple of bad engorgement times since starting this journey so I'm hoping it settles down. Just as I think we are good to go something goes wonky!!

Now one boob is double the size of the other!!

2) sometimes, depending how full my breasts are (particularly the right one), when he suckles and the milk lets down, if he pulls off the boob will be spraying all on its own! I don't mean a leak, I mean a stream of milk spraying in the air. Will this happen for however long I breastfeed? The breast doesn't have to be engorged, just full.

3) how do I know if mastitis is coming in? I worry each time they get engorged as I don't want an infection. How do you know you have a blocked duct?

I'll add any more questions if I think of them!

1. If one breast is fuller than the other to that extreme, the breast that is fuller probably isn't being emptied. Maybe try feeding from one breast twice in a row and then switch.

2. It might take a few months but your supply will adjust. It won't always hose down anyone in front of you!

3. If you have mastitis, you WILL KNOW. Your breast will be hot, red, possibly have red streaking, you will feel ILL - I mean worst flu of your life ill and feverish. If your breast begins to feel achey at all, you may have a plugged duct and i'd advise a hot shower and gentle massages downward toward your nipple. Also breastfeeding on the affected breast while dangling over your LO.

 

[Mrsb3]

If you have mastitis your breast is likely to have red patches on it. Feel hot and be painfull.

 

[dovkav123]

I had painful breasts and painful lumps. The ducts were plugged. I had a high fever. I was so lucky that my mom was with me. SHE brought the baby to feed and she took care of him.
I put on cold white cabbage leaves and massasged them. DONT let them get too hard, feed more often or pump the milk.
MY baby slept through the night since he was 6 weeks. I HAD to wake up at 6am to pump cos I had painful breasts.

 

[kksy9b]

Eventually your supply will even out and the engorgement won't be as bad (until LO goes through a growth spurt or is sick etc. Supply is forever changing). The spraying everywhere will also reduce and eventually subside. Also, traditionally one side will produce more so like a pp suggested, you may just need to nurse two time on one side and then switch.

I never had mastis but have had several clogged ducts. It was EXTREMELY painful when my DS would nurse on that side. Like, bring me to tears painful. You will notice that the boob gets soft through part of it, but part still remains full of milk and hard (the duct that is clogged). I would get a milk blister on my nipple after a few hours/day. I would nurse through it until the blister came take a needle (sterilized of course) and poke a hole (didn't hurt one bit). Then take the hot water, start massaging down and let LO nurse directly after. Cleared it each time. I never found a pattern to it, just happened randomly for me.