Breast milk is not only the first food for a baby, but also a whole complex of incredibly useful trace elements, as well as a set of mother's antibodies that help to quickly cope with illnesses. In addition, breastfeeding is a very touching moment for a woman and important for the mental and physical development of the crumbs. Unfortunately, young mothers often face certain difficulties. The most common problem is milk stasis. What to do in this case and how to help yourself?
What did you do wrong?
Lactostasis (the scientific name for milk stasis) does not just happen. Usually this is a signal of a mistake made during feeding. The main cause of stagnation is the incomplete emptying of the mammary gland. In the first months of feeding, women have an excess of milk. If the child does not eat regularlypresented to him with a portion of a delicious treat, the leftovers can cause discomfort.
Lactostasis in a nursing mother is often caused by improper attachment of the baby to the breast. The baby should completely cover the nipple with his mouth, covering with sponges and part of the areola. Otherwise, individual segments of the gland are not completely emptied.
Any breast injury or just a tight bra can cause milk stasis. Choose only special and most comfortable underwear for nursing mothers.
Symptoms of lactostasis
- Chest pain. There may be discomfort both in the entire gland and in its separate segment.
- On palpation, there is a hardening or a small pea under the skin. Most often, such surprises are found closer to the armpit or under the breasts.
- Sometimes a red spot forms on the skin at the site of stagnation.
- In some cases, there is fever, chills and even convulsions. This condition is very dangerous, as it can be a symptom of already infectious mastitis. It is better to see a doctor immediately.
How to protect yourself?
Nursing mothers often experience milk stasis. What can be done to keep their appearances to a minimum?
- Make sure your baby is latching onto the nipple correctly. This technique can be difficult to learn from books, so ask your midwife to help you get your breastfeeding going when you are in the hospital.
- Don't take long breaks between feeds.
- Don't pumpleftover breast milk unnecessarily.
- Check your breasts regularly for lumps and tender areas.
- Change your positions and the way you latch on from time to time. Use hand-held feeding at least once a day.
You have lactostasis. What to do?
If you feel a hard pea or feel pain in your chest, don't panic. Your main assistant in this situation will be your own child. Give him a sore chest on demand. The second breast can be offered less frequently, with occasional pumping.
Consider another situation: you are far away from the baby and you find yourself with milk stagnation. What to do if there is no way to put the baby to the breast? Use a breast pump or express your breasts by hand. The first method is preferable, since modern assistants for nursing mothers are made taking into account female physiology and do not injure the breast at all. In the absence of such a device at hand, you can solve the problem yourself.
- Massage the sore chest with light touches of your fingers. Pay special attention to areas with compaction.
- You can take a warm shower or apply a warm towel to your breasts to help your milk flow faster.
- Squeeze the areola of the nipple with gentle finger movements while expressing milk. Periodically make massage movements throughout the chest. You may have to repeat the procedure several times.
- An alcohol compress will help relieve inflammationchlorophyllipt and camphor oil. Also use a folk remedy by attaching a leaf of white cabbage to a sore chest.
If still in the maternity hospital you are tormented by stagnation of milk, what to do - midwives will tell you. Do not be afraid to seek help from doctors. Lactostasis is dangerous with subsequent mastitis, so do not delay treatment.
