How to Deal with Breast Engorgement and Lumps During the Postpartum Period?

For women, breastfeeding after childbirth can be fraught with challenges, such as lack of milk supply and breast soreness. If there is tenderness and lumps in the breasts during the postpartum recovery period, it is likely due to blocked milk ducts. Typically, gentle massaging of the breasts or encouraging the baby to suckle more frequently can help unblock the milk ducts and resolve the tenderness and lumps.

Here are some solutions for addressing postpartum breast milk accumulation with lumps:

1. Baby Suckling: The best approach is to encourage frequent suckling by the baby. As the baby suckles, the milk supply will increase, and the tenderness and lumps will quickly dissipate.

2. Hot Towel Compress: If there are lumps and significant pain in the breasts, applying a hot towel compress to the affected areas can help unblock the milk ducts and alleviate the discomfort.

3. Hot Shower: Taking a hot shower and gently massaging the breasts, or shaking them side to side, can facilitate the flow of milk and unblock the milk ducts.

4. Breast Pump: If there are milk clumps, a breast pump can be used to extract the milk. While the pumping process may be slightly painful, it is tolerable, and in most cases, using a breast pump can unblock the milk ducts and eliminate the lumps.

5. Lactation Consultant: If a breast pump is unable to extract the excess milk, it is advisable to consult a lactation consultant. They have professional techniques and experience to unblock the milk ducts effectively and eliminate the lumps.

It is important to note that attempting to massage the breasts without proper guidance can be counterproductive. Incorrect techniques or excessive force can exacerbate the problem.

Causes and Symptoms of Postpartum Milk Accumulation:

The symptoms of postpartum milk accumulation are relatively obvious. Initially, there may be tenderness and lumps in the breasts, while the color of the skin surface remains normal. The tenderness may temporarily ease after breastfeeding but quickly returns. In the later stages, the breasts may become extremely tender and untouchable, with hard lumps that make the entire breast feel like a rock. The skin surface may also appear slightly red.

Excessive milk production can lead to milk accumulation due to the accumulation of blood, fluid, and milk in the breasts, often caused by infrequent or improper breastfeeding. Effective care within 24 to 48 hours can usually alleviate the symptoms.

Incorrect sleeping positions can also contribute to milk accumulation. Improper sleeping positions can compress the breasts, leading to postpartum milk accumulation. Overly full breasts can easily become compressed during sleep, resulting in hard lumps. Typically, only a small area of the breast will be affected, with the rest remaining soft, and only the affected area will be painful.