Within the first few days after childbirth, as the mother’s breasts begin to produce milk, engorgement of i.e., swelling due to unreleased milk in) the mother’s breasts may occur.[1] For a discussion of symptoms of breast engorgement, see our Q&A called Breast Engorgement in Lactating Women.
Many ways are available to help prevent, manage, and treat breast engorgement, including the following self-help, naturopathic, and homeopathic approaches:[1]
• Pregnant women whose nipples are flat or inverted should wear breast shields to help draw the nipples out.
• To support your breasts after childbirth, wear a comfortable nursing brassiere during the day and night.
• To treat engorged breasts, take a hot shower and manually massage your breasts to help release some of the milk. Certain massage techniques stimulate drainage of the lymph system and help release some of the milk,
• To treat engorged breasts, apply warm, wet packs to the breasts just prior to nursing.
• To treat engorged breasts, manually massage your breasts to help release some of the milk just prior to nursing your infant. Certain massage techniques stimulate drainage of the lymph system and help release some of the milk. Massaging the breasts may help allow the infant’s mouth to fit around the areola (colored part of the breast around the nipple) of the breast.
• During nursing, position your infant to make it easier for the infant to breastfeed.
• To treat engorged breasts, apply cold, wet packs to the breasts just after nursing your infant.
• To treat engorged breasts, use a hairdryer set on low to dry the milk on your nipples between feedings of your infant.
• Take a homeopathic remedy, such as Belladonna, Bryonia, Calcarea carbonica, Dulcamara, Lac caninum, Phytolacca, Silica, or Urtica urens. Consult a homeopath (a healthcare professional with experience in using homeopathic remedies) for guidance on the homeopathic remedy and dose that are appropriate for you
• If your infant refuses to breastfeed, collect your breast milk. Feed your infant with the breast milk given on a clean, small spoon, rather than from a bottle.
Also, the La Leche League International (www.llli.org) has helpful suggestions for women who are breastfeeding their infants.
If the self-help, naturopathic, and homeopathic approaches discussed previously do not resolve the symptoms of breast engorgement, consult your integrative medical physician and gynecologist for consideration of other types of treatment including:
• Devices to help release the milk from the breasts
• Prescription medications. The disadvantage of taking certain prescription medications is that certain drugs may be secreted into the breast milk.
REFERENCE
1. J. Reichenberg-Ullman. Whole Woman Homeopathy. 2004. North Edmonds, WA: Picnic Point Press.
|
is a trademark of HC Search Corporation.
for free.
