Milk stasis: what to do to cope with the problem

Breast milk is not only the first food for the baby, but also a whole complex of incredibly useful trace elements, as well as a combination of mother antibodies that help to quickly cope with ailments. In addition, breastfeeding is a very touching moment for a woman and important for the mental and physical development of crumbs. Unfortunately, young mothers often face certain difficulties. The most common problem is stagnant milk. What to do in this case and how to help yourself?

What did you do wrong?

Lactostasis (the scientific name for milk stagnation) does not arise just like that. This is usually a signal of an admitted error during feeding. The main cause of stagnation is incomplete emptying of the breast. In the first months of milking women have plenty of milk. If a child regularly does not finish eating a portion of a delicious treat presented to him, the remnants can cause discomfort.

Lactostasis in a nursing mother is often caused by an incorrect attachment of the baby to the breast. A crumb must fully encircle the nipple's mouth, covering the sponges and part of the areola. Otherwise, the individual segments of the gland do not completely empty.

Any trauma to the chest or just a tight bra can cause the stagnation of milk. Choose only special and most comfortable underwear for nursing moms.

Symptoms of lactostasis

• Chest pain. There may be discomfort both in the whole gland and in its separate segment.
• When 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 chest.
• Sometimes a red stain develops on the skin in the place of stagnation.
• In some cases, fever, chills and even convulsions are observed. This condition is very dangerous, since 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 stagnant milk. What to do to minimize the number of their appearances?

• Ensure that the baby grasps the nipple correctly. This technique is difficult to learn from the books, so even in the hospital, ask the midwife to help you establish the process of breastfeeding.
• Do not make big breaks between feedings.
• Do not decant milk left from the breast without need.
• Regularly inspect the chest for seals and painful areas.
• Periodically change the poses and the way of applying the child. At least once a day, use the method of feeding "from under the arm."

You have had lactostasis. What to do?

Having felt a firm pea or having felt a pain in a breast, do not panic. Your main child in this situation will be your own child. Give him a sick chest at first request. The second breast can be offered less often, periodically decanting it.

Consider another situation: you are far from the child and found yourself stagnant in milk. What if there is no opportunity to put the baby to the breast? Use breast pump or chest express manually. The first method is preferable, since modern assistants of nursing mothers are made taking into account female physiology and absolutely do not injure the chest. If there is no such device at hand, you can solve the problem yourself.

• Massage your chest with light fingers. Pay special attention to the areas with compaction.
• You can take a warm shower or attach a heated towel to your chest, which will facilitate the rapid separation of milk.
• Gently squeeze the nipple of the nipple with expressive finger movements, expressing the milk. Periodically perform massage movements throughout the chest. It may be necessary to repeat the procedure several times.
• Remove the inflammation will help compress from the alcohol solution of chlorophyllipt and camphor oil. Also, use the folk remedy, attaching a leaf of cabbage to a sick chest.

If in the hospital you are tormented by stagnation of milk, what to do - tell midwives. Do not be afraid to seek help from doctors. Lactostasis is dangerous after mastitis, so do not delay with treatment.