Breast Engorgement: First 3 Days Breastfeeding Your Baby
There’s something I have to confess.
I prepared for birth, but I didn’t prepare for breastfeeding… at all.
The engorgement on day 3 or 4 was SHOCKING.
But engorgement is normal. When your milk comes in on day 3-5, your breasts turn into big huge boulders and it can be extremely uncomfortable.
They can be SO FULL that your baby can’t even latch onto your nipple. It’s CRAZY.
Quick tips to help with engorgement:
- Ibuprofen (Advil): Engorgement is not only milk, but it’s also inflammation – ibuprofen can help take down the inflammation
- Cool compresses for up to 20 minutes before nursing (cold helps inflammation)
- Hand express to take the pressure off
- Reverse pressure softening – use if you’re so full that baby can’t latch
- Warmth can increase swelling and inflammation, so use heat sparingly!
You can get a ton of information about engorgement here on the KellyMom website. KellyMom is a great resource for all kinds of breastfeeding questions!
Here are a couple YouTube videos you might need later:
- How to get a deep latch (breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt)
You’re gonna do great!
– Natalie
PS: If you would like a referral for an in-home lactation consultant that I work with, click here to send me an email.
Portland Birth Photographer
Birth Doula & Videographer
Natalie Broders is a birth photographer, birth filmmaker and birth doula located in Portland, Oregon. She lives on a farm with her husband and 2 kids. They raise chickens and love to garden. Natalie loves babywearing, cloth diapering and is passionate about her work as an advocate for birthing people. She had one of her babies at a birth center and her second baby was born at home, in water.
