Even if you aren t expressing milk to store it for future use, breastfeeding mothers still need to have a breast pump handy. Using a manual or electric breast pump can help you get relief from breast engorgement and save you from its aches and pains. Believe me, I tried doing this. While my daughter never took a feed from the bottle, the breast pump was still like a life saviour for me. I used it every time my breasts felt engorged or pained and swelled between feeds to remove the excess milk.
An engorgement usually happens if your child isn t taking a feed properly (due to latching problems), there is a long break between two feeds, especially if your child is napping for long or you are out at work. When your breasts have excess milk, they become hard and tender to touch. It swells and pains. For some women, it could also lead to a low-grade fever. I have experienced all of this.
This is why I feel that having a breast pump really helps. Other natural remedies like using ice-packs, cabbage leaves can provide temporary relief from engorgement. But using a breast pump to remove excess milk is an instant relief. So when you feel engorged, use a breast pump to express milk and store it. Here is what you can do with the expressed milk -
However, many experts believe that using a breast pump can increase breast milk supply because breast milk production works on demand and supply method. The more the baby suckles at the breast, more milk is produced. Using a breast pump mimics the action of a baby s suckling. But with time, as you start weaning, your breasts will make less milk and episodes of engorgement will subside. So if you are worried that using a breast pump might increase breast milk production and engorgement too, remember that after the initial two months of continuous efforts and help, breastfeeding will become easier.
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