[JessMitch]

Ok so I've been trying to nurse Mackenzie but she's a little small to take to it right away. We've been using a nipple shield which is very helpful for her to get the hang of it, even though she rarely gets even a full cc. anyway, in the mean time i'm producing milk at super speed, my milk came in like day 2. So i can pump about a full bottle (3oz?) with each boob, each pump. So last night i went to bed without pumping and i didn't wake up at 3 to pump like i should have. OUCH! So bascially i pumped around 10:30 last night and not again until 6ish this morning.... my right boob has been hard as a rock in certain areas and it hurts like H*ll! It's getting better with each pump but please someone tell me its going to go away completely, and soon! It's my own fault for being a slacker but I really wanted a good nights sleep (which to me now consists of a solid 4 1/2 hours).

ok i swear there was a question in there somewhere right?? I guess i just need to know that this is normal when you haven't pumped for a few hours and that it will go away?!?!!

[jensma]

It is jess, you're probably engorged. Feels like rocks in your boobs huh b/c your ducts are full. You can probably massage your boobs some to help release it some while you're pumping. If you get a high fever or have redness on your boob and body ache let someone know b/c you could have mastitis which is no fun and can be dangerous. I am sure you're fine at this point though.

Oh and I feel ya on just wanting sleep. These days Tyler usually sleeps through a feeding at night and so when i get up he feeds on one side and i pump the other and get 6ish oz out of just one side!

So glad you're producing well and little mack is trying hard!! Tyler was tiny but had a SUPER suck reflex. It is just disturbing when your child's head is 1/3 size of your boob!

[MommaLee]

I'm of no help. I was never engorged and have never been able to pump more than 1 oz each boob. So wow, sounds like all is going well except for the hard boob of course. Not sure about how much she is eating but you could probably get you a good freezer stash going if you haven't already.

[pthree]

I agree with Kate - probably engorgement, and massaging helps. I start squeezing from the back of my breast and pull up toward my nipple, if that makes since.

[jensma]

yes and start where it hurts the most. Mine usually is around the top or side which is easy to put pressure on.

[JessMitch]

Thanks for the help girls. I did some massaging while pumping the last two times and its starting to feel much better. It definitely still hurts but a lot less than this morning and its still hard but again, better than before. All i think i can do now is continue to pump and massage, massage and pump! Oh, and don't skip anymore pumps!

[Celry]

Putting a warm compress on it or taking a warm shower prior to pumping should help you pump all of that out.

[LoLo'sMama]

When I was engorged at first, I did the cabbage leaves for a couple of days very sparingly-like a couple of hours in the morning (If you do it too much, it will decrease your milk which you obviously don't want to do!!) And what the others said, just express or pump to get some relief!

That is so awesome you are getting so much with each session!! Yu will have a freezer full soon and have freedom to do things without baby and know that others will be able to feed Mack! Prob right now, you don't ever want to leave her side...but there will probably be a day once you get home and settled when you are ready for a short trip or errand away from her and it is so nice to have the assurance there is food for her!!! So yay for your cooperating boobies!!

[jensma]

i was goign to suggest compresses as well. I was watchign the Dr's and the actually said cold for engorgement heat for mastitis, but i agree with Val a hot shower does seem to loosen things up. I just remember my nipples hurting so bad i put cold packs in my bra! lol