I'm posting this here & UK Mummies cos I want all the info and your experiences that I can get if you girls wont mind sharing!

My milk came in last night.... HOLY COW!!! My left BB is so freaking hard, sore and I can't latch her on at ALL. I've expressed almost 2oz with the pump but I still can't latch her on. She has now had 2 long feeds & 1 short feed from only my right BB which is fine.

Thing with my left BB, I have excess breast tissue that goes up under my armpit. I had it checked years ago and was confirmed it's deffo extra breast tissue and nothing to worry about. But the "lump" is swollen and hard and sore just like my BB. I also have a very red/swollen milk duct above my left nipple (are the wee spots on you areola milk ducts? If not, whatever they are called?)

The midwife is coming in at some point today but I'm not sure what to do meantime, I NEED to get her on this left BB - it's the only cure, right??

[*JenJen*]

try a warm cloth to help relax, and keep pumping and attempting to have her latch on.

[LisanAndy]

I have no experience but just wanted to say I'm rooting for you Fi! Hope it gets easier!

[Mars]

The warm cloth will work. I had the same issue with one being engorged and the other fine. I used a warm cloth all around the breast and pumped off enough to make it soft for her to latch on. Be careful with her feeding so much from the one breast because that will increase the supply on that one which may later become engorged too when she starts to feed from the other. Remember to alternate. And if you feel any swollen ducts, massage them as you are feeding her.

Are you moisturising your nipples as well? Make sure you are because they will become very sore soon if they have not started to get sore already. I found moisturising mine helped a great deal. And I found the disposable breast pads much kinder (during this time) to my nipples than the washable ones.

[~* Helen *~]

I agree the warm cloth will help or maybe relax in a nice warm bath with her, and again the pumping off the engored breast as like you said there is only the one cure.
Hope it calms down for you sonn hun xx

[Mars]

Oh Fi, I forgot to mention "CABBAGE LEAVES". I'd heard that they work wonders but had totally forgot until I read a similar post in our Feb DDC. Here's the link (It's mentioned by Valeri (babybritches)):

http://www.justmommies.com/boards/index.ph...owtopic=1459711

[soImarriedAnerd]

Here is a good site---- http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...gorgement.html

I was told that cabbage leaves help with engorgement because the slow the production of milk down....and to do it when your engorged and your WEANING or not BF at all.

[misfitinmn]

Yep, warm wash cloth, warm shower and hand express a bit when you're in the shower, warm shower and then pump a bit...it is hard in the beginning when your milk comes in, for sure! I had milk EVERYWHERE, it was leaking and spraying and generally just a milky, sticky mess everywhere. A hot shower worked better for me than pretty much anything else, and sometimes I had to manual pump a few oz out before Ben could latch on to the boulder!

hang in there, engorgement sucks, but it doesn't last forever!!

[niknok]

Aww Fi, your milk arrived! Everytime you post about something new, I just get all giddy for you. I'm so happy you are a mommy, even if your boobs are hurting, lol. I don't have much great advice, but will second that about the shower followed by a pumping session, then try to latch. I just want you to know that it does get better, I promise. I'm exactly a month ahead of you on this motherhood journey, and I'm here to testify that it only gets better. The kellymom website is a great one, check it out.

[~Jess~]

Don't pay attention to how many oz you pump, just pump until your breast is soft enough for baby to latch on, if it takes 6 oz, then pump 6 oz, kwim?

Well the m/w came in today she isn't concerened about the lump under my arm or the red swollen duct. She said as long as the lump feels the same as my breast (sore, hard) then it's fine. And the duct - sje said it looks more like Kirsty nipped it whilst feeding than it being blocked.

She said keep going with trying to latch on, or pump & latch and pump & latch etc. She said the same about not using the R BB all the time as it'll go the same way. After she left we tried the LB and it worked perfectly fine, she latched on eventually and got a good feed.

She's had a really good feed since Due another one in an hour from the sore BB so hopefully it goes as well!

Thanks ladies!!

[.Brandi.]

Don't pay attention to how many oz you pump, just pump until your breast is soft enough for baby to latch on, if it takes 6 oz, then pump 6 oz, kwim?[/b]

This is good advice!!! Also, I read in my Dr. Sears Breastfeeding book that laughing helps! I didn't believe it when I had Preston, but it did!!!! Laugh lots! :biggrin:

Another Q - how long does the engorgement last for? My other BB is so very sore tonight. Because my BBs are so big, I know I'm gonna struggle sleeping tonight with these mammas being so full as well

[Resi]

You already got good advice from everyone. When I was engorged it never was that bad that I had to do something about it. I believe I pumped a few times when it was bad and I wanted to build up my freezer stash. I know it can be a little hard to get a newborn on a rock hard boob. I would always keep trying until I go him on for some relief. He was always a one boob at a time feeder and I would switch off each feeding. You will stop getting so engorged when your milk supply adjusts for your baby. I believe mine evened out well around 2 1/2 months. They they don't get engorged and feel empty compared to what you are use to! That is when you will panic thinking there isn't enough milk.. lol Sounds like you are doing great with the BF.

Glad your mw had some helpful words.

The first few weeks after I had Reid there were times where I just HAD to pump, even though they say that pumping your breast will just trigger it to make more. Yes, but sometimes you need that instant gradification. I would pump until the pain went away, and I usually had to do it in the middle of the night or in the morning when I was just making too much milk.

You're doing a great job Fiona!

[.Brandi.]

When I had Edward, I produced so much milk that I NEVER got relief from engorgement. I pumped 3 8oz bottles in 30-45 minutes. On ONE breast. I would LEAK 4-8 oz on the other breast while I was pumping the other. I had so much milk that I was engorged to my ears and I had absolutely NO relief.

[lauren in hi]

Glad it's going better, Fifi!

The engorgement asn't too bad overnight - yes they are full and very hard but feeding really has helped. 2 feeds I did a little from each BB just to get a little relief. As you girls have said... it literally drips out of me Isn't the female body amazing???