How long does engorgment last?

Question

Had my baby a few days ago and my breast are engorged and painful. How long does this usually last? I am still nursing and pumping a few times a day

Answer

Keep nursing as much as baby want and it will regulate after a bit. Typically it's a few days - for some it's the first two weeks. Pumping can make the edema/engorgement worse - so rather let baby nurse that pump. If baby struggle latching because of the edema look up how to do reverse pressure softening/cottermans hold

Answer

Only pump once a day, the more you pump the more engorged they will get

Answer

It takes however long it takes for you to empty out your breast. Pumping a couple times a day won’t help. You have to drain your milk every time you feel it come in, in order to suppress your knots. Hot showers and soaking your breast in warm water increases blood flow and makes more milk for you to flush it out. Benadryl also helps with clearing milk up if you want to go that route. Massage your breast during feeds. I just quit breastfeeding and knots are completely annoying. You will not get mastitis unless you can’t regulate your milk flow. So pump as much as possible to keep it moving!!

Answer

Mine lasted a few days. Had to buy nipple shield because they were so big baby wouldn't latch.

Answer

I had painful engorgement until about 4 months pp, usually only when baby would go longer between feedings after a few weeks tho.
The best way to regulate your supply properly is latch baby whenever they want for as long as they want, if you have to pump don’t do it more than 1x per day

Answer

When you nurse and pump you are telling your body to produce more and more.  If you just nurse on demand your body will regulate to what your baby needs and the engorgement will reduce.   If you need to pump to build a supply then obviously do it, but only once or twice a day. Good luck.

How long does engorgment last?

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