Breast engorgement is a condition that is common in new mothers. Engorgement is caused by the changing levels in a woman’s hormones after birth. These hormones start the process of producing the amount of breast milk that your baby needs, and they also help to increase the flow of blood to your breasts. Engorgement will often feel uncomfortable and sometimes even painful for a new mother. Breast engorgement often feels as though your breast milk fills up at a faster rate than your baby can drink that milk. In some cases, breast engorgement may even lead to a woman having a fever.

The best way to deal with breast engorgement is simply to nurse. Having said that, it can sometimes take some time for a baby and a mother to get in sync as far as the balance between the milk you are producing and the milk your baby is demanding. Once you do reach that balance, however, breast engorgement should not be much of an issue. For some women, however, breast engorgement may continue on an occasional basis throughout the time that she is breastfeeding.

There are specific things, other than nursing, that you can do to help reduce the possibility of breast engorgement. If your baby doesn’t nurse enough to make both of your breasts soft, or if you miss a feeding, you can pump or express your breasts to relieve some of the pressure. For woman who supplement their breast milk with formula or water, engorgement is common as well. If you can avoid supplementing your breast milk, it may help reduce breast engorgement. Massaging your milk ducts just before nursing may also help. You might also consider using breast gel packs to soothe painful breast engorgement. Women for centuries have used cabbage leaves to help with breast engorgement, as well. There are also herbal compresses that can be used to ease breast engorgement.

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