Engorged Breasts at Night

Kila - posted on 12/06/2009

this may sound crazy, but my daughter passed away shortly after she was born 3 years ago. the hospital gave me a packet and in it was how to deal with your milk supply. they recommended you put cabbage leaves on you breasts for engorgment (avoid the nipple). it reduces the swelling. i thought they were crazy until i could not find any relief anyother way. i tried it...now i swear by it. your body will adjust just dont keep pumping at the time he is not eating. a hot shower or bath helps too.

Jessica - posted on 12/05/2009

lol, sorry to laugh but i know your pain I know it sounds kinda odd but don't drink as much water during the day/ closer to bedtime. Doctors say drinking water helps milk production so drink less when your settling in for the night. Also a nice hot shower will help it relaxes things the down side is it'll make you leak milk for a little while after the shower but that way you aren't pumping and you'll releave some of the pressure without your body producing more milk.

Robin - posted on 12/05/2009

Thanx for making your post Tami because I was pondering the same thing!

Amy - posted on 12/05/2009

I know it doesn't feel like it, but your body will adjust! I had to get up at night to pump for a while too, and I felt like I would never get a full night of sleep again, but it will happen eventually. The best thing to do (in my experience) is not to stop pumping cold-turkey, but "wean" yourself off pumping by doing a little less each time until you no longer need to. I struggled with over-production and my son has slept through the night almost since he was born, which is obviously a blessing in disguise because I would get VERY uncomfortable! Believe it or not, your body will adjust with your baby, it just takes a little time and patience. If you still have to pump to be comfortable, just do less and less each time and soon you'll be sleeping through the night again! Good luck :)

Sarah - posted on 12/05/2009

This is going to sound nuts, because I know it's going to hurt--but sleeping on your stomach can actually cause you to produce less, too. If you squash the ladies, they are not able to produce as much; so maybe pump a bit for comfort, then sleep on your stomach? (I inadvertantly cut my supply by doing this! I was just so glad to be able to sleep on my stomach again after being unable to for 9 months!!)

Melody - posted on 12/04/2009

I had the same problem when my daughter started sleeping through the night...the best advice I can give you is to not pump....if you can...or maybe just pump a little for your own comfort. It takes a while but your milk supply will adjust...my daughter sleeps from 8pm till 6am and it took about 2mo. until I would actually wake up and not be engorged!!! I feed her as much as she'll eat before she goes to bed...try to empty both breasts. Try not to nurse in the middle of the night anymore...just rock him back to sleep if he wakes in the night occasionally, or else you'll be right back where you started. It does get better....it may even be quicker for you...I have implants and it seems like it takes my body longer to adjust. Wear a good bra to bed and it will make the transition easier...I had to sleep on my back for a while because I would get soooooo engorged. I also used breast pads because I leaked like crazy...in the first month my daughter started to sleep all night, I would wake up soaked and hurting...I actually woke her to feed her if she wasn't up by 6am. It does get better though...she is 10mo.now and I no longer get engorged....once in a while I wake up more full...but not engorged. Hang in there....I like the stage I'm at now best of all because she nurses 4x a day and we both are in tune with eachother....much easier than the first months.....I hope this helps you!!! melody

Tammy - posted on 12/04/2009

Pumping during the night will not help as it is just telling your body to produce more milk, and because your son is not feeding during the 8 hour span its causing the engorgement. How long did you not pump during the night before you started pumping again? Because it can take a little while. I have found the kellymom.com website really helpful for bf, they may have info on it about this.