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Suggest Treatment To Prevent Breast Engorgement

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Posted on Thu, 10 Apr 2014
Twitter Thu, 10 Apr 2014 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 30 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on
Question : I decided to stop pumping and storing my breast milk since I wasn't producing enough to make it worth while. This is my third baby and I haven't had this issue before but I have been engorged for 5 days with no relief. I have been using cabbage leaves and an ace bandage on top of my sports bra. Any other suggestions as to what to do? I am miserable and it is starting to make me physically sick.
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (-5 hours later)
Brief Answer: Do a cold compress. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for trusting us with your health concern. If you are not going to breast-feed, there currently is no safe medicine available for "drying up" your breasts and preventing breast engorgement. The breast engorgement will improve as your breasts stop producing milk. Pain and discomfort should go away in 7 to 10 days. Avoid pumping or removing a large amount of milk from your breasts. This stimulates milk production and makes engorgement worse. Remove just enough milk to make you feel more comfortable. Take ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin) in addition to the non-medicine treatments. Try cold compresses. Place a frozen wet towel, cold gel or ice packs, or bags of frozen vegetables on your breasts for 15 minutes at a time every hour as needed. To prevent tissue injury, do not apply cold directly to bare skin. Place a thin cloth between the cold pack and your skin. Wear a supportive bra that fits well. Fever higher than 101° F or severe pain may signal a breast infection. Call your medical care provider for advice if this occurs. Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have. Wishing you good health. Regards. Dr. Rakhi Tayal. For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Rakhi-Tayal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal

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Suggest Treatment To Prevent Breast Engorgement

Brief Answer: Do a cold compress. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for trusting us with your health concern. If you are not going to breast-feed, there currently is no safe medicine available for "drying up" your breasts and preventing breast engorgement. The breast engorgement will improve as your breasts stop producing milk. Pain and discomfort should go away in 7 to 10 days. Avoid pumping or removing a large amount of milk from your breasts. This stimulates milk production and makes engorgement worse. Remove just enough milk to make you feel more comfortable. Take ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin) in addition to the non-medicine treatments. Try cold compresses. Place a frozen wet towel, cold gel or ice packs, or bags of frozen vegetables on your breasts for 15 minutes at a time every hour as needed. To prevent tissue injury, do not apply cold directly to bare skin. Place a thin cloth between the cold pack and your skin. Wear a supportive bra that fits well. Fever higher than 101° F or severe pain may signal a breast infection. Call your medical care provider for advice if this occurs. Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have. Wishing you good health. Regards. Dr. Rakhi Tayal. For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Rakhi-Tayal