A nursing mother has milk stagnation. What to do at home?

Many mothers with lactostasis have many questions and panic: “What should I do if milk stagnates? What to do?". In this article, we will talk about the causes of this problem and treatment methods, as well as about ongoing prevention to avoid stagnation in the future.

Causes of Lactostasis

Before starting treatment, you need to deal with the causes. Stagnation of milk may occur if:

1. Not enough frequent change of body position. Many mothers do not change their position while feeding the baby and fall asleep on one side.
2. Squeezing the chest with narrow linen. A fairly common factor. Many women wear tight and uncomfortable bras while breastfeeding to reduce breast volume. A narrow bra can provoke impaired movement in the milk ducts and cause its stagnation.
3. Irregular breastfeeding or feeding, accompanied by large time intervals.
4. Depression and chronic fatigue. They can also affect movement in the thoracic ducts. Inadequate sleep and overwork negatively affect not only the movement of milk, but also the entire body.
5. Heavy physical exertion. Caring for a child in the first years of life is not an easy task, even a very difficult one. Constant physical activity for a fragile body has a detrimental effect on the functioning of the mammary glands.
6. Changeable weather. Many experts argue that with constant changes in weather conditions, lactostasis is possible. By percentage, it is during this period that the number of stagnations in young mothers increases.

Symptoms of Lactostasis

Symptoms include:

1. Compaction of breast tissue.
2. Heaviness, fullness in the chest.
3. Constant pain, which intensifies when expressing or feeding the baby.
4. Redness of the skin, or vice versa, it takes on a paler shade.
5. Mild fever and poor health.

Milk stagnation. What to do?

Do not immediately rush into a panic and worry. You need to try to do massage and decantation. Of course, it is best if this procedure is done by a specialist. But it is worth trying first a woman to do a massage on her own. So, what to do if milk stagnation in the chest? What to do? You must complete the following steps:

1. Take a warm shower and prepare a mask, a cold compress for the chest. With their help, the mammary glands expand, and the woman succeeds in removing milk. Warm compresses or warming the body with a heating pad are strictly prohibited.
2. Make a massage. Kneading movements must activate the mammary glands. Description of massage actions will be presented later. All manipulations and movements should not bring pain, tangible discomfort.
3. Strain the milk with either hands or special tools.
4. To eliminate the swelling, you need to apply a cool compress. It will help eliminate the pain.

Cabbage leaves

If there is stagnation of milk in a nursing mother, what should I do? Folk remedies can help in solving this problem. They were used by our grandmothers. Therefore, we can call such methods proven and quite effective. So, when a young mother has milk stagnation during breastfeeding, what should I do if medications do not help? It's time to use folk methods. For example, pay attention to cabbage leaves.

The tool has been tested for years. Ordinary white cabbage is suitable. From the head you need to remove 2 large sheets. Rinse them thoroughly. Then evenly make 2-3 cuts along the leaves (on each). After attach them to the breasts. After 2-3 hours, the sheets need to be removed and new ones laid. In the absence of an allergy to honey, you can use it as an addition to a compress.

Chamomile broth and tea

This plant has been actively used for several years both in traditional medicine and in cosmetic preparations. It is necessary to boil the chamomile well and drink tea with it or wash the affected area with a decoction.

Baked onions

If there is stagnation of milk in the nursing, what should I do? It’s not even worth talking about the beneficial properties of onions, because their list is really huge. You need a medium-sized onion. It must be cleaned and baked in the oven for several minutes. Apply to the chest in a warm and cut form and remove after 1-2 hours. When repeating the procedure, the bulb must be changed.

Slight Flask of Sage

In any container you need to pour 2 tsp. chopped sage, pour boiled water. After 1-2 hours, drain and strain. Drink half a glass before meals. 1 glass must be stretched for 1 day.

Flax seed infusion

A glass of water needs to be slightly warmed up and pour flax seeds into it. Leave to insist for 3-5 hours. After preparing the infusion, it must be filtered and with the help of some tissue soaked in the solution, put on the chest. After 30-60 minutes, flush the body. You can also wash the affected area with infusion while taking a shower.

Compress with beets and honey

If milk stagnation, what to do? One of the best remedies will be a compress based on honey and beets. It quickly disperses the blood, helps relieve swelling and pain, as well as the activation of the milk ducts. Small beets must be boiled, cooled and passed through a grater. After that, mix in a separate container with 2 tbsp. l honey. The resulting mixture must be applied to the chest, cover with a cut bag or cling film. You can tie it with a woolen cloth. After 3-5 hours, remove the compress and wash well.

Honey and Egg Dough

If there is constant pain and stagnation of breast milk, what should I do? Honey and egg dough will help to cope with these problems and relieve puffiness. In any container you need to connect 2 chicken yolks, 2 tbsp. l honey, add some kind of butter (optional) and 2 handfuls of flour. Mix the mixture and form small cakes. The compress should be covered with a cloth or plastic wrap, left overnight. For the best effect, experts advise repeating the procedure daily.

A mixture of honey and sunflower oil

If breastfeeding has stagnant milk, what to do at home? The following remedy based on a beekeeping product will help. You need to take honey and sunflower oil in the same ratio. Stir the resulting mixture and heat well on the stove (in the microwave), but to a comfortable temperature (so as not to burn yourself). After cooking, add a spoonful of alcohol to the mixture and apply to the sick breasts through gauze. The procedure is recommended to be done at night.

Camphor oil

In oil, moisten a gauze napkin and attach to the chest. Cover with cling film, tie with a scarf. Leave the bandage on for the rest of the night and rinse the chest with water in the morning.

Prevention

For prevention, you can do the following procedures:

1. Eucalyptus broth. This remedy is used in prophylaxis to avoid lactostasis in the future. 15 leaves of eucalyptus must be boiled in water and insisted for 2-3 days. With the resulting infusion, it is necessary to treat the area near the nipple before each feeding the baby.
2. Anti-inflammatory compress. It is also used for prophylaxis, but may have little effect on treatment. Hop cones and walnut leaves must be crushed in a separate container in the same ratio. Pour 800-1000 ml of water and let it brew for 5-8 hours. You need to apply the compress according to the same scheme as previously presented: get the tissue wet, put it on the chest, cover it with cling film and some kind of cloth. Leave overnight.
3. Honey bath. One of the most effective methods of prevention. Honey speeds up the healing process, improves the functioning of the mammary glands and well-being. It must be heated in a water bath to a liquid state, combined with flour in equal proportions and mixed. Apply ointment to the affected chest and cover with a scarf. After 3-4 hours, rinse the body with warm water.

Massage

How to massage with stagnation of milk? Experts recommend that when the first symptoms appear, immediately start breast massage. It occurs in several stages:

1. The milk ducts must be warmed up under a warm shower and washed well.
2. Make several massaging movements starting from the base of the chest and smoothly going to the nipple.
3. Fingers need to feel for a seal or immediately apply them to the affected area. Then massage it until it becomes softer. That is, until the ducts are completely cleaned.

Additional recommendations

If milk stagnation is observed, what to do besides massage? Many experts recommend trying the following:

1. Stop feeding the baby with the help of a nipple.
2. Continuously express excess milk with a breast pump or manually.
3. Try to endure pain and apply the baby more often to a painful gland.
4. Wear special underwear or really comfortable and comfortable.
5. Perform a massage or apply infusions before feeding the baby or decanting.
6. Observe eating and drinking water. Normalize metabolism and energy distribution.
7. More and more relax. Try to catch at least a minute for sleep.
8. Sleep not on your stomach or back, but on your side.
9. Do not massage the chest with pressing, sharp movements.

Finally

Milk stagnation is a common, common problem that can be solved by any means. Therefore, do not get upset, but it is best to start expressing, massage and other procedures.