Please remind me how long engorgement lasts and recommend a sleep bra

[vrclay]

So my son is a week old and my breast ache. I'm a little concerned it could turn ugly and I end up with mastitis.

I delivered last Thursday, Aug 6 by c-section after laboring for 3 hours when the baby's heart rate decelerated 3 times. My milk came in on Sat night/Sun AM. My boobs were huge (as expected) on Monday. They are still very sore and warm. My son is nursing like a champ but no where near the amount of milk that I have. I've been hand pumping a little to relieve the pain and freezing the extra. When should I expect things to get a little better? I can't remember from 2 years ago when my first son was born. Anything else I can be doing to avoid mastitis?

Also, I need some ideas for sleep bras. Last time I slept in a nursing tank but they are too small this time around and my boobs are so tender. I have to wear something because otherwise I leak all over the bed.

[natural_mama89]

putting cold cabbage leaves in your bra can help with engorgement. Sorry no bra recs. Maybe just get a tank with a shelf bra? That way you have somewhere to put your nursing pads but it does not squish the boobies?

[FondestBianca]

My supply took a long time to regulate. Honestly ds was about 6 months before I felt like I was making the appropriate amount for him. I was finally able to go pad free at about 7 months. If ds sleeps through the night I do still need pads from first thing in the morning until his 2nd feeding or so... then I'm back to being regulated.

As for the bra thing. razor back sports bras are your best friend!!! Especially if you aren't small chested. In regular bras, even nursing bras when you lay on your side your boobs sort of fall out while the pads stay inside the cup. So not only are you half out (or totally out) after 10 minutes of sleep but your pads aren't lined up. Annoying right!? I got a cheapo 2 pack of seamless razor back, cotton sports bras from Wal Mart when ds was 2 weeks old and I'm still wearing them as my everyday bras. The razorback style keeps the cotton from sagging as it stretches over the day. When you sleep in them you can lay on your side all you want because the razorback style also keep the center front high enough that no breast tissue can squish out. It's low enough around the armpit that it doesn't rub but high enough that nothing can sneak out in any position. Oh, and you can actually bend over at the waist to pick your babe up without worrying about anything popping out! It does give the uni-boob effect but I'd rather that than all the negative things about regular bras with nursing.