Help with hand expression?!?

[cristeen]

My milk came in today and I'm engorged in one breast. I've been trying to express off and on for several hours and am not getting more than a couple drops. I've read all the "instructions", and nothing seems to be helping. The only time I've managed to get more was when I was having a melt-down and sobbing on DH's chest, and I sat up to a small puddle on the floor under me (but unfortunately not enough to relieve the engorgement).

I've tried heating pads, massaging, shaking, and nothing is working. The compression method is downright painful, but if it was accomplishing something, I could deal with that.

I don't know why, but my left breast is not engorged... it does have some milk, but not nearly as much as my right.

I really don't want to go buy a pump for no reason... but if I can't figure this out, I'm going to have to go get one in the morning. Anyone have any suggestions?

[egfmba]

No advice, but wanted you to know that I have a hard time hand expressing too when my breasts are full. Don't know why. I do have an electric pump, and it's the only way I can express. I'm just not talented enough to do it by hand.

Sorry I can't help, but you have my sympathy.

eva

P.S. my cousin found that a hot shower helped her express and relieved engorgement. Maybe that would work for you?

[XanaduMama]

First of all, relax--the reason your milk started to flow when you were crying was because your stress hormones were finally finding some release. Put on some nice music, light some incense or a candle, look at your baby, get dh to give you a foot massage. Or have a warm bath and try expressing in there. This is such a stressful time, plus your hormones are going nuts, and this can all make it harder to express.

Then, here's the deal with hand expression:

put your finger and thumb on either side of your nipple, just beyond the areola

press directly back toward (perpendicular to) the chest wall (this, IME, is the key--I was trying to press along the line of the breast, if that makes sense, and it wasn't working)

then "roll" your fingers toward the nipple, as though you're squeezing the milk out of the ducts.

You'll need to do this a few times, probably, to get the milk flowing.

Cabbage leaves in your bra can also help reduce engorgement, as can hot and cold packs.

HTH!! Hang in there mama! Hugs to you. It will get better as things settle down--be kind to yourself in the meantime.

[timneh_mom]

If my breasts are full, I often wind up letting down in the shower whether I want to or not... I think until you can get your milk to let down, expressing/compression is going to be frustrating and painful.

It is not unusual for one breast to make more milk than the other.

Can you not get your babe to nurse?

[cristeen]

XanaduMama - you're probably right... relaxing is not an easy thing right now, and the only time I seem to be able to manage it is when I'm crying.

I was able to get a little bit of relief in the shower last night, but it was minimal. They're not so hard this morning, but relaxing is still a problem. I guess I'll head to the store and pick up a small pump to hopefully relieve the pressure until it dries up.

[2mama]

The shower thing works wonders!!

Before/intermittently during hand expression I like to massage the breast in a circular pattern to help it empty from all sides.

[2mama]

Sorry for your loss... My baby brain in working very slowly..

My neighbor is tring to get her milk to dry up as well.. the nurse at the hospital suggested this.

Pump 3x's per day for three days, 2x's per day for 3 days then 1x per day for 3 days and that should help to make you breasts more comfy without increasing your supply any.

Good luck

[XanaduMama]

So sorry for your loss cristeen. . I didn't realize. Hope the engorgement is a bit better--we're thinking of you.

[timneh_mom]

OH goodness... I didn't realize you had lost your babe! I am so very sorry! I hope you are getting some relief... you can also get some cabbage, flatten a leaf so that the big veins in it break, and put it in your bra. I don't know why this helps but many moms have found it helpful. My thoughts are with you in your time of grief!