Food rush is not a disease. It is a natural state that indicates that the breasts are getting ready to feed the baby. Often, however, the flood of food causes anxiety in a newly baked mum - especially since it can be quite painful. See how to manage your food intake, how to relieve your pain, and how to distinguish it from inflammation of the breast.

Food overloadfrom a physiological point of view it is the tension of the breast gland as a result of increased milk production. And while it causes some trouble, it is actually a cause for joy. The beginnings are difficult for young mothers. Usually, right after the birth, we worry about how to stimulate lactation and we are concerned that we will not be able to feed the baby. But if, for example, in the middle of the night, around the 4th day after giving birth (in women who had a cesarean section even on the 6th), you wake up in a bed soaked with milk, it means that at this point your worries are over, are you sure you have food - you have a lot of it. So much the breasts feel like they are about to explode. They are tense, greatly enlarged, heavy, and often painful. It can also happen that the milk flows out of them by itself. All of this is because food production is rapidly increasing. While immediately after delivery, the glands secreted only about 100 ml of colostrum, four days later it is 500 ml, or even 750 ml of milk (which looks just like milk). This is way too much for a newborn.

Is it possible to avoid food overload?

Lactation advisers initially recommend latching the baby to the breast as often as possible - even every 1.5-2 hours. You can even keep him awake while he is asleep and feed him while he is asleep. In this way, the baby's stomach stretches and is able to receive more and more milk. Sometimes it is possible to prevent the formation of food overload, the organisms of the mother and the baby adapt to each other, lactation is stabilized, and the breasts produce exactly as much food as the infant needs. However, more often, especially in the case of women who become mothers for the first time, it is not that simple.

What to do when there is an overwhelming amount of food?

First of all - don't be nervous. The process of milk outflow is related to the production of oxytocin and prolactin, while stress blocks the secretion of these hormones and, consequently, may prevent the milk fromit wanted to flow out and it will be harder for the baby to suckle. The baby should be latched on and fed from both breasts. If after the first one it becomes saturated and you do not want to suck on the second, you can express the milk with a breast pump or just gently squeeze it with your hand. It is worth doing it, for example, in a shower, under a stream of warm water. It is very important at the beginning of breastfeeding to empty the breasts - but not completely (as this will further increase milk production). Just enough to feel relieved and loosen them up. The excess amount of food in the milk ducts can lead to food stagnation as well as inflammation of the breast (mastitis). The cold slows down the production of milk, so if you are struggling with the overload, it is worth taking cool (but not icy!) Compresses after feeding. The grandmothers' way of dealing with the flood of food is cabbage leaves, which we cool in the refrigerator, then beat them with a pestle to let them release juice and put them in a bra.

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How to put a baby to your breast?

During a feeding load, it is important to latch on the baby correctly. Toddler's mouth must be fully open, lips curled up, nose and chin touching the breast. The entire nipple, not just the tip, and a large part of the areola (the larger the areola) must be in the baby's mouth. There should be a working tongue at the corner of his mouth. In this way, the child additionally massages the nipple, regulates the flow of milk, and may also save the mother from milk stagnation.

How long does a food load last?

During a breastfeeding attack, the breasts can produce up to 10 times more milk than a newborn baby needs. Then we are working on regulating lactation, we have to "teach" the breasts how much milk to produce. Two mother's breasts are able to feed twins and even triplets. Any excess should be extracted and frozen (even for 3 months), it can be used later - if the mother leaves the house, someone will be able to give the baby milk from the bottle. The flooding of food usually subsides after about two days and lactation stabilizes.

How to recognize food stagnation?

Food stagnation is manifested by very hard breasts, both or just one breast. Sometimes you can accurately feel a large and hard lump in the breast. It is a swollen, clogged milk duct. Food stagnation should be massaged as soon as possible - warm water helps here as well, it is also worth using warm compresses - to remove excess milk. A very good way to remove the stagnation is simply to feed the baby from the breast.

Worth knowing

ATTENTION!

Do not let your breasts freeze before feeding. If sostanding, the milk will not flow, and the baby may become discouraged from sucking, which will further aggravate the problem. Keep your breasts warm before feeding.

Food stagnation can be caused not only by an uncontrolled attack, but also e.g. by pressing the breasts while sleeping or a pressing bra.

How to recognize inflammation of the breast?

If food stagnation is not removed it can lead to congestive mastitis. This is a serious condition that manifests itself in:

  • very painful and hard breasts (be one breast);
  • red and warm skin on the breasts;
  • fever;
  • with shivers;
  • feeling unwell;
  • leakage of purulent and blood-colored contents from the nipple;
  • enlargement of the surrounding lymph nodes (under the armpit).

Congestive mastitis is treated, depending on the severity of the situation: more frequent emptying of the breast (if it is impossible to feed the baby, then at least the breast pump should be expressed), feeding the baby in different positions, cold compresses, adequate hydration (at least 3 liters ), rest, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs (paracetamol, ibuprofen) and even antibiotics. You can also drink an infusion of sage, which slightly inhibits lactation. Untreated or poorly treated mastitis can lead to abscess formation and loss of food.

Category:

Pregnancy