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I think I have engorged breasts

Engorgement of the breasts is not the same as breast fullness.

It is quite normal for a mother's breasts to become larger, heavier and a little tender when producing greater quantities of milk.

This fullness usually decreases within the first few weeks after birth - as long as baby is feeding regularly and well.

Engorgement of the breast causes:

• the nipples to become flat
• the skin on the breasts to become taut, hard and shiny.

Both of these make feeding difficult as the baby will be unable to latch on properly and some babies may even refuse the breast, which of course will not make the situation any easier!

The best thing to do here is to try to soften the breast and nipple before feeding, by expressing some of the breastmilk.

Encourage the milk to flow by placing a warm wet face cloth on the breasts or sit in a warm bath and gently lap the water over them before expressing.

Baby will then be able to latch on without causing any pain to you (in fact giving relief).

Expressing some breastmilk will make it easier for baby to feed and the more that you feed at this time the more likely that the engorgement will go away as quickly as possible.