Breast engorgement is a painful and pretty common condition among new moms. But don´t worry! There are things you can do to relieve pain and all symptoms at home. Treating this condition is important because- if you don´t,-your breasts can become infected (mastitis). In this blog, I  tell you what breast engorgement is; its most important characteristics, how to treat it and why is it different from mastitis. Let´s begin…

what is Breast Engorgement?

Breast engorgement is when your breast/s are tender, swollen and painful  because they are full of milk. It is due to milk production (more than needed) and the rise in blood supply to your breasts. It helps your body make breast milk for your baby, but it can cause severe engorgement.

When is most common to have breast engorgement?

It is most common some days or weeks after having your baby because your milk supply is still adjusting to your baby’s needs. However, it might happen as long as you breast feed.

Why do I have breast engorgement?

The most common reasons are:

• when your milk is “coming in” after giving birth.
• skipping nursing sessions.
• when you change the schedule of breast feeding (e.g. returning to work or when your baby starts sleeping more hours).
• skipping or forget to pump when you’re not with your baby.
• milk overproduction.
• diet changes (when your baby starts eating solids, etc.).

How long do engorged breasts last?

Each body and breastfeeding experience are different. So, some women experience engorgement for a shorter period, while others may have it longer. The duration of engorgement  depends on different factors, for example, breastfeeding or pumping frequency and effectiveness (empty breasts) can help relieve engorgement and reduce its duration.

How can I relieve breast engorgement?

Some treatments that you can do at home to get relieve are:

1. warm compresses
2. breast massage
3. ensuring good latch and positioning during breastfeeding

Here  you can find some types of massages that can help you to get relieve from engorgement and mastitis (early stage).

Take into account that as your body adjusts to your baby’s feeding patterns, milk supply will regulate, engorgement  improves or you will get rid of it.

Is breast engorgement serious?

It is not serious, but if it is not treated, it can turn into mastitis witch is an affection and that needs medical treatment.

What is the difference between engorged breast and mastitis?

The  symptoms that both breast engorgement and mastitis share are:

• full and hard breast
• tender breast
• pain (less pain in engorged breast)

However,  engorged breast get relieve after pumping or feeding your baby. On the other hand, symptoms of mastitis also include:

• Painful breast/s (you may feel a painful lump).
• Angry, red, hot area in your breast/s.
• fever/chills
• Fatigue (severe in some cases)
• Body aches
• Pumping or feeding doesn´t give you relieve.

We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. We are always happy to help. If you like this blog, please share!

References:

https://www.wonderbaby.org/articles/engorgement-vs-mastitis

my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24306-breast-engorgementhttps

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mastitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20374829

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Being a new mom means happiness and stress at the same time. Your body and mind have changed during months while your baby was growing in your tummy, and now you should be ready for the new role of being a mom. Your body will be bending, lifting, lowering and carrying as never before. The result of these repetitive movements are gonna  have an impact on your  back, shoulder or neck causing stiffness and pain. In addition, psychological changes come, too. You may have stress and anxiety due to this new role. However, you have nothing to worry about because your needs will be fulfilled by a postpartum massage and all its benefits. Stay with us in this blog and learn all the benefits it brings to your life.

What postpartum massage can do for you

A postpartum massage is a type of massage that uses different techniques to fulfill your needs. As you know human touch is powerful and postpartum massage uses it to help you heal faster and improve your overall well being. 

This kind of massage focuses on:

• Strengthening the muscles and tissues that were altered during the pregnancy.
• Easing tight and sore muscles and knots.
• Allowing your muscles to strengthen in a natural way.
• Helping your body to gradually adjust to new changes.
• Helping you to recover physically and psychologically.
• Improving your lifestyle and general well being.

What are the benefits of postpartum massage?

Natural pain reliever

As we mentioned before, repetitive movements such as bending, carrying, holding, lifting, breastfeeding and others, will increase pain all over your body; for example, back, neck, arm and shoulder pain. Don’t forget your pelvis! pelvic soreness, sometimes referred to as vein compression syndrom from shifting ligaments and bones during (preparing for birth) and after (going back to normal) pregnancy. But thanks to postpartum massage your body will receive all the care it needs to get pain relief. It will:

• Easy neck, shoulder and back pain.
• Help to improve posture reducing lower back pain.
• Relax and relieve pain without medication.
• Relieve numbness and tingling.

Speeds up your healing process

Postpartum massage allows your body to heal naturally and faster. In case of C-section, the therapist will avoid the area of the incision, and don’t forget to ask your GP before scheduling your massage sessions. Postpartum massage will help you to:

• Restore elasticity when inelastic scar tissue has formed (fibrosis)(in case of C-section).
• Ease muscular and scar tissue tension.
• Shrink down back your uterus to its normal position and size.
• Promote pelvic floor healing.
• Normalize the balance of your spine and pelvic muscles and bones after birth.
• Improve lymphatic drainage, allowing your body to take out toxins and waste.
• Improve the function of your circulatory system, bringing in oxygenated blood and nutrients to your whole body.
• Recover psychologically and emotionally faster thanks to the power of human touch.

Relaxes your body and reduces stress and anxiety

Having a baby makes you feel anxious and stressed, it is normal. However, high levels and long term stress and anxiety lead you to postpartum depression. At least 1 of 5 women may experience postpartum depression. Postnatal massage helps you to relax and improves your psychological well being. Some examples of what it does are:

• Reduces by up to 31% of cortisol levels (stress hormone).
• Increases dopamine levels (the feel good neurotransmitter).
• Relaxes your muscles.
• Increases naturally your  levels of serotonin (hormone that stabilises your mood and general well being).

Don’t forget to tell your therapist the way you prefer your massage to be performed. Some women like deep techniques to release knots while others prefer light and pampering massages. Also, remember that different techniques will be used according to your needs. Each massage is tailor made for you. So, in many cases MLD, Indian head massage, reflexology and myofascial release will be part of your treatment. Using all these techniques allow us to have a better and deeper approach to your body speeding up the healing process.

Hormone regulation

When you are pregnant, estrogen and progesterone (hormones) levels are very high, but after delivery they decrease. On the other hand Prolactin and oxytocin (hormones) rise in level to make breastfeeding easier. Having a postpartum massage allows your body to improve your hormone levels faster and it also improves your mood.  

Reduce postpartum edema (swelling)

Swollen ankles and feet? Edema after delivery is normal. The reason why is because your body has been retaining fluid (at least 50% of volume) to help your body prepare for delivering your baby. Postpartum massage and MLD increase circulation, reduce edema and eliminate excess fluids and waste products. 

Remember to continue high water intake. It helps you with healing, lactation and also swelling. 

Helps you to sleep better

Getting enough sleep means that you will improve your overall well being. Postpartum massage helps you to get better sleep because it:

• Reduces fatigue.
• Improves relaxation.
• Increases Delta brain waves (the ones that accompany deep sleep).
• Makes you feel rested.

As you sleep better and rested your recovery will be faster. In addition, it may help you with weight loss. 

Improves breastfeeding

When you are not stressed, breastfeeding will be better and there are less chances to stop nursing early. Remember that breastfeeding is the best for your baby.

Postpartum massage will relax your whole body and most important your chest and shoulders making breastfeeding easier. Some other benefits related to breastfeeding are:

• Increases circulation.
• Improves milk production. This is due to postpartum massage increasing prolactin levels (lactation hormone).
• Relaxes chest and shoulders muscles improving your posture while breastfeeding.
• Decreases milk sodium.

Mastitis relief

If you feel comfortable, you can ask your therapist to continue the postpartum massage on your breast. It helps to relieve mastitis (breast pain, blocked milk ducts and milk clots).

A study made in 2015 showed that the 42 participants reported reduction in breast and nipple pain. It may help prevent blockages in your milk ducts, as a result, milk flow will improve.

As a final word

Being a mom is the hardest role you have ever played, for that reason you deserve the better treat and are here for you! Try postpartum massage and see all the benefits it brings to your physical, mental and emotional health. Don’t feel bad about taking care and pampering yourself. As you feel better with yourself, your baby will be better, too.

We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us 3 mins away from Angel station in Islington. We are always happy to help. If you like this blog, please share!

https://www.healthline.com/health/dopamine-effects

https://www.hormone.org/your-health-and-hormones/glands-and-hormones-a-to-z/hormones/serotonin

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077351/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/breast-massage#benefits

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We explained on our previous blog 5 Things you should know about mastitis, we include the causes and how to identify the problem. In this blog we also cover what mastitis is as well as our 3 helpful techniques!

 What is mastitis?

Milk flows through a ducts system in your breast. Sometimes those ducts become blocked and reduce milk flow. When this occurs your breast becomes inflamed, tender, red hard and in some cases, infected. In order words, mastitis is an inflammation of your breast tissue caused by blockage of the ducts and it can be very painful.

If you are one of the unlucky mums that have developed this condition, do not panic. There are some techniques you can do at home and there are treatments available such as Manual Lymphatic Drainage which can help you to treat the condition and enjoy breastfeeding.

 3 lymphatic drainage techniques for mastitis

The 3 lymphatic Drainage techniques I am going to show you are very easy to follow and you shouldn’t feel any pain when performing them. The techniques will help you to drain the milk ducts or lumps in your breast, so you can feel less pain. Just remember that it is very important to breastfeed even though you feel uncomfortable to drain the milk faster you can also help yourself using an unsupported breast pump to drain the milk.

1.The Milk shake 

This lymphatic drainage technique is aimed to unblock milk ducts and lymphatic channels; it helps to loosen milk clots allowing milk flow.

Do it without bra or clothes on or even better to do it in the shower.

• Gently, grab your breast with both hands (whole hand), use the soft part of your fingers, don’t use the tips.
• Lean forward a little bit.
• Start doing little jiggles.
• You may have a bubbling feeling.
• Move your breast all around (shake it), go up and down and form side to side.
• Do it for 30 seconds.

2. Juice the orange technique/ fascia stretch

This technique works with the fascia structures within your breast. It allows your lymphatic ducts to drain away from the breast giving them more space to let the milk flow properly and come out through the nipple.

Remember to first do the milkshake technique to loosen everything within your breast.

• Place your hands on the breast; be sure you are not pressing hard.
• Gently take your breast up till you feel a little stretch between the connective tissue and the skin, hold on this position for a few seconds. Then, slide across to the side and then down (move it in all directions).
• Give little twists and if you find areas of tension hold in that direction for a few seconds, and then move to the opposite side slowly in order to make all that connective tissue loosen.
• Hold on each position for 10 seconds.

3. Pectoral stretch

This technique stretches the pectoral muscles. They are the muscles that lie beneath the breast tissue. 

Stretching your pectoral muscles is very easy. You should feel a slight discomfort as the muscle stretches but no pain.  

• Stand near a wall or under a door frame.  Place your straight arm behind your shoulder, find the position where you feel the stretch (it changes for everybody).

• Lean your hand on the wall or door frame and gently pull away and hold for 20 seconds, then relax.
• Repeat with your other arm.

If you feel pain in your wrist, close your hand before leaning it on the wall. This position doesn’t allow your wrist to be too straight, this way you will feel more comfortable.

After you Perform techniques 1 and 2 make sure you breastfeed, and always shake your breast before breastfeeding. Use Lymphatic Drainage before breastfeeding, pumping sessions with your breast pump covered by insurance or when you feel uncomfortable. 

Here at the clinic we’ve helped a lot of patients with this condition. This is an area we are specialised in. We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find  us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. We are always happy to help!

If you like this blog, please share it!

The post Lymphatic drainage techniques for mastitis appeared first on Perea Clinic.

If you have children, you might know the term mastitis. Contrary to what many of us think, mastitis isn’t only developed by people who are breastfeeding. It can happen to any woman or even men. Mastitis is most common during the first 6 months of breastfeeding. According to the experts from alaskaoncology.com, cancer can sometimes mimic Mastitis in appearance.

Lactation mastitis is a very painful condition, can make you to feel ill and sometimes your doctor prescribes you antibiotics. Mastitis can be very hard for you to take care of your new born also. However some scientists have found that IL-2 derives from a cytokine, one of the most abundant substances produced in the human immune system that can help cure diseases and cancer.

Remember your breast milk is the best for your baby and nursing will help you to clear up the infection. it is better to continue breastfeeding even though if you are taking antibiotics.

Although, the NHS encourages parents to breastfeed, sometimes the condition is so painful that you need to change the way you feed your baby, by using formula instead.

It’s important for you to know that lymphatic drainage  can help with mastitis and there are some techniques to can do at home to help to drainage the blocked ducts and to prevent them to get blocked, also to reduce the symptoms. Sometimes is recommended to see a profession to do the drainage for you if you find difficult to do it yourself.

What is mastitis?

Milk flows through a ducts system in your breast. Sometimes those ducts become blocked and reduce milk flow. When this occurs your breast becomes inflamed, tender, red hard and in some cases becomes infected. In order words, mastitis is an inflammation of your breast tissue and it can be very painful.

What are the symptoms of mastitis?

The symptoms of mastitis often come quickly.  It’s very important  to check your breast and do lymphatic drainage at home or visiting a professional if you can’t do it yourself.

Some symptoms are:

• Mastitis usually starts as a burning painful area in one breast. It can be constant or appear only when you nurse.
• Your breast may be red and swollen.
• There is a feeling of tenderness or warm on your breast.
• You may notice a wedge-shaped breast lump or a hard area.
•  You may have a nipple discharge. It is a white fluid; sometimes, it contains streaks of blood.
• In some cases, you can have flu-like symptoms such as high temperature, chills, body aches and tiredness.
• Mastitis can lead to a breast abscess, which feels like a hard and very painful lump.

What can cause mastitis?

• Trapped milk on your breast.
• Blocked milk ducts.
• When bacteria is allow to enter in your breast.

How can I develop mastitis?

There are some risk factors to develop mastitis, please pay special attention to them. You should apply lymphatic drainage on your breast to avoid mastitis (we will show how in our next blog).

• If you already had mastitis while breast-feeding, there is a huge possibility to develop it again.
• When your baby doesn’t empty your breast regularly or complete. Make sure if this happen to extract the milk. You can do it manually or using a machine. This milk can be kept in the fridge for up to 24hours and give to your baby later.
• When you have sore or cracked nipples (however, you can develop it without broken skin).
• Wearing tight-fitting bras or putting pressure on your breast (for example when using the seat belt or carrying heavy things); these activities don’t let your milk flow properly.
• Wrong nursing techniques. When your baby can not empty your breast entirely, your milk duct can get blocked.
• Poor nutrition and hydration.
• Smoking

 What can I do if I got mastitis?

• Talk to your GP as soon as you develop the first symptoms of mastitis.
• Start breastfeeding with your sore breast to in carry milk flow and to unblock the ducts
• Drain your breast daily with lymphatic drainage. Massage your breast to clear any milk clot; this will also help milk flow.

In our next blog we will show you some lymphatic drainage techniques to prevent mastitis. We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. We are always glad to help.

References:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/

https://www.nhs.uk/

https://www.cancer.org/

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