Milk congestion: symptoms, causes and treatment
Your chest is tight and hurts? These are signs of milk stasis. Milk congestion often occurs when the breast is not properly emptied, which in turn can have many causes. Learn more about possible causes and how you can treat milk congestion.
A large MomaSquad survey of more than 1,000 mothers has shown: with54 percent, more than half of all MomaSquad surveyed had already hadproblems with milk stasis.
Index
ToggleSymptoms of milk congestion
In the case of milk congestion, breast milk can no longer drain out of the breast or be sucked unhindered for various reasons. As a result, the affected areas of the chest become hard and very sensitive to pressure and pain. Sometimes you may even feel a hard spot or see red spots on your chest. During a milk jam you also feel dull, even fever and headache can occur.
How does milk congestion develop?
In addition to mental and psychological stress, such as stress, tension or insecurity, “incorrect breastfeeding” or external influences can also lead to milk congestion.
A possible cause of milk congestion is the incorrect application of the baby when breastfeeding. For example, if you breastfeed it too rarely, the mammary glands become too full and the glandular tissue filled with milk squeezes the milk ducts. The milk can then no longer drain properly and the swollen tissue also makes it harder for your baby to grasp the entire areola, which can result in the nipples becoming sore. Due to the pain, most mothers cramp additionally and the milk flow is therefore even harder to get going again.
Also, too frequent attachment to a breast can cause milk congestion. Since the other breast is not sufficiently emptied in this way, there is a mismatch between your milk production and your baby’s demand.
Other causes of milk congestion
- Too tight-fitting bra: If your bra does not fit properly, it may be that your chest is constricted and the mammary glands are clamped. It can also lead to irritation of the tissue, which may then swell and make the milk flow even more difficult.
- Injury to the breast: If your breast is injured inside, for example after a bump, this can also lead to milk congestion.
- Suction bubbles: A milk build-up can also be caused by a suction bubble. The blister, which usually shows up as a small yellow dot on the nipple, then closes a mammary gland and thus prevents your baby from getting to the milk. The fact that it then drinks less can cause milk congestion. In this case, ask your midwife, who may be able to pierce the blister with a disinfected needle.
- Dried milk: Another reason for a blocked mammary gland may be breast milk residues that have dried firmly and now form a plug. Clean the breast carefully to eliminate milk congestion and allow milk flow again.
Treat milk congestion
Depending on the cause of a milk congestion, you can treat it yourself with different measures. Here’s what the MomaSquad we surveyed recommend the most, according to our survey results:
Breastfeeding more often (78%): In case of milk congestion, it is important to empty the affected breast as often as possible. you can achieve this either by breastfeeding more frequently or by pumping more often. At 78 percent, most of our MomaSquad recommend this method.
Chest massage (72%): 72 percent of the mothers surveyed recommend reviving the milk flow through a breast massage. Massage your breast daily, preferably with a suitable oil. Even directly before breastfeeding, a massage, in which you push the milk towards the nipple, can be helpful in case of milk congestion.
Change breastfeeding position (63%):63 percent of the mothers surveyed recommend changing the breastfeeding position in the event of milk congestion. Silence in the event of a milk jam, for example, in a quadruped position, as the milk can then flow more easily.
Warming the breast (61%): Warm your breast in case of milk congestion before breastfeeding with warm compresses or red light. The heat stimulates the blood circulation, and thus also the milk production. This method of combating milk congestion is recommended by 61 percent of MomaSquad.
Breast cooling (61%): Also 61 percent found the cooling of the breast in a milk congestion helpful. This is especially the case when the milk backlog is already more advanced. Due to the supplied cold, further milk production is throttled and the pain is alleviated. For cooling, for example, quark wraps or cold compresses are suitable.
Change in diet (3%): Do you tend to form fat droplets that clog the milk ducts? Then it can help to avoid cow’s milk products and take lecithin daily (e.g. as granules) to prevent milk congestion. In our survey, 3 percent of mothers still considered a change in diet to be recommended.
In addition, it can help with milk congestion to avoid stress as much as possible and to pay attention to a healthy lifestyle. If, despite all measures, no change occurs, talk to your midwife or lactation consultant: she can help you choose the right measures for you in case of milk congestion.
From milk congestion to breast infection?
The transition from milk congestion to breast inflammation is fluid. Because if the baby can no longer grasp the breast properly with his mouth, it can easily become sore. If germs then penetrate through small skin injuries, a chest infection can develop.
In the early stages, you can cool your breast with quark compresses. You should also try to keep them as quiet and empty as possible. By putting on your baby frequently or by stroking, you can achieve this. Before putting it on, it is often helpful to stimulate the milk flow with warm compresses or manual spreading; the suction of the baby then hurts less. Against sore nipples, it helps to let the breast milk dry, to breastfeed more frequently and shorter and to let as much air and sun as possible to the breast. You can find more tips in our article “5 tips against sore nipples“.
If there is no improvement after 24 hours, you should definitely consult a doctor who will prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs or breastfeeding-friendly antibiotics. Often, agents that reduce milk production are also administered temporarily. In most cases, however, breastfeeding is still possible.
