Signs indicate the development of lactostasis. What is lactostasis: symptoms and treatment. Have you already learned what lactostasis is? Now let's look at the methods of treatment

- stagnation, retention of milk in the excretory ducts of the breast of a nursing woman. Lactostasis can be associated with blockage or spasm of the excretory duct, hyperlactation, difficulty feeding, abrupt refusal to breastfeed, wearing too tight underwear. It is accompanied by soreness of the gland, induration and redness of some of its areas, pain when feeding and expressing. Failure to take measures leads to a deterioration in general well-being, the development of first uninfected, and then infected mastitis, which requires surgical intervention.

General information

Lactostasis is the accumulation of milk in the mammary gland of a lactating woman, which develops as a result of obstruction of the outflow. It is characterized by thickening of the gland, pain on palpation, expansion of the saphenous veins on the chest in the area of stasis. Sometimes the body temperature can rise to subfebrile numbers. The tension and soreness of the gland can both be relieved after its emptying, and it can persist.

Causes and mechanisms of development

The reasons for lactostasis can be a decrease in the patency of the excretory duct, excessive milk production by the gland, as well as a combination of hyperlactation with obstruction or spasm of the ducts.

The development of lactostasis is facilitated by the anatomical features of the gland: flat nipple, narrow milk ducts with pronounced secretory activity of the gland, sagging breasts. Also, lactostasis is provoked by refusal to breastfeed, difficulty feeding (the presence of cracks in the nipples, improper attachment to the breast, weak sucking activity in an infant). Impaired milk outflow is facilitated by tight underwear, sleeping on the stomach, hypothermia of the chest, psychological stress, hard physical work.

In the first days after childbirth, when lactation is established, there is often an excess of milk. As a rule, on the third or fourth day (with repeated births, it may be earlier), active lactation begins, and the baby on those days sucks out quite a bit of milk. As a result, there is no complete release of the mammary glands. During the first lactation, in addition, there is some difficulty in outflow - the milk ducts are narrow, twisted and require development, expressing is difficult due to the lack of skill.

The milk remaining in the gland causes an increase in pressure in the ducts and lobules, the tissue of the gland in the area of stagnation infiltrates and swells, which causes induration and soreness. Milk undergoes partial reabsorption and contributes to the development of fever. High blood pressure in lobules helps to reduce milk production and inhibits further lactation. With prolonged total lactostasis, milk production stops.

Lactostasis symptoms

The main manifestation of lactostasis is painful thickening of the gland area. In addition, there may be a feeling of heaviness, bloating. With prolonged stasis, a feeling of heat and local hyperemia develop, an increase in body temperature to subfebrile and febrile numbers.

Sometimes soreness is not accompanied by induration. Symptoms usually subside after feeding. Feeding itself can be very painful. The stagnation zone can shift and grow.

Lactostasis treatment

With lactostasis, it is necessary to ensure the maximum possible emptying of the mammary gland. The expansion of the ducts is facilitated by moderate warming, breast massage. To reduce the likelihood of reflex stasis, high-quality rest, elimination of stress, limitation of wearing underwear that squeezes the chest is recommended. It is recommended to sleep not on your back and stomach, but on your side.

Feeding should be done as often as possible (but not more often than once every two hours). At the beginning of feeding, you must immediately attach the baby to the "sick" breast. The fact is that in order to suck milk from the stagnant area, the child has to make maximum sucking efforts, and when he has already eaten, he may be lazy and refuse to suck. However, healthy breasts also require careful evacuation. Feeding should be done in a position that is comfortable and comfortable for the baby, ensuring the baby has maximum contact with the nipple and making sucking easier. If the baby is not breastfeeding often or intensively enough, it is necessary to express the excess milk.

Strengthening the outflow is facilitated by massaging the breast with stroking movements in the direction of the nipple.

Prevention of lactostasis

The main prevention of lactostasis is regular feeding and careful expression of milk residues. It is recommended to avoid wearing tight, uncomfortable underwear, physical activity and stress, sleep on your side, eat enough fluids, vegetables and fruits.

If lactostasis has nevertheless developed, it is necessary to take all the necessary measures to resolve it as soon as possible and in no case stop lactation. Often in the breast, where lactostasis takes place, milk production decreases. As a rule, after straining of stagnation, the secretory activity of the gland returns to its previous level.

Lactostasis in a woman who has given birth for the first time is a fairly common occurrence. A young mother does not yet know how often to pump, what sensations she should have after feeding, how to cope with a delay in milk withdrawal on her own. Milk stagnation is dangerous because it can lead to mastitis - an inflammation of the mammary gland, therefore, at the first symptoms of it, urgent measures must be taken.

WHAT IS LACTOSTASIS

Lactostasis is nothing more than a delay in the withdrawal of milk from the milk ducts of a nursing mother, which occurs due to active milk production and incomplete emptying, or due to narrowing of the mammary gland ducts.

Each mammary gland consists of several lobes (15-20), which are connected to the nipple by the milk ducts. When one of the ducts is blocked, a kind of "plug" arises, which prevents the milk from escaping.

Lactostasis should be distinguished from mastitis, an inflammation of the breast, although the symptoms may be similar. Often there are no painful sensations and the temperature is normal, but a lump in the chest will indicate that not everything is in order with one of the ducts - a kind of "plug" has appeared in it, preventing the milk from coming out.

With mastitis, there is no blockage of the duct, however, painful sensations arise in the chest, the temperature rises, and the lymph nodes increase. And if lactostasis can be dealt with at home, then the treatment of mastitis is often stationary and surgical. And if lactostasis is not treated, then in just a few days it will turn into mastitis.

CAUSES OF LACTOSTASIS

More often, lactostasis occurs in women who have given birth for the first time and do not have experience in establishing breastfeeding. Improper breastfeeding, infrequent feedings, and frequent pumping can lead to clogged ducts. The most common causes of lactostasis in nursing are:

irregular feedings;
improper attachment of the baby to the breast;
refusal from breastfeeding, switching to artificial while maintaining milk production;
frequent mechanical stress (pumping);
weak sucking activity in the baby;
wearing tight underwear that squeezes the milk ducts;
sleeping on the stomach;
hypothermia of the chest;
individual physiological characteristics of the mammary gland (flat nipple, narrow milk ducts, excessive milk production, sagging lower breast);
physical hard work;
chest injuries (for example, if the baby is pushing into the chest with his legs);

After childbirth, already on day 2-3, a lot of milk begins to be produced, and the baby eats little or does not suck well, as a result of which the mammary gland is not completely emptied. And if this is the first birth, then the milk ducts are quite narrow, so to speak "not developed", and even the young mother does not have enough experience in pumping.

The remaining milk thickens, causing soreness and pressure. Sometimes the milk is sucked back in, causing the temperature to rise. This makes further milk production difficult.

SYMPTOMS OF LACTOSTASIS

At the very beginning of the appearance, lactostasis has no pronounced symptoms. Only after a while in the chest there is a feeling of fullness and pain. On palpation, seals and lumps are felt, and when expressing, milk flows out unevenly. That said, pumping and breastfeeding do not bring any sense of relief. The main symptoms of lactostasis are:

pain when touching, feeding and expressing;
on palpation, seals and lumps are felt;
high temperature;
feeling of heaviness in the chest even after feeding and pumping;
sometimes there is redness of the skin in places of compaction;

FIRST AID FOR LACTOSTASIS

The main task of help with lactostasis is to remove the cork that interferes with the outflow of milk. To do this, you can apply the following methods:

Apply a warm compress to problem breasts or take a warm shower. Natural warmth helps dilate the ducts. In clinics, ultrasound is prescribed that is safe for a nursing mother.
Gently, slowly, massage your breasts. Movements should be more gentle, directed from the base of the breast to the nipple.
Feed the baby. At the same time, pay attention to the position of the baby during feeding: his lower lip should "look towards" the problem area, and his chin should rest against the chest.

At the same time, it is better to forget about the feeding schedule for a while, apply the baby as often as possible.

Often mothers and grandmothers advise a young mother to pump more often so that there is no lactostasis. However, frequent pumping injures the breasts, increases lactation and thus aggravates the situation. The best solution for removing stagnant milk right now is your baby. And it is necessary to pump at home no more than 1-3 times.

TREATMENT OF LACTOSTASIS

If the first aid for lactostasis did not help and the baby did not strain the sore breast within 24 hours, then mom needs to express herself on her own. But you need to do it right. In no case should you start the procedure immediately after feeding. The fact is that complete emptying of the breast gives a signal to the mother's body that the baby does not have enough milk and lactation is further enhanced.

Before expressing, the breasts need to be massaged a little, the movements should be directed towards the nipple, especially in those places where there is stagnation. It is from these areas that you need to start pumping. After pumping, you can try offering the breast to your baby - it will help get rid of stagnant milk. if it was not possible to express it. Usually, after the disappearance of the plug, the painful sensations disappear within 2-3 days. However, if after this time it was not possible to get rid of lactostasis at home, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Along with regular breastfeeding, it is also worth reducing fluid intake in order to slightly reduce lactation. Drink no more than a liter of liquid per day, after the problem disappears, you can always restore the previous amount.

If it was possible to get rid of lactostasis within a few days, then this will avoid such a complication as mastitis.

Most women, discharged from the hospital, face a host of problems, one of which is lactostasis. If you remember the history, then in translation from the ancient Greek "stasis" means motionless, and "lactum" - milk. It turns out that lactostasis is milk stagnation.

The mammary gland consists of several lobules, each of which has its own duct for secretion into the external environment. Usually there is a blockage of one of them, then several segments may be involved in the process. The severity of the symptoms of lactostasis depends on this.

lactostasis is the most common breastfeeding problem

Milk accumulated in the lobules of the mammary gland leads to increased pressure on the surrounding tissues. Due to this, swelling, induration and soreness are formed. Then systemic manifestations develop in the form of fever and general weakness.

Ultimately, a secondary infection joins and purulent mastitis develops, in which, as a rule, antibiotic therapy or surgery is performed. All these signs of lactostasis can be caused by several reasons.

External causes of the disease lactostasis

1. If the shape of a woman's nipple is not ideal (flat, retracted), then it is much more difficult for a baby to take the breast, so it is often necessary to use pads or pump.

2. Narrow ducts of the mammary glands can contribute to lactostasis, since they are easier to form plugs, especially if milk is of high fat content.

3. Among the eliminable factors in the development of this disease, in the first place is the incorrect attachment of the child to the breast and hourly feeding. Especially often women face this, who have no one to help and advise.

4. Another reason may be the squeezing of the excretory ducts by a tight bra or your own body if you sleep on your stomach. Some breastfeeding mothers hold their breasts with their hand, which may interfere with the outflow from some breast lobules. The same happens under the influence of gravity, that is, milk from the lower regions leaves worse.

5. Trauma or hypothermia of the breast can be provoking factors of milk stagnation.

6. A cracked nipple makes feeding painful and unpleasant, makes it difficult to attach and results in poor outflow.

Internal causes of the disease lactostasis

With hyperlactation, secretion is significantly increased. More milk is produced than a baby can eat. In this regard, a large volume of unused fluid remains in the mammary gland.

With dehydration, stress and lack of sleep, milk can become thicker, and, therefore, the likelihood of blockage of the milk ducts increases.

How to understand that lactostasis has developed: symptoms of the disease

As with any disease, the success of treatment depends on early diagnosis. Therefore, every woman needs to know the main symptoms characteristic of lactostasis:

Soreness of the mammary gland;
Compacted areas that can be felt;
Bumps and bumps protruding above the surface;
Redness of some areas of the chest;
Discomfort during feeding;
With a common process, weakness and fever, as with a viral infection.

What to do if a woman has lactostasis

At the first signs of lactostasis, it is necessary to try to empty the lobule with stagnant milk, since the symptoms grow very quickly. The more swelling and inflammation in the mammary gland, the more difficult it is to drain the area.

Urgent action

First aid for lactostasis is carried out on its own and includes several algorithms.

a child is a good helper in the fight against this disease

Frequent breastfeeding helps a lot. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that in the baby's mouth there is not only the nipple, but also the areola, there are no various sounds indicating air suction. To drain certain areas of the breast, special positions have been developed to help the milk flow by gravity. It is necessary that the chin or nose of the child is on the side of the affected lobule. It is also desirable that the seal is higher than other parts of the breast. For example, with stagnant milk in the upper lobes, it is good to use the jack pose.
A light water massage with a warm (not hot!) Shower before feeding will expand the milk ducts and facilitate the removal of milk from a sore breast. During feeding, you can also lightly stroke the hard area from the periphery to the nipple, helping the baby to drain it. Do not forget that there is a danger of overdoing it and damaging your breasts.
A cool (not cold!) Compress after feeding will help relieve swelling and pain.
Before giving the breast to the baby, you can express some milk from other lobules of the gland. This will make it easier for the baby to empty the painful area. In no case should you express yourself after feeding. In this case, milk production will reflexively increase, which will only worsen the situation.
You need to carefully consider the choice of linen. It should be supportive but not constricting.
It is advisable to sleep in such a position so as not to squeeze the chest.

What not to do when signs of lactostasis appear

Experts do not recommend limiting fluid intake, because milk will become more viscous from this, and its excretion will worsen. Also, the use of compresses with camphor alcohol can be dangerous. First of all, because of the unpleasant smell, which the child is unlikely to like. Additionally, camphor can impair lactation.

stopping feeding is not always correct, doctors say

Many inexperienced young mothers stop feeding their babies from their sore breasts. This is completely wrong. Child - best remedy in the fight against lactostasis. Just do not let your family resolve stagnation due to the high risk of infection.

It is categorically wrong to stop breastfeeding in a state of lactostasis. First, it will negatively affect the baby, for whom there is nothing more useful than the milk of his own mother. Secondly, stopping feeding can increase intoxication and is likely to lead to the development of purulent mastitis.

Do not pump at night. At this time, in response to stimulation of the nipple, prolactin is produced, a hormone responsible for the amount of milk.

It is necessary to consult a doctor if there is no improvement within a day and at the first signs of mastitis.

Lactostasis: medical care

There are special obstetric teams that provide home pumping services. If you cannot soften the pathological area on your own, then you should trust the professionals.

In some situations, physical therapy is prescribed to improve fluid drainage. Usually this is ultrasonic action on the compacted area. To accelerate the healing of cracks in the nipples, electrophoresis with anti-inflammatory drugs that promote regeneration can be used.

In extreme cases, with infectious complications, it is possible to prescribe drugs that suppress milk synthesis.

Taking these pills on your own can be potentially dangerous.

Prevention of lactostasis symptoms

To protect yourself as much as possible from the possibility of such an unpleasant condition, it is necessary to properly attach the baby to the breast, feed on demand and try to change postures.

It is also advisable to wear a special bra and sleep in a comfortable position. Using these tips, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing lactostasis.

Lactostasis - stopping movement along the ducts (stagnation) of breast milk, usually occurs in the first weeks of feeding a newborn. Most often, primiparous women suffer from this pathological condition. The disease usually occurs between the first three days and six weeks of breastfeeding. The consequences of lactostasis are the reproduction in an excellent nutrient medium of microbes that have entered the gland through the cracks in the nipples, and the formation of purulent inflammation.

How to distinguish lactostasis from mastitis? The first is a non-inflammatory condition, with no signs of inflammation. When there is a reddening of the skin of the gland, its swelling, severe pain and induration, an increase in local temperature in the area of compaction of a relatively healthy gland, a deterioration in general well-being. Mastitis requires immediate medical attention.

Causes and mechanism of development

The reasons for lactostasis are primarily associated with the wrong way of feeding the child. This is facilitated by cracks in the nipples that appeared in the first days of feeding. They are painful, interfere with the feeding technique and make it difficult to express.

With irregular attachment to the breast, violation of sucking, nerve impulses from the nipples and breast tissue carry incorrect information to the pituitary gland - a part of the brain. As a result, the production of prolactin decreases in the pituitary gland. This hormone regulates milk synthesis. Under its influence, oxytocin is also produced, which contracts the muscles of the uterus and stimulates the contraction of the milk ducts. As a result of the lack of prolactin and oxytocin, the lactation function of the ducts decreases, and acute stagnation of milk occurs.

Factors provoking the disease:

hypothermia, contusion of the mammary gland;
emotional stress;
flat nipples;
constant pumping;
structural features of the gland (narrow ducts, too thick milk);
prematurity or illness of the child;
sleeping on the stomach;
using an unsuitable, tight, "pre-pregnant" bra;
premature feeding with artificial formula or refusal to breastfeed without taking measures to stop lactation.

Prevention of lactostasis during breastfeeding

It consists in training a woman in preparation for childbirth, the availability of an available daily telephone consultation at the request of the patient (" hotline on breastfeeding "), the correct organization of assistance to women who have given birth in the pediatric area.

A woman should also engage in self-education: read special literature, watch training videos, listen to the advice of more experienced relatives and friends.

How to feed a child correctly to prevent the development of lactostasis?

attach the baby to the breast as early as possible, if possible immediately after birth;
feed in a position that is comfortable for mom and baby;
make sure that it completely captures not only the nipple, but also the areola;
help the baby a little, holding the gland from below so that it is convenient for him to suck, but not pinching the ducts with his fingers;
not to be afraid to learn by herself and teach the child to breastfeed, sometimes this does not happen on the first try;
feed the baby "on demand" until he has formed his own feeding schedule;
in the first weeks, allow the breast to suck as much as the baby wants;
apply to different breasts at each feeding;
feed the baby at night, it is advisable to arrange so that you can easily move the baby's bed to the mother's bed during feeding.

Clinical picture

At the very beginning of the disease, a woman pays attention to the fact that milk began to be released worse, in a thinner stream, with interruptions. The child's behavior also changes: he does not gorge himself, is capricious, gets tired quickly. Usually a day or two after that it unfolds clinical picture lactostasis.

Symptoms of lactostasis in a nursing mother: there is a strong engorgement of the gland, it thickens, becomes painful. More often the gland is affected on one side, less often on both. When expressing, patients are worried about pain, a feeling of fullness, a weak outflow of milk. Sometimes there is soreness in the armpits. It is associated with an increase in the additional lobules of the mammary glands, located slightly away from the bulk of the secretory tissue.

Usually, a compacted area in the form of a "ball" or "cake" is felt in the gland. The skin above it may turn slightly red, a venous pattern becomes visible on it. Such a zone can occur in different parts of the gland, changing its size and position.

Often, signs of lactostasis in a nursing mother include an increase in body temperature. People often call it milk. It does not exceed 38˚ and lasts no longer than a day. If the fever is higher or longer, accompanied by a worsening of the woman's condition, it is possible that lactostasis has already been replaced by mastitis.

With lactostasis, the general condition of a woman does not suffer. She has no weakness, weakness, sleep and appetite are not disturbed. She is capable of caring for her child.

Lactostasis treatment

To treat this condition, you need to perform two main tasks: to free the mammary glands from stagnant milk and to establish its normal secretion.

What you can do yourself

Should be established correct mode feeding, sometimes completing it by expressing milk residues. You can use a breast pump for this. Both mechanical and automatic devices will do.

How often do you express during lactostasis? This should be done no more than three times a day, emptying the corresponding mammary gland. It is not necessary to express milk at the end of each feed unless the woman feels an urgent need to do so. If your breast is full of milk, it is best to express a little milk before breastfeeding. No need to pump at night. How to strain lactostasis at the same time, read our article below.

You do not need to limit your drinking. Helps reduce milk production of sage, hop cones, leaf infusions walnut, garlic (up to 5 grams per day). But do not forget that unusual plant foods can slightly change the taste of milk, and the baby will refuse to eat it.

Such a common remedy as cabbage leaf, is able to provide significant assistance to a woman with lactostasis. First, the dense sheet heats up the tissue and improves its blood supply. Secondly, secreted by the plant active substances have a decongestant, analgesic, vasodilating effect. Before use, it is recommended to cut off the veins of the leaf, this will help the juice to be absorbed faster. It is best to apply the cabbage leaf after feeding the baby. It can be put directly into the cup of your bra, after washing and drying. Such a sheet should be changed after two hours, there are no contraindications for its use.

Means such as an alcohol compress and camphor oil, as well as any other warming methods, are now not recommended, since they can cause mastitis or completely stop the formation of milk.

Virtually no contraindications Traumeel gel is a product based on plant components... It helps relieve swelling, pain and inflammation, and improves the functioning of the milk ducts. With lactostasis, the medicine is applied to the skin of the gland twice a day, it is not harmful to the mother and child. In this case, the compress is not needed, the gel is simply applied to the washed skin.

How to bring down the temperature that occurs during lactostasis without harming the baby? It is permissible to use drugs such as Paracetamol or Nurofen. Do not take Aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Analgin.

Treatment of lactostasis at home is based on the use of folk remedies, tested by generations of Russian women, and with modern devices. It consists of three principles:

more often feed from the affected breast, while applying the baby so that his nose and chin "look" in the sick side;
massage the affected gland;
express milk infrequently, it is better in a small amount before feeding, after the lactostasis is cured, additional expressing should be stopped.

One of necessary conditions improving well-being - an elevated position of the gland. It is better for a woman to use special nursing bras that support the breasts and distribute pressure on wide straps. If the breast hangs freely, it creates excellent conditions for milk stagnation.

"Cradle" - the mother sits and holds the child in her arms, as in a cradle;
feeding from under the arm: the child lies on the side of the mother, facing her breast, while the additional lobules located closer to the axillary regions are well emptied;
Face-to-face: an ideal lactostasis feeding position, since both glands are in the most physiologically advantageous position.

You need to find several convenient positions and alternate them.

1. Baby on mom
2. Overhang

1. Lying on the arm
2. From under the arm

1. Cradle
2. Cross cradle

The so-called lactostasis strain is used when simple ways do not help; carried out before feeding the baby, at least every two hours:

first, bending over the bathtub, you need to warm up the gland well with warm water from the shower, while simultaneously massaging the breast; this can be done with a heating pad or a simple hot water bottle;
massage in a spiral, starting from the periphery and moving to the center, it should not be kneading and cause soreness;
feed the child from the "diseased" gland in one of the above positions;
gently massage the breast from the edges to the nipple, gently feel the place where the lump remains, express milk or use a breast pump (it is better to express no more than three times a day, so as not to cause excessive milk production);
place a bottle with cold water, a damp cloth or plastic ice bag wrapped in a terry towel;
the baby should be fed twice from the affected gland, then once from the healthy, and again twice from the sick, you can offer him the breast even more often than he himself asks. Of course, if the child is not hungry, he will refuse to suckle, but you still need to try to breastfeed more often.

How a doctor can help

What to do if home remedies for lactostasis do not work well? Which doctor should I go to? Usually, such problems are solved by a visiting nurse or a pediatrician who visits mother and child, supervises the process of breastfeeding. If home methods are ineffective, the doctor may prescribe physiotherapy or medications.

Physiotherapy methods are safe for women and children, painless and very good help to restore lactation. Usually used ultrasound, electrophoresis of medicinal substances, ultra-high frequency (UHF), darsonval. These procedures can begin at the hospital if the feeding problem arises immediately.

For home treatment, you can purchase an electrophoresis apparatus at the Medtekhnika store. In it, you can use Dimexide, Troxevasin and other drugs that improve blood supply, but only after consulting with the observing doctor.

To improve the emptying of the gland, Oxytocin is prescribed intramuscularly before feeding or expressing. To prevent this drug from causing painful contractions of the uterus, No-shpa is also injected intramuscularly half an hour before the injection.

To increase the volume of water, thereby reducing the amount of fluid in the body, diuretics (Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide) are prescribed.

To reduce milk production, Dostinex or Parlodel are prescribed. They are prescribed literally for one or two days; with a longer intake, such drugs can completely suppress milk production. Also, with severe lactostasis, which many authors consider as the initial form of mastitis, penicillin antibiotics are used that are safe for the child. They are prescribed to prevent the development of pyogenic microflora in the area of stagnation.

Features of lactostasis in men

It would seem, how can there be milk stagnation in atrophied mammary glands in men? It turns out that such cases occur, although very rarely. They are usually associated with the secretion of milk by the hormone prolactin. It is secreted in men as a result of a benign or malignant tumor of the pituitary gland - a gland in the brain. In addition, sometimes milk begins to be released with a deficiency of testosterone - the male sex hormone, lung tumors, hypothyroidism, excessive use of antidepressants, Verapamil and other drugs.

In these cases, men begin to produce a small amount of milk. Since their glands do not have a well-developed structure, milk can stagnate inside, accompanied by the same symptoms as in women: engorgement of the gland, the formation of a painful seal in it.

Treatment of lactostasis in men consists in the treatment of the underlying disease. They have fewer restrictions on drug termination of lactation with hormonal drugs.

Lactation is a complex process that causes changes in the female body. If you do not carefully monitor the condition of the breasts, then such an unpleasant phenomenon as milk stagnation can occur.

So, what is lactostasis in a nursing mother, symptoms and treatment of the disease?

What is lactostasis

Lactostasis in a nursing mother is stagnation of milk in the ducts of the mammary gland. If a young mother has chest pain or a feeling of heaviness, then you should carefully examine the breast. If you do not get rid of the unpleasant ailment in time, then the woman's condition may deteriorate sharply.

Treatment for mastitis is done under the supervision of a physician, and is often done through surgery.

The main signs of stagnant milk

So, lactostasis in a nursing mother - symptoms:

Swelling of the mammary gland, characteristic of lactostasis. A lump can be felt inside the breast.
Painful sensations in the place where the blockage of the duct occurred.
Redness of the skin. This symptom occurs in the place where there was a blockage of the milk duct.
Increased body temperature. If this indicator approaches 39 ° C, then it is dangerous for a woman. This indicates that purulent-inflammatory processes have already begun in the chest. If the temperature rises, you should immediately seek help from specialists.

The reasons for the development of lactostasis

Milk stagnation does not occur by itself. There are factors that can cause lactostasis in a nursing woman. The reasons for this phenomenon include:

Restricting the baby in the time of breastfeeding.
Infrequent breastfeeding. Read more about WHO breastfeeding guidelines >>>
Partial emptying of the breast.
Feeding the baby in only one position.
Improper attachment of the baby to the breast.
Frequent pumping.
Premature weaning of the baby or the baby's refusal to breastfeed.
Hypothermia.
Compression of the breast during feeding.
Milk has a high viscosity index.
Injury to the chest.
Features of the structure.
Incorrectly fitted underwear.
Chronic fatigue, constant stress.

Milk stagnation often occurs in those who prefer to rest on their stomachs. In this position, the breasts of the nursing mother are tightly clamped. What to do with lactostasis in nursing mothers?

Lactostasis treatment

Can milk stagnation in a nursing mother be cured? What to do? Before starting treatment, you should determine what worries the woman and what is the main reason - milk stagnation or mastitis. Body temperature allows you to determine which disease started.

Milk stagnation is usually much easier than mastitis. With lactostasis, body temperature rises slightly. If this indicator stopped at around 38 - 39 ° C, then, most likely, this is non-infectious mastitis. The unpleasant sensations in the chest will last much longer.

It will not be possible to get rid of the fever with conventional antipyretic drugs.

Only by getting rid of milk stagnation can you eliminate discomfort and get rid of the heat.

Treatment of lactostasis should be comprehensive. Medicines in this case will not help. To get rid of milk stagnation, it is necessary to regularly latch on the baby to the breast, express milk, and massage.

Basic massage rules

Breast massage during lactostasis should be done carefully so as not to injure the tissue. Stretching the breast, several rules should be taken into account:

No jerky or aggressive movements. Do not try to break the tissue seal with your hands. This can only injure more tissue and increase pain.
You need to knead the chest with light, rubbing, stroking and smooth movements. Hands should move towards the nipple from the outside of the chest. This is the only way to eliminate lactostasis. Home treatment should be done carefully.
If there is severe pain in the process, then massage is recommended in parallel with pumping and preferably under a warm shower. This will only enhance the effect.

How to do massage

Before starting to massage your breasts, you should thoroughly wash your hands and apply a small amount of oil on them. After that, you should follow these steps:

Pressing on the chest and making circular movements, it is necessary to massage the chest for 3-4 seconds, constantly moving in a spiral to the nipple.
The décolleté area, as well as the chest, should be lightly stroked, moving from top to bottom.
Next, the woman should bend forward and shake her breasts. Such an action will allow the stagnant milk to sink down.
The nipple, holding it with two fingers, should be gently pulled back and twisted. These massage movements allow not only to cope with milk stagnation, but also to increase lactation. If the nursing mother has any damage to the nipples, for example, cracks, then they must be healed (how to do this, see the article: Cracks in the nipples during feeding). It is not recommended to carry out a similar massage for those who have increased sensitivity.
The massage ends with a warm shower. Light streams of water should be directed alternately at each breast.

Is it possible to apply compresses

To relieve the main symptoms of lactostasis, you can apply compresses:

The cabbage leaf helps well with lactostasis. The product must be fresh. So, how to apply a cabbage leaf with lactostasis? It must be beaten off so that the juice appears. After that, you can apply the cabbage to the compacted area.
Honey compresses also help a lot. To do this, it is necessary to mix wheat flour and honey until a dense composition is obtained. Finished cakes must be applied to the chest.
With stagnant milk, compresses can be made from low-fat, preferably cold, cottage cheese.

Any compress with lactostasis can be applied to the chest for 15 to 20 minutes.

Ointments for lactostasis

The Arnika ointment is excellent for lactostasis. Also to eliminate unpleasant sensations in case of milk stagnation, you can use the Malavit solution. Traumeel is no less effective for lactostasis. You can buy drugs at any pharmacy.

Expression with stagnant milk

Expressing will help eliminate milk stagnation in a nursing mother. This will make it easier for the milk to flow through the ducts. How to remove stagnant milk at home? Fundamental rules:

The manual method is preferred. This method allows you to more carefully act on the compacted area, freeing the breast from stagnant milk.
Expressing should be done in a calm environment, taking your time and assuming a comfortable position. Before the procedure, you can apply a warm compress to the problem area or take a shower. This will greatly facilitate the pumping process.
The chest should be clasped so that the thumb is on top and four fingers under the chest. In this case, the areola should be between them. When making radial movements towards the nipple, it is necessary to constantly change the position of the fingers.

The main sign of correct expression is strong streams of milk coming out. After the manual method, you can use a breast pump. When expressing, pain and discomfort often occur, which indicates the development of an inflammatory process. To improve the condition, it is recommended to use anti-inflammatory drugs.

Milk stagnation prevention

Those who have at least once encountered such a phenomenon as lactostasis will try to prevent its development. First of all, you should determine the main cause of its occurrence and eliminate it. General recommendations:

Feeding positions should be different. This will allow the baby to empty a new milky lobule each time.
It is necessary to attach the baby to the breast correctly.
The baby should be fed at every request.
There is no need to express milk after every feed.
A nursing mother should give up tight underwear, as well as sleeping on her stomach.
Every day, the chest should be washed with warm water.
Do not overcool in any way.
Drink the right amount of fluids. Do not overuse food that contains a large amount of animal fats.

When to visit a doctor

If lactostasis, the symptoms of which are described above, makes itself felt only by a slight compaction and soreness in the chest, then you should carefully express the chest, massage and apply a compress.

If the nursing mother has a fever and the seal does not decrease, then you should immediately seek advice from a gynecologist. In such situations, physiotherapy is often performed.

If a woman has signs of mastitis, the doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics. The drugs are always selected individually and can be compatible with breastfeeding. A nursing mother should not self-medicate for serious complications.