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Pumping to relieve engorgement before BFing

whitney4126whitney4126 member
in Breastfeeding
I've been battling with engorgement ever since LO's major growth spurt at 3 weeks. Also, im starting day 5 of BFing after EPing most of LO's life, which has caused some adjustment because I've gone from pumping on a schedule to feeding on demand. LO has struggled to learn how to latch, and when I get engorged, she can't (without trying for 15 minutes and mangling my nipples in the process). This is especially a problem with one of my breasts, which is much larger and produces more milk and gets engorged much more often. So when it gets so bad, I either give her a bottle and pump or only feed on my less engorged breast while I pump the other. So, does anyone have experience with pumping for a few minutes to relieve engorgement and then feeding? If so, how long do you pump? Ultimately I hope that my supply evens out a little more and gets use to LOs schedule so I can avoid enforcement. But, in the meantime, I want to keep her on the breast as much as possible.
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Re: Pumping to relieve engorgement before BFing

  • Abenedict2011Abenedict2011 member
    I had engorgement like this early on too and I would pump just for a minute or two to relieve it and LO was able to latch better. Good luck
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  • Elaina22Elaina22 member
    As PP said, just a couple of minutes to soften your breast and help draw the nipple out. I no longer have to pump to relieve engorgement, so it did improve for me. Once in a while I will have to hand express a bit if she has had a longer stretch at night.
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  • VitaLunaVitaLuna member
    I would recommend hand expression vs pumping, as well. Easier to control it to just the right amt, and no parts to clean! I also wouldn't pump the engorged side while BFing the other, as in doing so you're telling your body to keep up the milk production, which makes you engorged again, etc..

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  • RachelCA29RachelCA29 member
    When I went from EPing back to the breast I used a nipple shield since my LO had latch issues before I started EPing so I had one from that. It really helped the first few days as my supply evened out from my scheduled pumping times to on demand. The first day I was basically engorged all day since I didn't do my big morning pump, but with the nipple shield the firmness didn't matter to my LO. After a week I just started trying him without the shield since my supply was more normal.

    I've only been engorged a few times in the morning when he has slept late. I just pumped for a few minutes for relief.
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