(2)
Sore breasts.
(a) The mother should let the baby breast-feed initially for ten to thirty
minutes every two to three hours and gradually increase the amount of time. If her
breasts are not empty after feeding, have the mother to express the milk into a bottle
and refrigerate for later feedings.
(b) Improper position may cause soreness. Advise the mother that the
infant should have a portion of the areola, in addition to the nipple in his mouth (see
figure 9-6). Just chewing or sucking on the nipple may cause breast soreness.
Figure 9-6. Proper breast position.
(3) Engorgement. This normally occurs on or about the third postpartum
day. It results from an increase of milk into the milk ducts combined with increased
blood and lymph supply to the breast. The breast becomes hard and painful. It is
usually more common in the first-time breast-feeding mother. Engorgement can be
prevented by:
(a) Manual expression of milk (figure 9-7) if the breasts are full but the
infant is not ready to nurse, or if the infant can't get hold of the nipple because the skin
is too tight.
(b) Wearing a supportive bra.
(c)
Frequent nursing, if not too painful.
(d) Warm compresses applied to the sore breasts.
MD0922
9-10