- Your milk will come in after 2 or 3 days.
- You may take acetaminophen or ibuprofen as directed to relieve pain and discomfort. You may also take any pain medicine prescribed by your OB provider upon hospital discharge.
- If your breasts become engorged, carefully apply ice packs to your breast. Leave the ice pack on no more than 20 minutes. (Bags of frozen peas work well because they conform to your breast and can be refrozen for the next application).
- If the engorgement is severe, green Cabbage leaves help relieve engorgement through a chemical reaction. Place a chilled, gently crumbled leaf around your breast inside your bra. When the leaf is wilted, apply another leaf. Do this several times a day for 20-30 minutes.
- If you develop fever, body aches, red, hard breasts, call the OB triage nurse at 919-781-6200
BREAST FEEDING
- Wear good support or nursing bra around the clock
- If your breasts are very engorged, it may be beneficial to hand express milk to soften the breast to facilitate proper latch on.
BOTTLE FEEDING
- Wear a tight fitting bra around the clock for the first week. Some people “bind” their breast with an ace bandage.
- DO NOT massage, stimulate or pump your breast. This causes more milk production. Even the shower can stimulate milk flow, stand with your back facing the water.
- DO NOT apply heat to your breast. This causes more swelling and milk production.
