Breast Care For The Non-breast Feeding Woman
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Why do I need to perform breast care? You will need to take care of your breasts after your baby is delivered. Women who are not planning to breast feed will have special breast care needs. For up to four days after delivery, your breasts may not fill with milk. When your breasts fill with milk (your milk "comes in"), you may want to take some measures to avoid discomfort. Breast milk leakage is usually only a problem for the few weeks to a month after delivery. After that time, your body should know that your milk is not needed, and no more milk should be made.
What should I expect after the baby is delivered?
- Before your milk comes in, your breasts should feel soft. Colostrum (ko-LAH-strum) is the "early milk" or yellow liquid that is present in your breasts for the first few days after childbirth.
- When your milk comes in, your breasts are swollen, firm, tender, and warm. Milk is present in your breasts but should not be expressed (removed) if you do not plan to breast feed. Do not pump or squeeze your breasts if you are not breast feeding. This causes your breasts to make more milk.
- Engorgement (en-GORJ-ment) is when your breasts become too full with milk. Engorgement is temporary (short-term) and goes away on its own along with breast tenderness in 24 to 36 hours. Your breasts will become soft again when the engorgement passes.
How do I care for my breasts if I will not be breast feeding after the delivery? Following are ways to decrease engorgement and discomfort while your milk goes away.
- Soak a cloth in warm water and put it on your breasts to decrease the pressure and discomfort in your breasts. Taking a warm shower also may help but avoid stimulating your nipples because this may increase discomfort. Warmth may not help if the engorgement is very bad. You may use cold compresses or ice packs to relieve your discomfort and decrease swelling.
- Wear a tight bra but do not bind your breasts. This has not been proven to help stop milk production and may just make your breasts more sore.
- You may be given medicine to keep your breasts from making milk. You may also take ibuprofen (i-bew-PRO-fin) or acetaminophen (uh-c-tuh-MIN-o-fin) to help relieve discomfort. Caregivers may suggest treatments, such as cabbage leaves and gel packs or ultrasound treatments to ease the discomfort. Homeopathic (ho-me-o-PATH-ik) medicine (using natural substances instead of medicine) also may be suggested. Ask caregivers for more information about these treatments but do not do any without talking to your caregiver first.
- Rest and good nutrition helps you get back your energy after childbirth. Women used to be told not to drink fluids after childbirth to keep their milk from coming in. This is no longer a correct thing to do. Your body needs fluids to heal itself after delivery. Do not restrict the fluids you drink unless your caregiver tells you to do so.
CARE AGREEMENT:
You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
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