. Colostrum is thick and yellow in color and lasts for the first few days after your baby is born.
Transitional milk: This milk takes the place of colostrum, about 2 to 4 days after your baby is born and is thin and white. Your breasts may leak milk for a few weeks after your pregnancy.Engorgement: Your breasts overfill with milk which causes pain. Engorgement is most often short-term and goes away in 2 to 3 days.
What care is needed at home?
If you do not breastfeed your baby, you may have breast pain while your body stops making milk. To help with your pain: ‚
- Wear a bra that fits you well and gives you good support for at least 3 to 4 days after your baby is born. A well-fitting bra may help with breast pain and leaking milk.
- Do not stimulate your breasts or nipples.
- Do not let your baby nurse and do not pump breast milk. Nursing or pumping your breasts will cause your breasts to make more milk.
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- Take a warm shower to help with breast pain. The warmth may cause some milk to leak from your breasts.
- Your doctor may give you drugs to keep your breasts from making milk. The doctor may give you ibuprofen or acetaminophen for breast pain.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep your visits. ‚
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection such as a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills.
- Very painful breasts
- Feeling tired, weak, or have no energy
- Feeling like you have the flu, including muscle aches
- Red, hot, or hard breast(s)
- Painful lumps in your breast(s)
- Red streaking from your breast going to your underarm
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚