How will I know if normal breast fullness has become severe engorgement?
When severe engorgement occurs, it’s usually between the third and seventh day after birth. Your breasts feel very hard, with tightly stretched, shiny skin. They may be hot, tender, achy, and red. Your areola may be firm (feeling like the tip of your nose rather than your earlobe) and your nipple may flatten out, making it very difficult to get your baby latched on or to even express your milk. You may also run a low-grade fever. Engorgement can occur only in the areola, only in the body of the breast, or in both areas. • Can engorgement lead to other problems? It may be difficult for your baby to latch on if you’re engorged. Insufficient feeds can lead to more engorgement and ultimately a compromised milk supply. When milk is not properly drained from your breasts the process of involution (drying up) begins, just as if you had decided not to breastfeed. Breast engorgement can also lead to nipple pain, cracked nipples, and abscesses, and may lead to the termination of breastfeeding. •
