Keeping Your Breast Healthy After Childbirth

During a woman's life their breasts will change a number of times. They will develop during puberty, then produce milk after child birth.

Changes are normal, so they are nothing to worry about in most cases. Here are a few things to expect once you've given birth.

When breast feeding begins the milk produced will be slightly thicker. This is due to the presence of colostrum which provides the baby with their first dose of nutrients and antibodies.

However, this will change within the first few days of breastfeeding. Your milk will slowly become diluted and lighter in color as your hormone levels lower.

Obviously the first big change if the ability to produce milk. There is also a hormonal response that your body releases when your child suckles so your breasts can express milk.

Other things, such as your baby's cry, your emotions, and your mood, may also trigger this reflex. What does this mean? Your milk can leak out even when your baby isn't suckling.

You may want to invest in a few pads for your nursing bras; pads can absorb leaking milk before the milk soaks your shirt.

Milk leakage can be embarrassing, but it doesn't indicate a problem. There are a few things that can be problematic for you, though. Engorgement is one of them.

This is when your breasts produce milk faster than you express it (i.e. you produce more than your baby eats). Over-full breasts can be very sore and painful, as well as tight.

If you can't empty your breasts for whatever reason - your child has a problem breastfeeding, for instance - then you may want to invest in a breast pump so that you can do it yourself. Releasing the milk from your breasts will help relieve the discomfort.

Another problem could be milk ducts that are blocked. A large painful lump can appear if your breasts aren't fully emptied.

In order to unblock the duct, you may want to massage the area before feeding or apply a hot washcloth to the area.

You can also try changing positions while feeding to ensure the breast is emptied; this will help eliminate the problem.

Mastitis is an infection that can result from engorgement or blocked ducts. If this happens, you may experience symptoms similar to the flu. Talk to your doctor about getting antibiotics if this happens.

Thankfully, these problems aren't serious most of the time. They may cause discomfort, but often you can relieve that. Talk to your doctor if you are worried or can't seem to ease the pain.


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Jared Wright is a dad who works from home sharing his knowledge through his passion for writing. His latest project is a website that provides useful breast pump reviews to mothers, and information about products such as ameda purely yours breast pump and medela breast pump accessories.