Caring for Women Experiencing Breast Engorgement: A Case Report

Abstract

Breast engorgement is an uncomfortable and sometimes painful component of the postpartum period. The effective treatment of breast engorgement may provide an avenue for clinicians to improve postpartum care for women and promote breastfeeding. This case report presents one woman's experience with breast engorgement in the early postpartum period. The etiology, evidence‐based practices for treatment, clinical implications, and recommendations for practice are reviewed. The importance of interprofessional care to minimize conflicting information a lactating woman receives is highlighted. Interprofessional teamwork can optimize care to resolve breast engorgement and facilitate a woman achieving her breastfeeding goals.

Effect of Warm Ginger versus Cold aloe vera Gel Compresses on Breast Engorgement among Postnatal Mothers: A Comparative Study

“…Given the importance of breastfeeding and the significant pain discomfort experienced by women with breast engorgement, effective remedies need to be determined (Gresh et al, 2019). In fact, there is an array of pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies for managing breast engorgement and its associated pain.…”

Aloe Vera Gel Compression as Breast Engorgement Pain Relief

“…This Indian study explained that 1 of 2 postpartum women had a breastfeeding-related disease, 3 of 10 breastfeeding mothers had some problems about breast such as; breast engorgement, fissures, hypo Galactica, discontinuation of breastfeeding, galactocele, mastitis, and candidiasis (Govoni et al, 2019a) The purpose of the management of breast engorgement is to maintain the flow of breast milk and successfully and effectively empty the breast, as well as to prevent engorgement during the breastfeeding process. Some approaches for managing breast engorgement involve a combination of pharmacotherapy such as pain medications, progesterone gel (Gresh et al, 2019), and non-pharmacological management such as acupuncture, cabbage leaves, and cold packs (Zakarija-Grkovic & Stewart, 2020).…”

A Case Study of Early Postpartum Excessive Breast Engorgement: Is it Related to Feedback Inhibition of Lactation?

“…Considering the short- and long-term benefits of breastfeeding for newborn health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recommend that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life (Gartner et al, 2005); Pound & Unger, 2012; WHO, 2009). Common problems related to breastfeeding, including breast engorgement, cracked nipples, and mastitis may lead to early weaning if they are not adequately managed (Gresh et al, 2019). It should be kept in mind that, although rare, a problem in the feedback inhibition of lactation also may be a serious problem.…”