lactostasis - a blockage of one or more breast ducts, which arises due to generation of excessive amounts of milk or violating the uniform outflow and timely. This disease is a common problem among nursing mothers, characterized by an abrupt onset and rapid development makes it difficult to breast-feeding women, and delivers a host of other problems.
Overview
The female breast has a complex structure and consists of 1.5-2.5 dozen departments (acini), capable of producing milk. Its active development begins 3-4 hours in nulliparous women and 2-3 for those who become a mother again. Under the action of the hormone prolactin arrival of milk nearly always carried out rapidly and in large volume, causing a nursing mother lactostasis symptoms that cause pain and a feeling of "Fullness". Given that the need for a newborn in food during this period is very low, emptying the breast is slow and uneven. It normalizes the process to about 10-14 day after the baby's birth.
Most often, milk stagnation in nulliparous, breast cancer which has not yet been developed, characterized by sinuosity and a very small diameter of the milk ducts. The problem is exacerbated if the first few days of his life prefers a newborn sleep more and has shown little interest in the process of eating. Subsequently, a situation in which milk production exceeds the child's demand for it, can be repeated several times because of abrupt change of woman drinking regime and diet, disease, child and reducing its activity, as well as hormonal bursts. One of the tasks of the staff of the hospital - to teach young mother to overcome these "hot flashes" without negative consequences in the form of lactostasis.
Reasons lactostasis
Factors that can trigger the appearance of breast congestion, a lot. Among the most common are:
- narrow ducts due physiological peculiarities of the body,
- physical impact - blow a tight bra breast compression during sleep,
- too large breasts, contributing to its sagging and by displacement,
- big breaks between feedings, illiterate introduction of the regime of hourly breastfeeding
- wrong capture baby nipple,
- lack of active sucking,
- stresses provoking vascular spasms and, as a consequence, - narrowing duct,
- Too much exercise,
- hypothermia,
- drawn or flat nipples, significantly complicating the process of suckling child.
Lactostasis often occurs at the end of breastfeeding - abrupt discontinuation of milk outflow is accompanied by infiltrates in one of the acini and swelling of the breast.
Symptoms in nursing mothers
Development lactostasis symptoms in nursing often occurs at night, when the child's feeding are minimized or absent altogether. Determine the appearance of the disease easily by the following features:
- Swelling and redness that can occur in any part of the breast, but most often occur in the lower hemisphere and closer to the armpit.
- Pronounced vascular net.
- Probing the disease seal.
- Visual changes of the skin - the epidermis in the affected area becomes taut, shiny, it becomes cyanotic hue.
- Possible increase in body temperature to subfebrile (37-38 ° C), with the consequent deterioration of general condition: ache, headache.
Occurrence lactostasis not necessarily accompanied by the appearance of all of the above symptoms. For example, it is not always a fever, and pain often Just noticeable. Often, nursing women are concerned only appeared tight ball, which takes place after a 2-3 feedings.
lactostasis treatment
Since lactostasis treat lactating woman has to combining feeding with continued breastfeeding feeding apply drugs is very undesirable, especially since the need for such It is rare.
- The first thing to remember - "stagnant" milk does not contain any harmful substances and microorganisms baby, so to express it is not necessary. Most first aid in the event of sickness - frequent breastfeeding. Consultants in hospitals are advised to put the baby to the breast on the basis of 2: 1 - 2 consecutive feeding of patients with breast, then 1 - from healthy.
- The period of treatment should be reduced to a minimum (not more than 1 liter per day) and the amount of liquid consumed completely abandon various teas and infusions enhancing lactation. Preference is given to clean drinking water or mineral water without gas. It is important to remember that milk consumption causes the tides any warm liquid, so caution should be approached as to the first dishes.
- With regard to measures aimed at sealing resorption, the first place on the effectiveness takes good attachment grudnichka. It should be done in such a way that the lower lip of the baby as close as possible to the area where stagnation was formed - in while sucking it mandible produces the most active movements to help neutralize razmassirovat and seal. To find a comfortable position, you can feed lying down, use a special pillow for feeding, rolled into a roll blankets and sheets, and other devices.
- To how to normalize their health as soon as possible, it is also recommended to massage the breasts themselves. This is done as follows: the mammary gland is supported with one hand, and the second at this time produces soft circular movement from the base to the nipple. So should do massage the entire surface, paying particular attention to the painful and seal area. Increase the effectiveness of massage helps warm shower or bath immediately prior to the session.
It is impossible to heat the diseased breast warmer, various lamps, to self-medicate. If the first two days tangible improvement does not occur after initiation of therapy, to a range of measures must be added pumping his chest. Decant better immediately after the massage by hand or using a breast pump. With a large number of seals and severe pain can seek the assistance of a midwife or consultant on breastfeeding, which intelligently and efficiently rastsedyat iron and teach care for her.
prevention
Preventive measures can start as early as the last trimester of pregnancy. They include:
- Hardening of the breast - dousing her after a warm shower water at room temperature (not cold and in any case no ice!).
- Sponging with a damp towel.
- Circular massage the breast.
- In the presence of the retracted or flat nipples - special exercises for stretching his form, which subsequently will facilitate process of suckling babies and contribute unimpeded emptying of the breast (items 3 and 4 are only allowed after consultation with the gynecologist in the absence of preterm delivery).
These measures will help to prepare the body for the upcoming women breastfeeding, will enhance local immunity, make the skin more elastic. After delivery to prevent the emergence lactostasis by following these basic rules:
- How can you put a newborn to the breast more frequently in the early days of his life.
- Immediately after birth to limit the amount of liquid drunk per day, replacing it if intolerable thirst candies made from natural ingredients.
- After the arrival of the milk gradually normalize drinking regime.
- Remember that the mother's breast is working on the principle of "supply and demand", so feed your baby on demand until at least six months.
- Wear comfortable clothes and underwear for nursing from natural fabrics. a bra demands: soft base, the lack of seed, foam, decor, capable grate and transmitting hardware, wide straps.
- Feed the baby in different positions - sitting, lying down, reclining. This should be done to ensure that all emptied the chest department.
- Do not sleep on your stomach - this pleasure will have to give up to the final completion of feeding. Sleep in this position contributes to compression of the ducts and their subsequent clogging.
- Try not to be nervous, not to provoke vasospasm.
- Keep the chest, to avoid injuries and bruises.
Many nulliparous women are frightened when a lactostasis symptoms. It must be remembered that breastfeeding - a physiological process, and the less it interfere, the more natural and painless for mother and child, he will proceed.
complications
If time does not begin to lactostasis treatment is a risk of diversion of these relatively slight indisposition in a much more dangerous disease - mastitis. This happens due to contact with iron bacteria such as Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and others.
Urgent Appeal to the doctor is necessary for the appearance of these warning signs:
- febrile (over 38 ° C) temperature, no longer smooth 2-3 days
- strong cutting pain, making it impossible to continue breastfeeding,
- the appearance of the nipple or other uncharacteristic purulent secretions.
Treatment of mastitis often requires medication (including antibiotics) and professional medical assistance. To prevent the penetration of bacteria in the chest, you need to carefully follow the hygiene: regular showers, changing bed linen, watch out for purity bra, use special sanitary pads, wash the baby's mouth wrapped around a finger and moistened with warm boiled water cloth.
When lactostasis there is also the danger of the possible development of an abscess - formation that resembles a soft bag with purulent contents. Complication manifests also as mastitis (fever, chills, worsening of general condition), with the difference that a solid seal in the breast is not detectable. In place of the purulent sac location there is a gradual thinning of the skin, and, if time does not start his treatment, the epidermis can break with the outflow of pus.
Forecast at lactostasis
In compliance with all recommendations for treatment lactostasis takes 3-5 days. During the first two temperature decline occurs, the rest ranked final disposal of seals. In most cases the disease goes unnoticed, leaving no adverse consequences for either the mother or for infants.
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