Lactostasis is a breast milk retention observed in young mothers during lactation (breastfeeding). Lactostasis is also known as “milk stagnation”.
Lactostasis is observed most often in the very first days after childbirth, that is, at the beginning of lactation, when the mammary glands begin to intensively produce breast milk, it can also be observed during weaning.
The cause of lactostasis is an imbalance between the production of milk in the glands and its outflow. This imbalance occurs when more milk is produced in the mammary glands of a woman than it is excreted from the breast, or when there are physiological difficulties associated with the outflow of milk. For example, lactostasis can cause:
blockage or narrowing of the ducts of the breast due to a congenital anomaly or previous diseases;
infrequent feeding of the baby, as well as irregular feeding;
incorrect technique of applying the baby to the breast;
refusal of the child from the breast;
resmeric milk production;
early termination of breastfeeding (not related to insufficient milk in the mammary glands);
tight, uncomfortable underwear (small bra or incorrectly adjusted);
breast injuries;
stress, overwork, hypothermia, insufficient or improper nutrition;
existing or transferred mastopathy.
SYMPTOMS OF LACTOSTASIS AND DIAGNOSIS
Lactostasis causes pain, a feeling of “bursting”, heaviness in the mammary gland. When probing, seals (lumps) are noticeable. There may be redness of the skin in the chest area. Breastfeeding and pumping milk cause pain and discomfort. Body temperature may also rise. All this is unpleasant both for the nursing mother herself and for the child himself, who does not receive enough mother’s milk.
If these symptoms occur, a woman should urgently consult a doctor. If this is not done, then lactostasis, remaining undetected and untreated, can cause complications. First, uninfected mastitis will develop, which then, in case of infection, may turn into purulent mastitis.
The diagnosis of lactostasis begins with a woman’s survey, analysis of complaints, visual examination of the mammary glands and palpation of the mammary glands to identify seals. A woman’s body temperature is also measured (it should be borne in mind that during breastfeeding, a woman’s temperature should not be changed in the armpit, as before, but in the elbow bend).
TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF LACTOSTASIS
To cure lactostasis, a woman is recommended to breastfeed her baby regularly, often apply it to her breast. Outside of feeding (or before feeding), milk should be expressed from the breast with lactostasis. In order to prevent stagnation of milk and improve the outflow of milk from the breast, it is recommended to use breast massage, the use of dry heat is allowed. Sometimes physical therapy (for example, ultrasound treatment) is used to treat lactostasis.
If it was found out that the cause of lactostasis was errors in feeding (irregular, insufficient feeding, incorrect application of the baby to the breast), a woman should change the technique of applying and feeding – a doctor will help her with this, who will explain and show how to breastfeed and feed the baby.
Prevention of lactostasis plays an important role. It includes the following measures that must be followed from the very first days after delivery:
regular breastfeeding at the request of the child;
frequent application of the baby to the breast;
teaching the correct technique of applying the baby to the breast and feeding itself – includes mastering the correct positions of the baby and the poses of the mother herself;
teaching a woman the technique of pumping milk.
