How I Managed Breast Engorgement After Having Baby
Author: Phoebe W.
Date: 01-12-2015
Views: 17,441
Word Count: 281
Questions Received: 0
Testimonial ID: 10402-OR
Brand Neutral: No
Scientific Studies: 4
Note: Not all essential oil brands are the same, and you get what you pay for. If you expect to achieve results similar to those described in this testimonial, then ensure that you are using oils from pesticide-free plants. Also, the brand should use 100% pure, high-quality essential oils that do not contain any synthetic additives. Do your own research or ask a trusted friend to find a brand that is reputable. Buyer beware.
After I delivered my son, my breasts became very engorged once my milk came in.
I found that a couple drops of Copaiba essential oil rubbed onto them (avoiding the nipple area) provided real relief from the discomfort and inflammation. Copaiba is safe for ingestion, so I felt comfortable with my baby being near it.
Cold cabbage leaves also were soothing on the breasts.
Sometimes I applied Deep Relief Roll-On around the outer diameter of my breasts where the milk ducts were swollen. This also helped with the discomfort. However, I would advise caution with this. Deep Relief has Peppermint, which is not recommended for use around young children. I tried to use Deep Relief only after my baby had eaten and was unlikely to eat again for a little while. So handle with care.
I also put Deep Relief on my neck and abdominal ligaments that were sore after childbirth, and it definitely soothed the discomfort there.
Per the recommendation in Raybern's book "Gentle Babies", I ingested about 4 drops of Peppermint essential oil in a capsule occasionally to try to reduce my supply a bit. I am not sure if it helped, but it was worth a try!
In general, I managed breast engorgement by manually expressing milk (not pumping, as that stimulates more supply). I thoroughly massaged the breasts and swollen milk ducts while feeding the baby. I also tried to empty the breast as much as possible, even if it took two feedings on the same side (and leaving the other breast to get painfully full) to do it.
I am thankful I had no infections, and my milk supply stabilized after five days.
Tell Your Friends
Take advantage of social media to introduce your friends to high-quality essential oils. They will not need to login to read any testimonial that you share. If they register for our free membership, then they will be able to conduct their own keyword searches. What an easy way to help others!
Available Options
You can use the link below to ask the author a question. Once you register for your own free membership, all of the following options will be available.
- Ask the author a question
- Conduct keyword searches
- Save as a favorite
- Tell a friend
- Print a testimonial handout
| Supporting Scientific Studies | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Associated topics: breastfeeding-/-milk-supply-/-nursing-/-lactation — "Foeniculum vulgare Mill, commonly called fennel, has been used in traditional medicine for a wide range of ailments related to digestive, endocrine, reproductive, and respiratory systems. Additionally, it is also used as a galactagogue agent for lactating mothers.... Foeniculum vulgare has emerged as a good source of traditional medicine and it provides a noteworthy basis in pharmaceutical biology for the development/formulation of new drugs and future clinical uses." | Link |
| 2. | Associated topics: pregnancy — "The methods of aromatherapy were applied sitz bath or soap application using essential oils with Lavender, Myrrh, Neroli, Rose, Grapefruit, Mandarin, Orange, and Roman Chamomile.... [T]hese findings indicate that postpartum aromatherapy for perineal care could be effective in healing the perineum." | Link |
| 3. | Associated topics: breast-infection-/-mastitis — "[T]he antibacterial activity of lemongrass oil (LG) and its major components (citral, geraniol, and myrcene) against four strains of clinically isolated bovine mastitis pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia coli).., as well as their activity on S. aureus biofilm formation [were investigated].... [T]hey inhibit S. aureus biofilm formation and exhibit effective killing activities on preformed biofilms." | Link |
| 4. | Associated topics: breast-infection-/-mastitis — "Ten of the most known and used commercial essential oils (Cinnamomum zeylanicum L. [cinnamon], Citrus bergamia Risso [bergamot], Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Foeniculum vulgare Mill. [fennel], Origanum majorana L. [marjoram], Origanum vulgare L. [oregano], Rosmarinus officinalis L. [rosemary], Satureja montana L. [mountain savory], Thymus vulgaris L. ct. carvacrol [thyme], Thymus vulgaris L. ct. thymol [red thyme] were tested against six bacteria strains Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus chromogenes, Staphylococcus sciuri, Staphylococcus warneri, Staphylococcus xylosus and Escherichia coli, responsible for mastitis in animals. The best results were achieved by S. montana, T. vulgaris ct. thymol and O. vulgare." | Link |
Disclaimer
Oil-Testimonials.com is not responsible for the accuracy of content written by testimonial authors. The information on our website is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any diseases, illnesses, or imbalances and should not be used in place of medical advice from your health care professional. The statements made in these testimonials have not been clinically proven or evaluated by the FDA. Extra caution should be taken when using essential oils with young children and animals. We assume no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. Your use of this website indicates your agreement to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Full Disclaimer.