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Therapeutic Breast Massage

By nurselindam No CommentsPosted in Activities

THERAPEUTIC  BREAST  MASSAGE

This type of massage is to be used if you are feeling full and engorged or if you are having any degree of difficulty with breast congestion. The breast does not drain as well when engorgement is severe. During engorgement the breast is full of milk and body fluids. Devote 5 minutes to each breast 8 times a day, use coconut oil or any other kind of vegetable oil and massage your breasts one at a time. Massage toward the nipple exit and also toward the underarms. Lymph nodes are the “trash pick up” for the body so they help to relieve congestion by draining fluid from your breast into your lymph system under your arms. You need to do this activity every 3-4 hours until your breasts are soft. Breast congestion should resolve within 48 hours. If it doesn’t and or you run a fever with a red hardened area you need to call you medical provider. Feed your baby whatever you express from your breasts until your baby has an easier time breastfeeding. Your breast will be softer and more manageable for baby. You may need to supplement baby with formula if baby is hungry or continuing to lose weight. Seek help early if necessary!

Therapeutic breast massage is just that, therapeutic, it does the following;

  1. It assists with emptying the breast and resolving milk congestion
  2. Using your hands allows more directed ductal treatment
  3. Your lymph nodes are under your arm pits and in simple terms the job of lymph nodes in the body are to “take the trash out”
  4. Gentle touch can help with the release of the let down hormone “oxytocin”
  5. Milk removal helps to increase your supply, if milk is not removed the body does not know to replace it
  6. Less congestion = less chance of mastitis
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Cold medications that are safe to take while breastfeeding

By nurselindam No CommentsPosted in Articles of Interest

We are getting  into the winter here in Charleston, SC so the cold season is right around the corner. Breastfeeding mother’s have to be careful what medications they take while breastfeeding for 2 reasons the first to ensure safe drugs for their babies to receive via their breast milk and secondly to stay away from medications that dry up mucus. Medications that dry up mucus can also dry up breast milk. Here is a list of medications in alphabetical order that are safe for your baby and have the least likely effects on a milk supply.

Alka Seltzer plus mucus                                                                          Robitussin cough and congestion liquid

Cepacol throat spray                                                                                 Robitussin cough

Comtrex deep chest cold and congestion relief                           Robitussin DM cough suppressant lozenges

Coricidin cold and flu tablets                                                               Sucrets cough suppressant lozenges

Dayquil mucus control                                                                           Theraflu flu and chest liquid

Delsym 12 hour cough relief liquid                                                     Triaminic cough and sore throat liquid

Dimetap long acting cold and elixir                                                   Triaminic long acting cough

Mucinex                                                                                                          Vicks 44 Formula

Mucinex DM expectorant/cough                                                        Vicks Dayquil cough liquid

The ingredients to use sparingly or to avoid all together are diphenhydramine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylephrine

References for the above information was obtained from Medication and Mother’s Milk 2014, written by Dr. Thomas Hale and Hilary Rowe, Pharm D, Hale Publishing L.P.

 

 

 

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