Engorgement usually appears in the first days after birth: the breasts become full, hard, hot and painful, and the baby struggles to latch onto a tight areola.
Stasis is a blocked area within the breast — a tender, hard lump, sometimes with reddened skin and a raised temperature. Left alone, it can progress to mastitis.
Physiotherapy helps drain the breast, reduce the swelling and get feeding going again. If a fever appears or the symptoms do not settle within about 24 hours, you also need a medical review.
Therapy
- Manual drainage of the breast
- Lymphatic drainage
- Kinesiotaping
- Learning self-massage
- Guidance on correct latching
- Advice on positioning and feeding rhythm