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Sun, 14 Aug 2005 20:14:24 +1000 |
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Cath writes:
"I wonder if anyone has tried using a system of soaking breasts in a bowl
of warm water to which Epsom Salts has been added. This seems to bring
relief to mothers with engorgement but I am not sure if it is the soaking,
or water temperature or the salts. Keen to hear."
Cath in my experience warmth isn't the best way to go when treating
engorgement. Using heat at this time is initially soothing - but within an
hour or less the engorgement is often a lot worse. Heat dilates the blood
vessels allowing more blood to flow to the area, more of which is likely to
move out of the vessels and into the interstitial spaces, creating more
oedema and further blocking the lactiferous ducts and hence milk flow and
the cycle goes on.
This is the reason that we treat swollen ankles, perineums, knees, whatever
initially with cold.
Immersing the breasts in Epsom Salts dissolved in warm water has been very
effective in managing mastitis - not published in any peer-reviewed
journals to the best of my knowledge, but one of those old wives tales that
seems to work effectively and can't do any harm. The swelling in mastitis,
particularly if picked up in the first 24 hours, is limited to a segment of
the breast and the increased blood flow isn't a problem... and appears to
be desirable, maybe by bringing more infection fighting blood to the breast.
A while ago I was on a list for homebirth midwives and they were reporting
success with reducing perineal swelling by using cold epsom salts
compresses applied to the perineum. I haven't tried the cold epsom salts
compresses (on either breasts or perineums!), but think perhaps that could
be more effective for the initial management of engorgement and oedema than
warm epsom salts compresses.
Do the mothers you've used this with continue to report their engorgement
resolving? I don't know what the salts do ... so if they do, maybe it is
the epsom salts.
Denise
PS: Hi Cath :-)
***************************************
Denise Fisher
Health e-Learning
http://www.health-e-learning.com
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