Are talking physiological or pathological engorgement? I really think there needs to be a distinction made between the fuller, heavier breasts of "normal" physiological engorgement and the "hard as a board" or "rocks to the collarbone" of pathological engorgement that too many of us are seeing way, way too often these days. With an effectively breastfed baby around, why pump for physiological engorgement? But a pump may be helpful for a brief period if the engorgement is beyond that - depends on the situation, especially if the effective breastfeeding baby really can't get on completely tight distended breasts. Jessica, you may have physiological engorgement in mind while the other user may have been thinking of pathological engorgement. And if a baby isn't yet effectively breastfeeding/removing milk, a pump (or other means of expression) may be crucial. It's all in the operational definitions of terms we can too easily take for granted! (BTW, I'm a total fan of RPS immediately prior to BF/pumping no matter what the engorgement type!) KKG > Ok, Here is a sad but true story about me - I am a sucker for answering q= > uestions on yahoo answers. My husband thinks that i am addicted to it.=20= > > Anyway, tonight i was answering a post regarding a mother who was experie= > ncing some engorgement and she asked about pumping. My response was that = > she could use reverse pressure softening to make it easier for the infant= > to latch and hand express milk if she needed to for latch or discomfort = > issues. I said that pumping would increase milk supply. I also explained = > that engorgement is not just due to milk but also extra fluid and blood. > Another user responded and said that engorgement is caused when the breas= > t is not emptied and to ignore any responce on not pumping (meaning that = > the mother should pump).=20 > > What is everyone else's views on this - do you encourage frequent pumping= > during engorgement or allow time for the body to adjust? > > Thank You > Jessica RN, IBCLC > NC, USA > > *********************************************** > > -- Karen Gromada www.karengromada.com/ *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome