Jean makes a good point about 3 sources on initial breast fullness and
the need to avoid a "one size fits all" approach.
I come from the old "warm before, cold after" school, but have since
realized that cold makes so much more sense when there is edema.  The
approach I have become comfortable with is:

If the milk is leaking freely and mom wants to encourage more to leak so
baby can latch instead of sliding off the rock-hard breast, then warm is
OK-warm shower, warm cloths, leaning over and soaking in a basin of warm
water or whatever.  On the other hand, if it is difficult to remove any
milk even though she feels like she should be "spouting like a
fountail", edema is more likely the problem and cold (ice packs, frozen
veggies, cabbage, frozen diapers or whatever) is in order.  When in
doubt, I suggest cold first.  When I point out to a mom that warmth
increases circulation to the area which may aggravate the amount of
swelling, it makes sense to her.
There may be times when it is necessary to alternate cold and warm, but
I find the above approach works in the vast majority of times.
Winnie

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html