Guest guest Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 I have a client who has very hard breasts. Her milk came in last Monday or Tuesday. I was kind expecting them to calm down by now. SHe has very hard swelling on top and near the armpits of her right breast. So far I have recommended that she do warm wet compresses with ginger. I am also feeding her more pitta and kapha friendly foods keeping in mind the vata pacifying foods as well. I have also recommended EFA's and massaging the breasts in the shower and having the baby change postions for feeding and start with that breast. SHe has seen 5 lactation consultants and none have seen anything like it except one who thought it might be a cyst of some sort. Her swelling was so bad that it bulged out, it is better than that now but is still hard and a little bulging at top. I am thinking maybe she should go see Alakananda or Saraswati or John Douillard. Any suggestions or recommendations? Thanks, Sonya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 Hi Sonya; How is Baby handling? Is he/she able to latch ok? I will defer mostly to others with more lactation expertise, and say with what you have told us about her (what do you see in her prakruti/vikruti and lifestyle purity if another needy baby could be brought to her breasts?) the top two supports I would call on in addition are possilby some turmeric tea (not the fennel fenugreek sweetwater brew now) only one or two cups (we don't want a dramatic swing the other direction and it is more vata pacifying than sage), and I have seen fresh cabbage leaves (keep changing) help soften the breasts. I have also experienced hard breasts several days after the milk first came in, tho this usually if it does not come initially with full engorgement. Be sure the EFAs are if flax oil, highest lignan, perhaps in a nut milk or noon lassi, and that tho it takes time, she does generous expression in shower. Will be looking curiously at other feedback here. You can also add essential oils to the protocols - Helichrysum is a powerful lymphatic decngestant. Others are grapefruit, myrtle, orange, tangerine, lemon, cypress and lemongrass. Dilute a bit with your massage oil. 3 drops cypress, 1 drop orange and 2 drops grapefruit in 1/2 gallon good drinking water with some grade b maple syrup optionally is very helpful lymphatic cleanse. But then if you have manjista herb powder, I would think to use this with a pinch of kutki with whatever other herbs come up appropriate on assessment. I would guess she is feeling very hot there and cooling, as well as mild antiinflammatory support (turmeric offers some) may be indicated. Somehow if she is going to see someone I would call Alecananda first. Interesting, sounds very pitta woman to me? already seen 5 lactation consultants in just 3-4 days? Must be unusual extreme of the lymphatic and lactation channels, for sure. The natural direction of self-correction sounds to be underway, but it is most certainly wise in your position to refer up in these ways. Please keep us informed. Ysha > I have a client who has very hard breasts. Her milk came in last > Monday or Tuesday. I was kind expecting them to calm down by now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 Enlargement of the milk secreting cells causing swelling and soreness during pregnancy, as a result of hormonal adjustments, gets relieved by light massage by Phal Ghrut, an ayurvedic ghee. First sign of pregnancy if often soreness in breast. In this case soreness may not be there if hardness, enlargement is gradual. Without knowing the dosha status, patient stature etc it is difficult to say anything, but from top of the hat, this author would suggest warm compress as well as phal ghrut light massage as a home remedy. Lack of symmetry in swelling, together with lymph node neighbourhood makes this author suggest fomentation with castor oil may also help. If lymph circulation has been static, this may be useful. but please note the words " may " . ayurveda , " sonyabastow " <sonya wrote: > > I have a client who has very hard breasts. Her milk came in last > Monday or Tuesday. I was kind expecting them to calm down by now. SHe > has very hard swelling on top and near the armpits of her right > breast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 Dear Sonya, Your client could benefit from manual lymphatic drainage. I could recommend two excellent practitioners in the Boulder area: Valerie Bainton 303.938.9120 or Bonnie Peterson 303.776.1879. I saw Valerie after a breast lumpotomy and she was an angel. The healing was dramatic and quick. May your clients be the same. warmly, Kim Luchau craniosacral therapist in Boulder 303.449.9800 ext. 1 --- sonyabastow <sonya wrote: > I have a client who has very hard breasts. Her milk > came in last > Monday or Tuesday. I was kind expecting them to > calm down by now. SHe > has very hard swelling on top and near the armpits > of her right > breast. So far I have recommended that she do warm > wet compresses with > ginger. I am also feeding her more pitta and kapha > friendly foods > keeping in mind the vata pacifying foods as well. I > have also > recommended EFA's and massaging the breasts in the > shower and having > the baby change postions for feeding and start with > that breast. SHe > has seen 5 lactation consultants and none have seen > anything like it > except one who thought it might be a cyst of some > sort. Her swelling > was so bad that it bulged out, it is better than > that now but is still > hard and a little bulging at top. > I am thinking maybe she should go see Alakananda or > Saraswati or John > Douillard. > Any suggestions or recommendations? > Thanks, Sonya > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 Sonya she needs to be putting that baby to the breast and pumping, hot and cold, anti-inflammatory for pain and inflammation, something ayurvedic to relieve edema (is she edematous all over?) cabbage leaves in her bra. maybe ultrasound by a physical therapist in your area, turmeric and other anti-inflammatory foods. But as soon as it goes down stop these things, because they are the same things that will dry up the milk. Vicky vicky york Lactation consultant, postpartum doula postpartum care services . Oregon vmyork Work : 5412556368 Review me at iKarma Want to spread your own reputation? - sonyabastow ayurveda Thursday, October 26, 2006 10:23 PM PerinatalAyurveda forum hard breasts I have a client who has very hard breasts. Her milk came in last Monday or Tuesday. I was kind expecting them to calm down by now. SHe has very hard swelling on top and near the armpits of her right breast. So far I have recommended that she do warm wet compresses with ginger. I am also feeding her more pitta and kapha friendly foods keeping in mind the vata pacifying foods as well. I have also recommended EFA's and massaging the breasts in the shower and having the baby change postions for feeding and start with that breast. SHe has seen 5 lactation consultants and none have seen anything like it except one who thought it might be a cyst of some sort. Her swelling was so bad that it bulged out, it is better than that now but is still hard and a little bulging at top. I am thinking maybe she should go see Alakananda or Saraswati or John Douillard. Any suggestions or recommendations? Thanks, Sonya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 Your advice is wonderful, Ysha, you don't need to be doing any deferring. Vicky vicky york Lactation consultant, postpartum doula postpartum care services . Oregon vmyork Work : 5412556368 Review me at iKarma Want to spread your own reputation? - Ysha Oakes ayurveda Thursday, October 26, 2006 11:22 PM PerinatalAyurveda forum Re: hard breasts Hi Sonya; How is Baby handling? Is he/she able to latch ok? I will defer mostly to others with more lactation expertise, and say with what you have told us about her (what do you see in her prakruti/vikruti and lifestyle purity if another needy baby could be brought to her breasts?) the top two supports I would call on in addition are possilby some turmeric tea (not the fennel fenugreek sweetwater brew now) only one or two cups (we don't want a dramatic swing the other direction and it is more vata pacifying than sage), and I have seen fresh cabbage leaves (keep changing) help soften the breasts. I have also experienced hard breasts several days after the milk first came in, tho this usually if it does not come initially with full engorgement. Be sure the EFAs are if flax oil, highest lignan, perhaps in a nut milk or noon lassi, and that tho it takes time, she does generous expression in shower. Will be looking curiously at other feedback here. You can also add essential oils to the protocols - Helichrysum is a powerful lymphatic decngestant. Others are grapefruit, myrtle, orange, tangerine, lemon, cypress and lemongrass. Dilute a bit with your massage oil. 3 drops cypress, 1 drop orange and 2 drops grapefruit in 1/2 gallon good drinking water with some grade b maple syrup optionally is very helpful lymphatic cleanse. But then if you have manjista herb powder, I would think to use this with a pinch of kutki with whatever other herbs come up appropriate on assessment. I would guess she is feeling very hot there and cooling, as well as mild antiinflammatory support (turmeric offers some) may be indicated. Somehow if she is going to see someone I would call Alecananda first. Interesting, sounds very pitta woman to me? already seen 5 lactation consultants in just 3-4 days? Must be unusual extreme of the lymphatic and lactation channels, for sure. The natural direction of self-correction sounds to be underway, but it is most certainly wise in your position to refer up in these ways. Please keep us informed. Ysha > I have a client who has very hard breasts. Her milk came in last > Monday or Tuesday. I was kind expecting them to calm down by now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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