Yes, your breasts will shrink after engorgement as your body adjusts and milk production regulates, and they will shrink further after you stop breastfeeding, often returning near pre-pregnancy size, though changes in fullness, shape (sometimes appearing less firm or "deflated"), and skin elasticity are common due to pregnancy itself. The extreme fullness of engorgement is temporary, usually resolving within days, while long-term size changes happen as milk-making tissues reduce after weaning.
Engorgement is uncomfortable, and it can lead to other issues like plugged ducts or a breast infection. It also can slow or lower your milk supply, because your body is not getting the message to make more milk.
Breast engorgement can make it hard for your baby to latch on to your nipple. Your baby may then be unable to breastfeed. This makes the problem worse. If you breastfeed or pump, engorgement should get better in a few days.
It usually gets better after several days. Over time, your body will stop making milk if you don't breastfeed or pump. This can take up to several weeks. You can take steps at home to decrease your discomfort and help your breasts stop making milk.
Treatment for engorgement usually resolves extreme symptoms within 24-48, hours but if not treated promptly can take 7 – 14 days or longer.
Chronic engorgement, over pumping or trying to “empty the breasts,” all increase the risk of mastitis. Areas of the breast where ducts are compressed may create opportunities for an imbalance in types of bacteria and result in an infection.
Breast engorgement often occurs around three to four days after giving birth and can last about 48 hours. If your breasts do become engorged, they may feel hard, tight and painful. We have included some tips below to help minimise any discomfort you may experience when drying up your milk supply.
Engorged breasts are very hard, and the nipples can flatten due to swelling inside the breasts. The breasts may be tender or quite painful. The skin may appear shiny. If left untreated, engorgement can cause loss of some or all of the milk supply, so it's important to treat it quickly.
How to Safely Dry Up Breast Milk Without Getting Mastitis
It may take several days or weeks for your breasts to completely stop making milk. Breast fullness should decrease in 1-3 days.
Wear a well-fitting supportive bra. Cold packs applied to the breast may reduce swelling and provide comfort. Take a warm shower and express some milk before you feed the baby, or lean over a bowl of warm water before you feed the baby to help your milk let-down.
The "4-4-4 rule" for breast milk is a simple storage guideline: fresh milk is good for 4 hours at room temperature (up to 77°F/25°C), for 4 days in the refrigerator (39°F/4°C or colder), and up to 4-6 months (or longer) in a standard freezer (0°F/-18°C). It's a handy mnemonic, though some organizations like the CDC recommend up to 6 months in the freezer and the AAP up to 9 months, with deeper freezers offering even longer storage.
Hand expression or small volume milk removal with an hand-held pump can cause temporary relief. Do NOT pump to “empty” the breast as this simply tells the breast to make more milk, upregulate blood supply, and worsens the engorgement cycle.
It's a myth that you need to continuously feed your baby or empty your breasts to treat engorgement. When you empty all the milk, your body responds by making more. This makes swelling continue rather than go away. Your provider may advise you to use a manual pump (not electric) to remove just a tiny amount of milk.
To prevent engorgement, aim to pump at least once during the night, especially if your baby is sleeping longer stretches. Pumping every 3-4 hours can help maintain your milk supply and prevent discomfort.
What to do if you get plugged milk ducts
It will take a few days for your milk to dry up. If your breasts are soft and you have just a little colostrum/milk, do not stimulate the breast tissue or nipple areas. To help with pain and swelling: Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil).
The 30-30-30 pumping method is a power pumping technique to increase milk supply by mimicking cluster feeding: pump for 30 minutes, rest for 30 minutes, then pump for another 30 minutes, signaling your body to make more milk. This time-consuming, one-hour block aims to boost prolactin levels, with results often seen in 3-7 days, and is done once or twice daily as part of your regular schedule, replacing standard sessions.
Heat encourages milk flow; cold therapy can help stop or lessen making milk. If you are very full, first apply heat, with either a shower or warm compress. Next, pump only enough to relieve your pain & extra fullness.
Engorgement can lead to blocked milk ducts and breast inflammation, which is called mastitis. Mastitis needs to be treated with regular breastfeeding, self-care, and sometimes antibiotics.
Remember, not all breastfeeding parents get engorged when their milk comes in. Those that do, though, typically only experience engorgement for 12-48 hours after their milk comes in.
Tips to relieve engorgement
To help your breasts dry up faster, eat mints - like Altoids, Mint Chip Ice Cream, Peppermint candy, Peppermint tea, etc. Over-the-counter allergy medications, like Loratidine (Claritin) may help you dry up faster. Decongestants, like Pseudophed, will definately do the trick. Beware of medication side effects.
Why Use Cabbage for Drying Up Milk? While the exact mechanisms are still being studied, cabbage leaves contain compounds that are believed to have anti-inflammatory properties including microRNAs, which can reduce swelling and discomfort from engorgement.
Rule #2: The Breast Milk Storage Guidelines.
The 4-4-4 Rule. Or the 6-6-6 rule. Basically, breast milk is good at room temperature for 4 or 6 hours, in the refrigerator for 4 or 6 days, and in the freezer for 4 or 6 or 12 months. Different professional organizations have varying recommendations.