Are there ways to prevent secondary breast engorgement?

For secondary engorgement, prevention involves avoiding a mismatch between milk supply and milk removal. Some strategies include not skipping feeding/pumping sessions, using proper breastfeeding or pumping techniques (e.g., ensuring a good latch, using the proper sized flange), feeding the baby on demand, avoiding breast pumping or expressing milk beyond the infant’s needs, wearing supportive but not overly tight bras, and dropping feeds slowly and gradually rather than abruptly when weaning the infant. If a parent and infant are having feeding difficulties, it is important to speak with a healthcare provider, preferably a lactation consultant.^[1]

There are also certain breastfeeding techniques that may reduce the likelihood of engorgement. For example, people with an oversupply of milk may benefit from “block feeding”, in which the infant is fed from one breast for a set amount of time (maybe the first 3 to 6 hours of the day) before switching to the other breast for a set amount of time. By reducing stimulation to only one breast per feeding, breast milk production slows down, and engorgement is less likely.^[2][3] Techniques like these are best used under the guidance of a lactation consultant or other qualified healthcare professional because they are not appropriate in every situation.