Breastfeeding
I have been breastfeeding for seven and a half years now, with only a two-month break between my middle and last. That being said, I have still found myself calling a friend in the middle of the night for support. When you are engorged or are starting to show signs of mastitis, the pain is so unbearable it can be hard to treat yourself in the moment. Let the recommendation of these products be that support for you.
To start, nipple plates. If your sore nipples are sticking to your nursing bra or just all around uncomfortable, these steel nipple plates are exactly what you need. It can take a few weeks, even if you are a seasoned breastfeeder, for your nipples to get callused enough to handle a newborn nurser. Just peeling your nipple from drying to your nursing bra can be excruciating. Express breastmilk onto your nipple and then place these plates over them between feeds. The relief is worth the price tag. However, if you wanted to also use a nipple butter, my recommendation is the organic one from Earth Mama, as your newborn ingesting it.
For engorgement, sunflower lecithin will help release and prevent those painful rocks from forming. It can feel like your ducts may pop; a blessing that you are producing so well, but until baby can keep up or regulate your production, this will help tremendously.
If needed, a hot Epsom salt bath to self-express can also bring relief. A round or two of cabbage leaves will also work fast if production is too powerful.
For symptoms of mastitis, unfortunately if you do not wish to go the antibiotic route, which I did not, the best treatment for you is to nurse through it. That being said, there is a lot you can do to support your body and the key take-away is to treat as if you have the flu. I took this borion product as directed and did take a pain reliever when necessary.