Rebecca Judd is a mother-of-four so she knows all too well what happens to your body when you have a baby. And she’s not here to sugar coat it for you.
The glamorous mum gets refreshingly candid about all things baby in her new book, The Baby Bible, and has opened up about the struggles she faced with engorged breasts following the birth of her eldest son, Oscar.
“I looked ridiculous … like Dolly Parton on steroids,” she told News.com.au.
“I was shocked. Oscar being the first I think my boobs just freaked out. They were so hard and it was really difficult to breastfeed because you have to nuzzle in to the boob to latch on to the nipple, but because they were rock hard it was almost like he couldn’t get on properly and it was really difficult.
Bec described the pain as “excruciating” and said for her it was worse than when the epidural wore off during labour.
“I was a blubbering mess for two days with these bloody boobs. To touch them was like touching a wall. They were rock hard. It was awful. They were boiling hot. Burning hot.
“I was skinny arms and legs and bazookas out to here.”
According to the Australian Breastfeeding Association:
Engorgement is caused by a build-up of milk, blood and other fluids in the breast tissue. You may find that your breasts become larger and feel heavy, warmer and uncomfortable when your milk ‘comes in’, usually about 2–6 days after your baby is born. This is normal. It does not affect milk flow or the ability of your baby to attach to your breast.
However, in some cases, a mother’s breasts can become very hard, swollen and tender and her nipples become flattened and taut. It can be painful for the mother and make it difficult for a baby to attach to the breast.
If untreated engorgement can lead to mastitis and cause significant pain and in some cases require treatment.
For more information on engorgement and breastfeeding, click here or speak to your doctor.
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