Caring for Women Experiencing Breast Engorgement: A Case Report

Breast engorgement is an uncomfortable and sometimes painful component of the postpartum period. The effective treatment of breast engorgement may provide an avenue for clinicians to improve postpartum care for women and promote breastfeeding. This case report presents one woman's experience with breast engorgement in the early postpartum period. The etiology, evidence-based practices for treatment, clinical implications, and recommendations for practice are reviewed. The importance of interprofessional care to minimize conflicting information a lactating woman receives is highlighted. Interprofessional teamwork can optimize care to resolve breast engorgement and facilitate a woman achieving her breastfeeding goals.