title: Breast engorgement: patterns and selected outcomes.
abstract: For 14 days following birth, 114 breastfeeding mothers rated their level of breast engorgement twice daily, using a six-point engorgement scale. Individual engorgement ratings were plotted by intensity over time to provide a visual display of each subject's breast engorgement experience. Four distinct patterns of breast engorgement emerged; mothers experienced either a bell-shaped pattern, a multi-modal pattern, a pattern of intense engorgement, or a pattern of minimal engorgement. Characteristics of mothers and infants, and feeding frequency were similar across the four breast engorgement patterns.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Humenick
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007775:Lactation Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D011247:Pregnancy; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing; D012307:Risk Factors