Iya Villania has taken to Instagram stories to share a concern that has been weighing on her mind as a breastfeeding mom.
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On September 28, 2023, alongside a candid photo of herself without make-up, the TV host wrote (published as is): “ME AFTER SPENDING A WHOLE DAY OUT WITH THE BIGGER KIDS [Primo, 7, Leon, 5, Alana, 3,] AND NOT EXPRESSING OR RELEASING MILK [emoji]
“I THOUGHT I'D BE OKAY COZ ASTRO [youngest son] ONLY FEEDS ABOUT 2X DURING THE DAY.
“IN OTHER WORDS, WASN'T ABLE TO RELEASE MILK FROM FROM 8AM-4PM [emoji]
“WHAT IS THIS? ENGORGEMENT OR MASTITIS?
"FEELING WEAK AND RIGHT BOOB FEELS FIRMER THAN USUAL AND WARM [emoji]”
Within the post, Iya also tagged lactation nurse and consultant Joyce Martinez, certified lactation counselor Abbie Venida-Yabot, and parenting expert Audrey Pastelero.
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According to Cleveland Clinic, breast engorgement is when one's breasts are hard, painful, and swollen because they're overly full of breast milk.
And according to Mayo Clinic, mastitis is an inflammation of breast tissue that sometimes involves an infection.
The inflammation results in breast pain, swelling, warmth and redness, and commonly affects women who are breast-feeding (lactation mastitis).
TREATMENTS for breast engorgement and mastitis
HOT COMPRESS AND MASSAGE
Iya was asked by her doctor to take paracetamol.
She also thanked the "padede moms" who gave her tips on how to alleviate the pain.
She related, “For others who are also asking me to share, because obviously there are other padede moms who need advice, some big advice that I got was to put a hot compress.
“Of course, to massage the boob gently. I kind of have a bit of a heavy hand so yung pag massage ko hindi masyadong gentle, but yes just gently hot compress.”
DANGLE FEEDING
Another tip that she received was to try dangle feed, an unconventional breastfeeding position that, Iya explained, "will help clear the ducts and get the milk flowing.”
According to parenting websites, dangle feeding is exactly what it sounds like—letting the breasts dangle while nursing the baby who’s flat on their back.
Iya added, “As of the moment, I’m on paracetamol. My doctor told me to take paracetamol, and to just keep on feeding, so that’s what I’m doing.
“I do still feel some lumps so I’m still gonna be on the lookout for that. Hopefully, this doesn’t get worse.”
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HAAKAA
Finally, the mom-of-four had one pointer to impart.
“I tried another tip that a lot of other padede moms have been sending,” she shared on September 29, 2023.
“That was to use a haakaa with some warm water and dissolved epsom salt.”
A haakaa is a completely hands-free, silicone device that works breast pump, using the power of suction to gently draw milk out.
To recap, she stated, “So far what I have been trying is the warm compress, paracetamol—which really got me through yesterday—a warm shower, and just massaging the boobs, and unli-latching with Astro.”
She added, “I feel like all of that has been helping because today I feel much better and I haven’t had to take any paracetamol, so that’s a win for me.
“But yeah today I tried this [haakaa] so let’s see if this is also going to help, which I’m pretty sure it will.”
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