Breast hardness can be caused by several factors. One significant cause, particularly in postpartum women, is breast engorgement.
Breast Engorgement and Hardness
Breast engorgement can cause breasts to become hard due to the congestion of fluid and blood. According to the provided reference:
- "Moderately severe breast engorgement results in hard, full, tense, warm and tender breasts with throbbing and aching pain."
This engorgement is a result of increased blood flow and milk production as the body adjusts after childbirth. The congestion leads to the characteristic hardness associated with engorgement. A cesarean birth may delay engorgement by one to two days because the milk may come in later.
Symptoms of Engorgement
Beyond hardness, engorgement presents with a constellation of symptoms, including:
- Fullness
- Tenseness
- Warmth
- Tenderness
- Throbbing and aching pain
These symptoms highlight the discomfort and physical changes associated with breast engorgement.
