Breast engorgement
The three basic components of breast engorgement are:
congestion/increased vascularization, accumulation of milk
and edema caused by the congestion and obstruction of
lymphatic drainage. In 1951, the sequence of events
implicated in breast engorgement was published: milk
retention in the alveoli à alveolar distension à duct
compression à milk flow obstruction à deterioration of
alveolar distension à increased obstruction. Later on, there
is edema due to vascular and lymphatic stasis. If no relief
is obtained, milk production is interrupted, with later