If mastitis occurs more than a week after delivery, when is breast engorgement likely to happen?

Breast engorgement typically occurs within the first few days after delivery due to the increase in milk production, which can lead to swelling and discomfort for the breastfeeding individual. The most common timeframe for experiencing breast engorgement is between 2 to 5 days postpartum, as this is when the body adjusts to the demands of breastfeeding and the milk comes in.

If mastitis occurs more than a week after delivery, it indicates that the individual has been breastfeeding for some time, which can be linked to issues such as clogged milk ducts or bacterial infection that develop in the lactation period. This delay in the occurrence of mastitis suggests that the body has gone through the initial engorgement phase, making it logical that the engorgement would have already peaked during that 2 to 5 day window after delivery.

Understanding this timeline helps in anticipating the symptoms and management of both breast engorgement and potential complications like mastitis, which can arise if engorgement is not effectively managed during the early days postpartum.